Wednesday, May 20, 2026
9 a.m.
XFINITY Center
The ceremony will be live-streamed at youtube.com/user/cmnsumd.
The ceremony will last approximately 3 hours and graduates must remain seated on the floor for the entirety of the ceremony.
Program
Processional
Presiding
Amitabh Varshney, Dean, College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences (CMNS)
Master of Ceremony
Gene Ferrick, Director of Operations, CMNS
National Anthem
Lu-Hsuan Lucy Chen (D.M.A. ’00, Voice Performance)
Keynote Speaker
Andrew Balo (B.S. ’70, Microbiology)
Student Speaker
Raina Saraiya (B.S. ’25, Neuroscience)
Recognition of Bachelor’s Degree Recipients
Readers:
Gene Ferrick, Director of Operations, CMNS
Melissa Hayes-Gehrke, Principal Lecturer, Astronomy
Natalie Lightfoot-Solomon, Assistant Director of Undergraduate Studies, Computer Science
John Merck, Principal Lecturer, Geological, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences
Recessional
Reception
In tent in front of the XFINITY Center
Keynote Speaker
Andrew Balo (B.S. ’70, microbiology) spent the past 50-plus years applying the science he learned at Maryland to the business of health care. In 2024, he retired as executive vice president of clinical, global access, and medical affairs after 22 years at Dexcom, a startup that developed a continuous glucose monitoring device that can dramatically improve the daily lives of people with diabetes.
Widely regarded as an industry expert in regulatory and clinical strategies, Balo was instrumental in bringing many medical devices to market, including a neurological cooling device, mechanical and tissue-based heart valves, pacemakers, pacing leads and a 3D electrophysiology mapping device. He also admits that he failed twice at his first two startups. He served on many Food and Drug Administration panels and was recognized for his unwavering support of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and the diabetes community.
In 2015, he embraced the opportunity to give back to Maryland by teaming up with Nicholas Simon (B.S. ’76, microbiology) to establish the university’s first endowed chair in the life sciences.
[Read more about Andrew's journey and career]
Student Speaker
Raina Saraiya graduated in December 2025 summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in neuroscience, a minor in general business and a citation from the College Park Scholars International Studies program. With the mentorship of the program’s director, Stacy Kosko, she founded PERIOD.@UMD, an organization dedicated to eradicating period poverty and stigma. Through it, she has helped donate hundreds of hygiene products and care packages to women in need.
As a UM Scholar, her targeted immunotherapy research in the Nevil Lab at the University of Maryland School of Medicine was selected for an Association for Academic Minority Physicians Conference presentation. She also contributes to developing culturally sensitive autism interventions with Assistant Professor of Special Education Veronica Kang. Inspired by her mentors, including Chemistry & Biochemistry Senior Lecturer Christiana Guest, Saraiya supported fellow students as a biology and biochemistry teaching assistant and as a tutor with The Every Child Project.
Throughout college, she competed nationwide in Indian classical dance with UMD EntouRAAS.
This fall, Saraiya will begin medical school, aspiring to become a physician-advocate committed to advancing equitable care for underserved communities.