“We innovate, we create, we change things constantly.”
— Kim Schwartz, School of Theatre & Dance Director
Congratulations to our Honorees!
Jasmine Gabrielle Afshar
B.A. Theatre Arts, ‘20
Undergraduate Honoree
Jasmine Afshar is graduating with a B.A. in Drama and a Minor in Classics. She is originally from Campbell, California where she first got into theatre at Branham High School. Now that she has graduated, Jasmine is excited to fully dive into the world of professional theatre. She is very grateful for her time at SFSU and would like to thank her family and friends for their support.
As an actor Jasmine Afshar came to every rehearsal with a question, an idea, and a mastery of the work done the night before. As a member of the House Management Team she accessed a plethora of names, Information and constantly edited accurate information that acknowledged the crews and other supporting participants. Jasmine is always “there” she does the work, gives her all, takes the notes and asks the questions. Jasmine’s determination and commitment to being the best she can be is an inspiration to her fellow artists.
Maria Donjacour
B.A. Dance, ‘20
Undergraduate Honoree
Maria Donjacour is a proud graduate of the SFSU School of Theatre & Dance. Maria grew up in San Francisco and got her start in dance in the GRRRL Brigade at Dance Mission Theatre. She believes in the power of art and dance to change and connect worlds, communities, and minds. Maria has also completed her minor is Women's Studies and has used her studies there to inform her art. Her plans after college include going camping, dancing, playing music and smashing white supremacy.
Maria was the recipient of the 2019-2020 Susan Whipp Legacy Dance Scholarship. Her background as a musician is evident in her dancing and her choreography. Her musicality is evident in her ability to master different dance traditions. Professor Ray Tadio makes a note of her ability to master the nuances of the Spanish, Muslim, Rural, and Indigenous influences of Philippine dance. Maria is also a talented choreographer, and Professor Wendy Diamond points out both her work ethic and her approach to each composition assignment as an opportunity to expand on uncharted directions. Her New Moves piece (A Rough Translation of) The Groove was an unconventional and explosive exploration of musicians and groupies. As a member of the University Dance Theatre, Maria was an integral part of the company. Her roles in Guest Choreographer Dana Fitchett's Everything Is Now, and Tadio's bees in pollen are noteworthy for her ability to delve in deep technically and emotionally. All faculty and guest choreographers have described Maria as being a grounding presence for other students who serve as a role model. Maria’s maturity as an artist is matched by her approach to her academic work as well. Always looking to think about dance from different perspectives, she completed a research project on dance in prisons in Fall 2019. The work was sophisticated and original.
Summer DeMello
M.F.A., Theatre Arts ‘20
Graduate Honoree
Summer De Mello has graduated with a Masters of Fine Arts in Theater with an emphasis in costume design. Summer is the first in her family to go to college, let alone to achieve a Masters Degree. She hopes to use her degree to influence and educate future leaders.
Summer started taking costume design and other theatre classes in the School of Theatre and Dance while completing her bachelor's degree in Anthropology at SFSU. During her time in the MFA program, she was an Assistant Costume Designer for A Midsummer Night's Dream and Costume Designer for three main stage productions; The Laramie Project, directed by Bill Peters, [title of show], directed by Laura Wayth, and The Ghost Sonata, directed by John Wilson and Florentina Mocanu-Schendel. During her time in the program, she also costumed a production of Julius Caesar at Mountain Community Theatre, directed by Bill Peters. Her Creative Work Project was a design and written analysis for a theoretical production of Robert Le Diable by Giacomo Meyerbeer.
Congratulations to all our graduates!
Nekai Abriol, Dance-B.A.
Jessica Tanya Adler, Theatre Arts-B.A.
Jasmine Gabrielle Afshar, Theatre Arts-B.A.
Julia Anderson, Theatre Arts-B.A.
Felix Bishop , Theatre Arts-B.A.
Samantha Brown, Theatre Arts-B.A.
Maggie Burback, Theatre Arts-B.A.
Nick Christman, Drama-B.A. / Dance-B.A.
Bailey Cory, Theatre Arts-B.A.
Summer De Mello, Theatre Arts (Design)-M.F.A.
Maria Donjacour, Dance-B.A.
St. Ives Demetric Gamble, Theatre Arts-B.A.
Haruka Hayashi, Theatre Arts-B.A.
Nathan Hinsley, Theatre Arts-B.A.
Colin Hollander, Theatre Arts-B.A.
Angela Xin Hu, Theatre Arts-B.A.
Shaquila Ingram, Dance-B.A.
Morgan Lavin, Dance-M.N.
Diana Leon, Theatre Arts-B.A.
WeiJen Liao, Theatre Arts-B.A.
Caitlin McFann, Theatre Arts-B.A.
Liana Michaela Mier, Theatre Arts-B.A.
Isabella Mini, Dance-B.A.
Lindsey Mitchell, Theatre Arts-B.A.
Miki Otsuka, Theatre Arts-B.A.
Javier Padilla, Drama-M.N.
Makena Kaleilokelani Pang, Theatre Arts-B.A.
Jasmine Desiree Perez, Dance-B.A.
T. Wander Prue, Theatre Arts-M.N.
Marku Kahie Reynolds, Theatre Arts-B.A.
Ariana Rodriguez, Theatre Arts-M.N.
Brianna Theresita Grey Rodriguez, Theatre Arts-B.A.
Christian Rogan, Theatre Arts-B.A.
Chloe Samillano, Theatre Arts-M.N.
Adrianna Scalzo, Theatre Arts-B.A.
Clinton P. Sides, Theatre Arts-MA
Juliann Stiny, Dance-B.A.
Tyler Lauren Suarez-Brown, Theatre Arts-B.A.
Bau Tran, Theatre Arts-B.A.
Natalie Tommasino, Theatre Arts-B.A.
Ariel Webb, Dance-B.A.
The School of Theatre & Dance requires permission from all graduates to list their name. If you would like your name listed contact thtrdnc@sfsu.edu.