Historymakers: Amongst the hundreds who crossed the stage during Commencement weekend, some Gaels were the first graduates of the Computer Science, Media Production, and Forensic Psychology programs. / Photo by Bryan Navarro
First In Class: Meet Award-Winning Graduates from Three of Saint Mary’s Newest Programs
Graduate studies in Forensic Psychology. Bachelor’s programs in Computer Science and Media Production. While these Gaels’ journeys differed, their time at SMC showed that, as one said, “If you know what you want out of college you absolutely can find it.”
From first-generation graduates to conference champs in Baseball and Softball, there were milestones aplenty at the end of the Saint Mary’s academic year. One you might not have clocked, however: A few of the Gaels who crossed the commencement stage this year were among the first graduates of their majors, ever.
In recent years, Saint Mary’s has launched numerous new programs, seeking to “equip students with the skills and knowledge to better meet the moment,” explains Carol Ann Gittens, Acting Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost. In recent years, the first cohort of Biotechnology graduate students received their degrees, as did the first class of Computer Science majors. This year saw the first graduates of the new Master of Arts in Forensic Psychology, as well as the first recipients of the Bachelor of Arts in Media Production.
We recently talked with three members of the Class of 2025 who were among the first to win their program’s biggest honors. For them, the awards provided an opportunity to reflect on their singular journeys and passions.
Tiffany Tachiquin, MA ’25
Master’s in Forensic Psychology
The (unexpected) road to Saint Mary’s
Growing up in East Oakland, I knew so many people who got involved in gangs and street life. In my family, there were really only three options: Die, go to jail, or be a dropout. So I wanted to pursue higher education to show my younger siblings and cousins another way. And because forensic psychology deals with the legal and correctional systems, I saw it as an opportunity to make a real impact. For those in the system, I want to be a source of support, someone they can come to who cares about them.
I began attending Holy Names University in Oakland in 2022. But then, a year later, the school closed. Thankfully, Saint Mary’s absorbed the Forensic Psychology program, bringing over faculty and a lot of my cohort. I was really grateful for that, because we built a strong connection at Holy Names. We all come from similar walks of life.
The Outstanding Student Award in Forensic Psychology
I was in class when I learned I had won. When I went to ask my professor, Talia Moore—director of the Forensic Psychology Department—to look over my thesis paper, she told me, “Oh, you should come to this award ceremony.” And I said, “Why? I didn’t win anything.” And said, “Yes, you did. I nominated you.”
She told me she saw me and all the effort I had put in over the years. She knew I worked three jobs to put myself through college and take care of my sister. Even with all that, I still got all my assignments in before the due date. “I just want you to be recognized for all you do, and who you are as a person,” she told me.
At that, I broke down crying. It felt surreal and so meaningful. We had both transitioned from Holy Names together. I always felt supported by her—like she was a family member, basically.
Empowering others
Eventually, I plan on pursuing a PhD in my field, which would make me the most educated member of my family. The fact that I’m on this path is already making a difference, though. My younger sister is in nursing school, and my brother is on track to graduate from college and become an accountant. Even some of my younger cousins call me and ask for help with applications and résumés.
Being a person of color on any college campus can be incredibly challenging. But my encouragement to students like me is this: Just because you come from a different background or have a different complexion, it doesn’t mean you are less than. If anything, it makes you more. You’re stronger than the words and labels that others put on you. Let that drive you. It’s what drove me.
Samuel Leitch ’25
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
A pandemic and a pivot
Computer Science was never the plan. Growing up, I excelled at writing, and to a certain extent, accepted that it was my strong suit. In high school, I was part of ASB and volunteered as part of Congressman Mike Thompson’s student council. Everyone in my life figured I would go into political science. I did, too.
But then COVID hit, which was the hardest season of my life. Some colleges I thought I would get into were writing back to tell me I was not accepted. I ended up choosing Saint Mary’s, largely because, as one of my guidance counselors told me, it’s on a list of Colleges that Change Lives. Still, I felt lost at first. I wasn’t sure what I wanted out of life or what I wanted to accomplish.
