2022 Undergraduate Commencement Program
Ceremony Program
Academic procession
In addition to the degree candidates, the procession includes representatives of the community, alumni, faculty, and staff. Contributions and support from members of these groups were essential to the education of the students whose accomplishments we celebrate this evening. Members of the CSE 50-year Reunion Classes of 1970, 1971, and 1972 will also join the procession.
The procession is led by:
Susan Kubitschek, Retired CSE Assistant Dean and Director of Collegiate Life, Mace Bearer
College of Science and Engineering Student Services Flagbearers
Welcome
Andrew G. Alleyne, Dean, College of Science and Engineering
Robert B. McMaster, University of Minnesota, Vice Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Education
Student Address
“Inventing Tomorrow, Starts Today”
Cole Parker Skadeland, Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering
Commencement Address
Carol Malnati, Retired Vice President of Research and Development, Cardiac Rhythm Heart Failure and AF Solutions at Medtronic
Presentation of the degree Candidates
Degree candidates will be presented by department as follows:
- Bachelor of Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics
- Bachelor of Science in Astrophysics
- Bachelor of Biomedical Engineering
- Bachelor of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering
- Bachelor of Chemical Engineering
- Bachelor of Science in Chemistry
- Bachelor of Civil Engineering
- Bachelor of Computer Engineering
- Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
- Bachelor of Science in Earth Sciences
- Bachelor of Electrical Engineering
- Bachelor of Environmental Engineering
- Bachelor of Science in Environmental Geosciences
- Bachelor of Industrial and Systems Engineering
- Bachelor of Materials Science and Engineering
- Bachelor of Science in Mathematics
- Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering
- Bachelor of Science in Physics
Closing Remarks and Conferring of Degrees
Paul J. Strykowski, Associate Dean, College of Science and Engineering
Minnesota ROUSER
Please rise and join members of the marching band in singing the “Minnesota Rouser.”
Minnesota, hats off to thee,
To thy colors true we shall ever be,
Firm and strong, united are we.
Rah, rah, rah, for Ski-U-Mah,
Rah, rah, rah, rah,
Rah for the U of M.
M-I-N-N-E-S-O-T-A, Minnesota, Minnesota, Yay Gophers!
About the Speakers
Carol Malnati
Retired Vice President, Global Research and Product Development, Medtronic Cardiac Rhythm Heart Failure (CRHF)
For more than 30 years, Carol Malnati has been innovating product development of lifesaving implantable medical devices. She started her career at Medtronic on a small team creating what would become the company’s first implantable defibrillator, a small device that regulates deadly-fast heart rhythms. Malnati is a transformational leader who helped take the defibrillator business from a start up to a cornerstone business of Medtronic’s global portfolio.
As Vice President of Research and Development for Medtronic’s Cardiac Rhythm businesses, she led the activities of the 1,200-person global engineering organization and was responsible for delivering all R&D efforts associated with sustaining and growing the business’ multi-billion-dollar annual revenue. She was the first woman in Medtronic’s history to hold a position that oversees five levels of engineering leadership, Medtronic’s largest R&D organization. Malnati managed the engineering disciplines of software, firmware, electrical, mechanical, systems, cybersecurity, materials science, program management office, research, and technology.
Regarded as a strong technical leader and advocate for innovation, Malnati started her career as an electrical engineer and was instrumental in providing the high voltage therapy delivery system that became the basis for generations of products. Her technical career is punctuated with significant innovations, such as delivering the first-ever minimally-invasive pectoral defibrillator implant, creating the world’s smallest medical device battery for the world’s smallest pacemaker, the Micra™, advancing technologies to enable the downsizing of heart products by 85% to today’s state-of-the art, and most recently advancing cybersecurity diligence and championing change for the next generation architecture.
Malnati is a two-time winner of the Medtronic Star of Excellence Award, Technical Leader of the Year award, and numerous STEM diversity leadership awards. She has received globally recognized honors from the National Association for Female Executives (NAFE) for STEM Champion for Women and Girls and the prestigious Society of Women Engineers Suzanne Jenniches Upward Mobility Award. Malnati has been a passionate and constant STEM advocate, leading Medtronic’s corporation-wide initiative and CSE outreach partnership that transformed retention and advancement of women in STEM. She serves on the Dean’s Advisory Board for the University of Minnesota College of Science and Engineering, her alma mater.
