COMMENCEMENT 2021
Award Winners & Professors Emeriti
T
he Class of 2021 was full of exemplary graduates who embody what it means to be a Distinctive Mercy
Graduate . Fifteen graduates were recognized for their outstanding achievements , both in the classroom and in the community . Their professionalism , enthusiasm , and dedication to their fields have set them apart from the crowd , and they will accomplish much as they go out into the world to Make Mercy Real .
Outstanding Student Leader Award
Taylor Weathington Taylor Weathington graduated with her bachelor ’ s degree in Marketing . Throughout her time at GMercyU , she immersed herself in the campus community and culture . In addition to her focus on academics , she devoted a large amount of time to being an active student on campus . She began as a student worker in the Student Activities and Leadership Office and has served on GMercyU ’ s Student Government Association ( SGA ) throughout her four years , holding the role of SGA President for the past two years . Through SGA , Taylor was given opportunities to be a voice for the student body and a representative for students in many university committees . Additionally , Taylor has served as a Resident Assistant , a tutor for the Academic Resource Center , and a member of the Sigma Phi Sigma Mercy Honors Society .
Outstanding Undergraduate Alumni Award Jordan Abelson Jordan Abelson graduated from the E-STEM Honors Program with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and minors in Chemistry and Communications . During her time on campus , Jordan served as a peer mentor beginning in her sophomore year , sought out research opportunities , and participated in the Student Association of Science to enhance her education . She was also active in the campus
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community through the Take Back the Night movement , as the secretary in the Sigma Phi Sigma National Mercy Honor Society , as the chair of the new Mercy Monarch Butterfly Garden project on campus , and as the founder of the American Association of University Women on campus .
Jordan also served as GMercyU ’ s first vlogger , assisting the Marketing and Biology departments in social media . She dedicated her time as a member of the coalition for campus civic engagement committee and a member of the Griffin Student Leadership Institute . She also participated on the student / faculty diversity council , with the goal of bringing diversity , equity and inclusion to campus .
Outstanding Graduate Alumni Award
Amie Germain Amie Engel Germain graduated with her Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership with a concentration in Higher Ed Administration , exemplifying excellence in academics and her profession . She is an Assistant Professor in Occupational Therapy at Ithaca College . Her dissertation research on crowdsourcing of class notes within the Learning Management System will contribute not only to the literature applying Universal Design for Learning to practice , but also in offering an outstanding solution to supporting students during the pandemic .
Amie assumed a leadership role in her doctoral classes at GMercyU by advocating for designing teaching experiences that meet the needs of all students . She shared resources and provided feedback to her peers that has allowed them to develop skills in this area . She also embraces the Critical Concerns of the Sisters of Mercy in addressing racism , choosing to create a curriculum on ethnic and racial identity development for her instructional design course .
Catherine McAuley Award
Danielle Brown Danielle Brown graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biology with minors in Chemistry , Psychology , and Microbiology . She was born in Montego Bay , Jamaica , to her parents Jennifer and Everton Brown , but was raised not too far away from GMercyU in Cheltenham , Pa . Throughout her time at GMercyU , Danielle assumed various leadership positions , including becoming President of the Student Activities Committee , the Treasurer of the Student Government Association , and the Treasurer of the Student Association of Science , while also being an active member of the E-STEM program and the Sigma Phi Sigma Honor Society . Beyond that , Danielle conducted neurobiology research under the guidance of Gwynedd Mercy University professor Dr . Justin McClain .
Outside of GMercyU , Danielle often dedicates large portions of her summer spending time at inner-city children programs , Manna on Main , and at her church Bethel Deliverance International Church .