Then, one day, I came across the tech club on campus. They were coding something incredibly simple in Python, A Tic Tac Toe game. In that moment, I just found joy in learning something new. On a whim, I took an introductory programming class with Andrew Connor. That thrill of discovery persisted, and so I kept going.
The Grace Hopper Award
When I learned I won the award, I was completely stunned and grateful. Like I said, I never imagined I’d be in a STEM field. At times, I have felt like an outsider or imposter. But because of the individual attention and continued support of my professors, I've been able to excel in a field I never would have previously considered.
For me, winning made me reflect on all the incredible opportunities and relationships I had at Saint Mary’s. I thought about Todd Schmidt, who gave me my first coding and research role, and Udayan Das, whose ethical approach to computer science was so impactful, and even Mary Beth Stadt at the Career Center, who helped shape my résumé and secure my first internship. I also thought about Christopher Jones, who was willing to create an independent study class for me around cryptography. Now, end-to-end encryption and cryptography are what I hope to spend my career pursuing.
My time at Saint Mary’s has shown that, if you know what you want out of college, you absolutely can find it.
The next chapter
I'm currently interning at Keysight Technologies, a radio frequency test and measurement company in Santa Rosa. After a year or so, I hope to apply for PhD programs in the Bay Area and elsewhere. Thanks to Dr. Jones, I’ve been inspired to pursue computer security, computer networking, data privacy, and even tech policy.
My advice for future students: stay curious and take advantage of every opportunity. In my experience, SMC professors genuinely want to know and invest in you. So take advantage of that. And know that the Computer Science program offers the flexibility for everything from a certificate to an interdisciplinary split major. You can now combine CS with art practice, chemistry, anthropology, or English. So reach out to your professors and ask! You never know where you might end up in four years.
Adanna Ogu ’25
Bachelor of Arts in Media Production
Shooting her shot
My mom is who first drew me to Saint Mary’s. She got her Master’s in Leadership here and always told me what a life-changing experience it was. So when it came time to apply to colleges, that experience was a factor. And I’m from Danville, California, so it was a plus that Saint Mary’s was close to home.
Once I got here, I moved around a bit in terms of studies. In high school, I was really passionate about STEM, so I initially declared as a Psychology major. But I started to think about something media-related, because I’ve always made movies and done photography. When I was in sixth grade, I basically begged my parents for a little digital camera, and haven’t stopped capturing things since.
“The number of things you can accomplish in a tight-knit community like Saint Mary’s is really astonishing.”
— Adanna Ogu ’25
In 2022, Jason Jakaitis in the Communication Department helped me create an independent major, Visual Communication. But then, in the spring of 2023, Jason reached out to me to let me know the department was actually creating a new program: Media Production. “You would be the perfect fit,” he told me. He was right.
The Skye Ward Award
Never in a million years did I think I would win an award, especially in media-making. Throughout college, I wasn’t very cerebral about the work I was creating. You don’t have time to stop and reflect on your work for long, because there is always another assignment to complete. I never stopped to consider whether someone thought my work was good. But, evidently, someone did.
It’s humbling, too, to win an award named after Skye Ward, who passed away in February and was a big part of the Saint Mary’s community. She was actually a former student of Jason’s. I met her once, when she came to one of my classes to talk about her community activism work. Skye showed examples of her documentaries, which I thought were great.
To even be considered for this award is such a deep honor. There really are no words to describe that feeling.
Doing the work
At the moment, I work at the Lafayette Library and Learning Center Foundation as their marketing and communication manager. It’s a job I got through the Media Production Program, with an introduction through Jason. The number of things you can accomplish in a tight-knit community like Saint Mary’s is really astonishing.
Beyond that, I’ve been considering pursuing graduate studies and fine arts programs for film and audio production. More than anything, I’m just really excited to invest in a nice camera and continue to make films I’m excited about.
It’s something I hope for future Media Production students, too. I hope they have the support to bring their projects to life. With even more resources, the program can really flourish and become a hub that’s pretty unique in the Bay Area. More people will be excited about it. There are certainly plenty of people excited about it now.
(These interviews have been condensed and edited for clarity.)