Malnati graduated from the University of Minnesota with a B.S. in electrical engineering. She and her husband reside in New Brighton, Minnesota and are actively involved in the lives and interests of their four children. They are avid hockey players and youth hockey volunteers, and enjoy golfing, rock climbing, fishing and seeking new adventures to answer “when was the last time you did something for the first time.”
Cole Parker Skadeland
Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering
Cole Skadeland is graduating with a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering and a minor in joint military science leadership. He has been a member of the University’s Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC), and upon graduating, will commission into active duty. Hailing from Roscoe, IL, Skadeland credits his midwestern roots for a love of cornfields, casseroles, and cheese curds.
Skadeland’s industry experience includes two engineering internships. From 2018-2019, he co-managed a CNC branch-startup within his hometown, which was later recognized by Loyola University for research in low-budget startups in small sector communities. In 2020, he participated as a research-engineer intern through Air Force Research Labs, acting as student lead in the development of pilot-training software for the F-15 Eagle, based in Lakenheath, England.
Around campus, Skadeland has served as an undergraduate teaching assistant for the Department of Mechanical Engineering’s Heat Transfer course. He is a member of the University of Minnesota Medical Reserve Corps and has been a competitor on the University men’s rowing crew and Flying Gophers 10 miler/marathon teams. In the Fall of 2021, he served as the Cadet Wing Commander for the University’s AFROTC Detachment. He currently serves as a lab technician in the Architectural and Product Design fabrication shops on campus.
After receiving his bachelor’s degree, Skadeland will be working as a graduate engineering intern for the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., through August. In late Fall, he will begin pilot training for the U.S. Air Force, preparing to fly the C-17 Globemaster III out of Joint Base Charleston, SC.
Skadeland gives special thanks to his mother Jean, father Kurt, and two sisters—Kristen & Kylie—for their continuous love and support.
Program Notes
Photographs
For your convenience, we have made arrangements with professional photographers to take photos of each graduate. This service will enable you to have photographs of this special event. Family members and friends should remain in their seats and not enter the arena floor area.
Register by today with GradImages and save 20%: www.gradimages.com/registration
A photographer wearing a red vest will be available after the ceremony on the plaza to take photos of graduatesand guests.
VIDEO RECORDING
This commencement ceremony will be video recorded and made available for viewing online. The website link to the video will be available after Friday, May 27 at cse.umn.edu/commencement.
Honors and distinction designations
College of Science and Engineering degree candidates may graduate with either Latin Honors (cum laude, magna cum laude, or summa cum laude) or with distinction (distinction or high distinction) or both. Honors citations are provisional and do not become official until all requirements for the award indicated are fulfilled.
Latin Honors Awards: Cum laude, magna cum laude, and summa cum laude graduates complete honors requirements, including research leading to an honors thesis project in their major. Students graduating cum laude have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.50 for the last 60 graded credits at the University of Minnesota–Twin Cities (UMTC). Magna cum laude awards require a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.66 and summa cum laude awards require a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.75 on the final 60 graded credits at UMTC.
Degrees with Distinction: Students earn graduation “with distinction” or “with high distinction” based on cumulative grade point average at UMTC with at least 60 graded credits completed at UMTC. Students graduating “with distinction” must have earned a cumulative GPA of 3.75 or higher in UMTC coursework at the time of graduation; students graduating “with high distinction” must have earned a cumulative GPA of 3.90 or higher in UMTC coursework at the time of graduation. Gold honor cords are worn by students who are graduating with distinction, and maroon and gold honor cords are for those students graduating with high distinction.
CEREMONIAL MACE
The University of Minnesota’s ceremonial mace is a highly ornamented staff of metal carried by a respected faculty member or high-ranking university administrator to lead the official procession. Processions often feature a ceremonial mace at formal academic occasions. The history of the civic mace (carried by the sergeants-at-arms) begins around the middle of the 13th century. It has been a commencement tradition at the University of Minnesota since 1961.
DECORATIVE STOLES
Decorative stoles worn around the neck represent a variety of affiliations with the University, fraternities, ethnic clubs, or professional organizations.
HISTORY OF TASSEL COLOR
In the late 19th century the Intercollegiate Commission adopted a code of academic dress. Tassel colors chosen had traditional meanings. Science and engineering were given golden yellow and orange to signify the wealth of knowledge produced by research.
Note: Great care is taken to ensure the accuracy of the information presented in this commencement program; however, there may be unintended errors or changes without notice.
This is not an official University of Minnesota graduation list.
