While they met four years ago as small squares on a Zoom call, the University of Iowa (UI) College of Pharmacy class of 2024 concluded their educational journey during commencement at Iowa City’s Hancher Auditorium May 9 in person, shoulder-to-shoulder, with no masks, and surrounded by friends, family, and faculty. The 100-member class began their first year of pharmacy school in the fall of 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic raged. 

“You persevered and we’re going to celebrate that today,” said Dean Donald Letendre, presiding over his final commencement as the College’s leader. 

Words of Wisdom
Lessons learned emerged as the ceremony’s theme. Class of 2024 President Savannah Anderson shared key insights she will carry with her.

“Never stop advocating for yourself and your patients; more people believe in you than you think; sometimes the most impactful thing you can do is listen; and when things get difficult, remember there are always people in your life that will support you,” she said.

“It has been a privilege to earn a doctorate degree at the University of Iowa while being supported by so many great friends, faculty, and mentors.”

This year’s guest speaker was well-known to graduates. Susan Vos, senior director of student affairs at the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, spent 17 years as a UI College of Pharmacy faculty member and most recently also was associate dean of Student Affairs. The class of 2024 had heard her lecture on pediatric pharmacy, leadership, and more prior to her departure last fall.

“You are one of the most resilient groups of students I have encountered, and I am grateful to be part of your special day,” said Vos. She went on to impart two life lessons she has learned. 

“The first one: happiness is not a destination, it is a direction,” she said. Referencing a book by a Harvard “happiness professor,” she noted three “macronutrients that are essential ingredients to build a life…aimed in the direction of happiness: 

• Enjoyment: the people you love and the memories you make,
• Purpose: serving others – be good to one other person each day, and
• Satisfaction: that thrill from accomplishing a goal – when faced with struggles, ask yourself ‘what is a list of things I can do today that can make this better?’”

The second life lesson Vos referenced was to “look for the breadcrumbs and leave 
breadcrumbs for others." Follow the professional path others have left for you and "look for opportunities to add value to someone else’s career.”

Additional commencement participants were UI President Barbara Wilson; Amber Goedken, interim associate dean and associate professor; and Mary Ray, associate dean and clinical associate professor. Wilson told graduates “wherever you go, think about wearing something with a Tiger Hawk on it. Someone is going to yell out to you, ‘Go Hawks!’”

Letendre closed the ceremony proclaiming that this is just the beginning for the class of 2024. “You will be obligated to draw upon all of your special knowledge and skills to ensure the health and safety of those for whom you have been entrusted to serve.”

The evening before commencement, a recognition event was held in the College’s lobby/auditorium for graduates and their families. Goedken announced individuals receiving dual degrees, certificates, recognition cords, and more, while Letendre presented the commencement speaker’s medallion to Vos. Iowa Pharmacy Association Executive Vice President & CEO Kate Gainer and Director of Professional Affairs Emmeline Paintsil were also in attendance and applauded the class on joining an important profession.