Remember the journey: Doctoral Hooding 2026
By Sarah Shoaf, Staff Writer
With cheers from loved ones and celebratory gestures by members of historical Black organizations, Governors State University’s (GovState) 2026 Doctoral Hooding Ceremony welcomed 58 doctoral candidates from the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) and the College of Health and Human Services (CHHS).
President Joyce C. Ester commemorated her first GovState hooding ceremony by sharing an analogy she once heard. In it, the path of a doctoral student was compared to the seven dwarfs, reminding the candidates to “always remember the journey.”
“At first, you're a little dopey and bashful because you weren't quite sure what you signed up for,” said President Ester. “In the middle, you may have experienced times of illness—sneezy, exhaustion—sleepy, irritability—grumpy. However, as you sit here today, you're happy because soon, we'll call you Doc. On behalf of the Governors State University community, congratulations.”
President Ester was joined by Provost Beverly Schneller, members of Cabinet, faculty, staff, and members of the Board of Trustees (BOT).
On the opposite side of the stage sat the candidates from Counseling and Supervision, Interdisciplinary Leadership, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, and Physical Therapy, all smiling with pride, anticipating their doctoral hoods.
Dating to medieval times, the hooding tradition celebrates academic achievement. Each degree is signified by a special color lining an elegant velvet scarf, which once held a function — to keep warm the shaven heads of monks.
Wearing a light blue lined hood, Mike Davis, a veteran U.S. Navy hospital corpsman (combat medic), came to GovState for the Interdisciplinary Leadership (INLD) program after hearing positive things about the faculty, staff, and curriculum from a friend in the military. He felt that the program aligned with his career goals and upon enrolling, he found people who pushed him to be his best.
“The professors held me at a higher standard, they didn’t let me stay at an average standing,” said Mike. “Dr. (Erica) Ceka believed in me enough to be the first person to ever use the HistoryMakers archive and create a space where my work would be used as a template for others.”
A member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Mike wore gold boots in honor of his organization’s colors: purple and gold.
Also dressed in a light blue lined hood, Tiffany Weathers-Fincher pursued her Ed.D. in INLD with a concentration in Higher Education, which gave her the opportunity to follow her dream to one day teach first-year college students.
“Many students enter college feeling unprepared, unsure, and even afraid of what lies ahead,” said Tiffany. “I know this because I was once that student. Because of that experience, I am committed to helping students navigate their college journey with a sense of purpose and belonging.”
Decked out in a slate blue lined hood, Jillian Rancatore returned to GovState for her Doctorate in Occupational Therapy knowing that the University had a team of faculty and staff dedicated to academic growth and development who would help strengthen her skills as a practitioner.
She looks to return the favor to students who come after her in her adjunct teaching role at GovState.
“I hope to continue my teaching role at Governors State University as I have enjoyed working directly with our faculty and students as we collaboratively work towards promoting best practices, providing a multitude of learning opportunities, and preparing students to be competent, confident, and empathetic occupational therapists.”
Donning a teal lined hood, Daniel Pena reflected on why he came to GovState for his Doctor of Physical Therapy, which involved new experiences in more ways than one as a first-generation student starting graduate school across the country.
“I was looking for a place that valued not only personalized education but also community engagement and collaboration,” said Daniel. “The smaller cohort size and the opportunity to build meaningful relationships with both professors and my peers made it feel like the perfect environment for education and growth."
Marking the end of the ceremony, Provost Schneller recognized two distinguished members of CEHD who are retiring, Dean Shannon Dermer and Dr. Quincy Martin III. “Throughout their time at Governors State University, they have demonstrated unwavering dedication to their students, colleagues, and the institution.”
Candidates processed out of the auditorium, encouraged by the words spoken earlier by alumna and Trustee Judith L. Mitchell.
“This isn't just an ending—it's the beginning,” said Trustee Mitchell. “We are proud to have you represent Governors State University and look forward to the positive change you'll bring to our communities.”