More Than 5,700 Spartans Earn Their Degrees at SJSU This Fall

Thousands of Spartans graduated from SJSU this fall. Photo: Jim Gensheimer.

This December, approximately 5,700 Spartans donned caps and gowns to participate in fall commencement at San José State, celebrating the completion of their bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degrees. San José State University President Cynthia Teniente-Matson presided over eight ceremonies on Wednesday, Dec. 17 and Thursday, Dec. 18. 

“Graduates, this moment is a testament to your personal perseverance, and to the extraordinary achievements of your entire class,” said Teniente-Matson. “During your time here, SJSU has reached new heights – we earned national recognition through prestigious awards, activated game-changing partnerships, achieved outstanding rankings and secured an R2 research designation. These accomplishments contribute to your future success as the value of your degree rises and your legacy as Spartans endures. During your time at SJSU, you’ve adapted, innovated and found your voice. You’ve made your mark on campus.”

Teniente-Matson also congratulated the more than 2,200 international students from 88 countries who enrolled at SJSU this year. An additional 152 SJSU Online students across seven fully-online programs completed their degrees — marking the largest graduating class since SJSU Online began enrolling students in January 2023.

This fall also marked the first graduates in new SJSU Online degrees in public health and public relations, as well as the first graduating cohort of San José State’s PK-3 teaching certificate candidates. 

A few fall 2025 graduates shared their experiences with us today.

• “As a first generation graduate student, SJSU supported me at every level. Through scholarships and hands-on work experience while receiving invaluable guidance from mentors who invested in my development and celebrated my academic growth. As I complete my degree in experimental psychology, I aim to pursue a Ph.D. in clinical psychology focused on early dementia and advancing health equity.”  — Abril Baez Anguiano, ’25 MA Research and Experimental Psychology
•  “I owe many of my life-changing experiences and significant personal growth to SJSU. The numerous opportunities and connections I made here helped shape who I am today. I am planning on pursuing a real estate career with Valbridge Property Advisors following my graduation. I would not have this opportunity had I not been selected for the Thompson Global Internship Program this year, as well as the support of my real estate professor and mentor, Scott Daugherty. I plan on getting an MBA after some years working as an appraiser.”  — Hsphant Osha, ‘25 Operations and Supply Chain Management
• Kaitlin Fullerton, ’25 PK-3 Teaching Credential, says that she learned about best practices to support English language learners and multilingual students, and adds that “early childhood education is for our youngest learners, so it’s important to foster the education there first, since it sets the tone.” She is currently teaching transitional kindergarten (TK) and about to start induction through the San José Unified School District.
• “Honestly, my experience has been great. My advisors made sure I had a really smooth ride throughout the whole process. The flexibility of the online program allowed me to work part time and work on my business at the same time, which I don’t think I would have been able to do otherwise.” — SJSU Online grad Sinan Onder, ’25 Economics
  
• “I want to build a program someday to help all kinds of students, from international students to students with disabilities. Even though you have a disability, it’s not the end of the world. We can work together and help others.” — Vincent Peña, the first graduate of the Occupational Life Skills Certificate through Successful Postsecondary Access & Related Transition Activities for Neurodiverse Students
•  “A quote I really like is ‘nothing delayed is denied.’ It’s okay to take some time to figure out how to solve a problem or some gray area in your life. It’s okay to take a minute to do it thoroughly, rather than conform to whatever expectations there are. I’m glad I took the time to figure out what I needed to get to this point in my education and professional journey.” — Katherine Tran, ’25 Kinesiology
•  “My journey at SJSU in the online public health program has been a memorable one. I have learned more about the subject than I could have imagined, and I take all that knowledge, skills and learning with me wherever my career path takes me.” — Victoria Mendoza, ’25 Public Health

• “Working at the King Library was one of the highlights of my time at SJSU. I enjoyed helping patrons, learning new skills, and contributing to a welcoming environment for everyone. Interacting with library users, faculty, and staff taught me how to communicate with people from diverse backgrounds and with different needs. I learned how to listen carefully, respond patiently, and offer support in a clear and respectful way. These interpersonal skills are something I don’t think I could have gained as strongly in a regular classroom setting.” — Ky Han Ly, ’25 BFA Digital Media Arts
  
• “I pursued a computer science degree since I wanted to get into game development, and that was because of a game called Undertale. I wanted to create my own world like Toby Fox and this unique medium allows people to connect deeply and feel involved in the story. When I started college, I was okay with technology but not extremely comfortable with it. The job at the KLEVR Lab helped broaden my horizons by having access to 3D scanners, Vive and Quest headsets, powerful computers and laptops. Before my job, I knew about VR but didn’t know about developing with it. Then I was able to develop in VR for the first time with the lab resources, understanding what makes Half Life ALyx a good VR game. Now that I am familiar with it, I want to develop with it in the future along with developing indie games on the side.” — Guzel Maria Abdubek, ’25 Computer Science