June 22, 2023

As the student speaker at the University of Maryland, Baltimore’s (UMB) commencement May 18, Joanna Zhao Ye noted the transformation she and her fellow graduates were making — from student to professional. “We are not just students anymore,” Ye, who earned her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from the University of Maryland School of Medicine, told the audience at Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena on the campus of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. “We’re here today because we have proven that we have the skills, knowledge, and experience to excel in our disciplines. And now we have the responsibility to pursue the truth and speak it as loudly as we can so that we can push our disciplines — and society — forward.”

Discover more about the Universitywide celebration, the national anthem singer from the School of Social Work, other stories about school graduation events, and much more. Watch a video featuring highlights from the exciting day.