News Release

The Johns Hopkins School of Professional Studies in Business and Education (SPSBE) will hold its graduation ceremony on Thursday, May 26 at 7:30 p.m., Homewood field.

Because SPSBE students are working professionals enrolled on a part-time basis, there are a number of unique graduation stories every year, including the following:

SUPERWOMAN & IRAQI WAR SPOUSE: Ty Cooper (pictured left), an administrative assistant in the Dean's Office at SPSBE, will receive her undergraduate degree in Interdisciplinary Studies after 15 years of going part-time. If that isn't impressive enough, during her final year of study her husband Byron was away in Iraq, she delivered their second child alone, and she was a single parent to their older daughter, 11 year-old Lea.

LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON: Dr. Jeffrey Hausfeld and his son Joshua will graduate side by side as they receive their MBAs in Medical Services Management. The father/son team decided to take the program together because they plan to develop products that combine medical technology with business. Dr. Hausfeld is an otolaryngologist and his son is a business major.

THE AMERICAN DREAM: Luis Cervantes was born into a family of eight siblings in an economically disadvantaged part of Mexico City, Mexico. While growing up, his parents taught him at an early age the importance of education. Luis' first job in the United States was as a migrant worker in the fields of California where he helped his parents pick grapes, almonds, and vegetables.

On May 26, Luis will receive an MBA degree in Public Administration. He currently works at the USDA headquarters in Washington, D.C. where he monitors issues with the Consultative Committees on Agriculture, including Peru, Columbia, Uruguay and Argentina.

ALL IN THE FAMILY: Mancini and Alita Gaskill (pictured right), husband and wife, will both graduate from the Public Safety Leadership Division's Police Executive Leadership Program (PELP). Both are Prince George's County police officers; Mancini is a corporal and Alita is a sergeant. Matthew, their second child, was born in the middle of the last semester of PELP, a two-year cohort group. The couple took Matthew to the last few classes so they could graduate on time. Matthew will be attending the graduation ceremony on Thursday night when his parents receive their masters of science in management degrees.

BACKGROUND: SPSBE provides undergraduate and graduate degrees to working professionals enrolled on a part-time basis in four academic divisions: Business, Education, Public Safety Leadership and Undergraduate Studies. Approximately 1,000 SPSBE students will graduate on May 26. The average age of a SPSBE student is 36.

MEDIA CONTACTS: Chris Atkins Godack, 410-516-8590; cell 410-206-5019; cgodack@jhu.edu or Liz Chuday, 410-464-1100.