RJ Hamster
A milestone: Convocation in Los Angeles
To view this email as a web page, click here.May 2026
First convocation in Los Angeles marks milestone for ASU
On May 8, fashion and film graduates from ASU’s Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts celebrated two momentous occasions: their graduation and ASU’s first-ever convocation ceremony in Los Angeles.
While this is not the first graduating class from Los Angeles, it was the first convocation to be held there, allowing California students to formally celebrate the occasion in their own backyards. Nearly 50 graduates walked across the stage in the city where they’ve been living, working and studying.
“To those of you graduating here today, you are connected to each other and to ASU in ways you are maybe only just coming to understand,” said Renée Cheng, dean of the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts and senior vice provost at ASU. “My hope is that the bonds you made here will continue to enrich your life and challenge you to find new sources of inspiration and new ways to make positive impacts.”Read more
ASU Local celebrates largest graduating class in LA, Long Beach
The ASU Local End of Year Celebration on May 4 marked the graduation of the program’s largest cohort in the Los Angeles region to date. ASU Local is a hybrid program pairing online coursework with in-person coaching and mentorship. There are six ASU Local sites across the nation, with Los Angeles, Long Beach and Chula Vista in California.
Read a sample of the cohort’s stories:
- Lawrence Carroll returned to college after more than two decades to earn his bachelor’s degree in public service and public policy from the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions. Before returning to school, Carroll had already established himself as a community leader across Los Angeles. He serves as board president of LA Pride, founded the nonprofit Majestic Art Gallery and previously served on his neighborhood council.
- Martha Fabiola Garcia earned her bachelor’s degree in international relations and a minor in communication through The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences after balancing motherhood, entrepreneurship and full-time studies.Garcia is preparing to take the LSAT as she works toward the next phase of her academic journey.
- Jocelyn Rios planned her wedding and became a first-time mother, welcoming a baby girl while continuing her studies full time. She joined ASU Local Long Beach’s first-ever cohort, and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in communication from The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
- Lily Chalais is a first-generation college student who worked two jobs while attending school full-time. During college, she worked with California State Parks and at the San Juan Capistrano Mission, where she shared her passion for history with visitors and guests. This spring, Chalais graduated with a bachelor’s degree in history and a minor in geography.
Barbie partners with ASU FIDM on summer fashion camps
Barbie, the iconic fashion doll by Mattel Inc., and Edikted, an LA-based style-led contemporary fashion brand, are teaming with ASU FIDM to invest in the next generation of fashion leaders through supporting the school’s summer fashion camps. Barbie and Edikted are funding scholarships for ASU FIDM camps in Arizona and California. The support will include giving 15 scholarships that cover half the camp registration costs and seven full scholarships that cover the entire cost.
The 2026 summer camps run June 15–19and June 22–26, with different topics each week.Learn more about the summer camps
From Scottsdale to LA: ASU FIDM takes the runway
The ninth annual ASU FIDM Fashion Show expanded beyond Arizona for the first time this year with a debut show in Los Angeles.
The showcase featured graduating ASU FIDM fashion design students’ capstone collections across two events: Twenty-five Arizona-based students presented at the Scottsdale Fashion Square, while 20 LA-based students presented at Grand Hope Park.Go behind the scenes with ASU News photos
What’s up at ASU? Find out – subscribe to ASU News
The official digital news platform for Arizona State University, ASU News delivers stories of people making a difference in your community. We bring the top headlines to your inbox three times a week.Subscribe for free In the News
will.i.am wants to future-proof a new generation
NPR featured ASU professor, musician and tech entrepreneur will.i.am’s agentic AI course in a recent story on “All Things Considered.” Discover will.i.am’s involvement at the intersection of AI, the arts and business.Listen or read from NPR Spring Graduate Spotlight
Victoria Concepcion came to ASU from Rancho Santa Margarita to work with the NASA Curiosity rover’s DAN instrument . Along the way, she discovered even more rewarding experiences at ASU. She graduated from the School of Earth and Space Exploration with a Master of Science in geological science.
Sydney Hardie is an ASU FIDM graduate who already has a full-time job lined up at Loren Stewart, a fine jewelry brand based in Los Angeles that features pieces handmade in LA and Italy using recycled materials. She began working part time at Loren Stewart while taking a full course load, getting experience in administration, public relations, influencer marketing, gifting and creator relationships roles.
Hardie, who is from Laguna Beach, got her associate’s degree from legacy FIDM and chose to continue her education with a four-year degree once ASU’s fashion program expanded to LA as ASU FIDM. 
Karina Ornelas grew up in Tijuana, Baja California, before moving to San Diego during middle school, not knowing a word of English. After graduating from Montgomery High School with honors, she earned multiple associate degrees from San Diego City College while also dedicating her time to volunteering at the San Diego Zoo. She would go on to earn her Bachelor of Science in biological sciences – conservation biology and ecology through ASU Online and continue at ASU, enrolling in an online biology graduate program. She graduated with her master’s degree this spring.
Cooper Goodman came to Los Angeles from Illinois to fulfill his dream of working in film. He graduated this spring with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in film and media production from The Sidney Poitier New American Film School with film credits already on his resume. While pursuing his degree, he has worked professionally on film sets as a grip, electrician or sound mixer.
“As an aspiring writer and director, it helps me understand the logistics of different aspects of the shoot, and it will be invaluable to know what I am asking of people in terms of difficulty, timing and costs. Working lighting and sound also keeps my eyes and ears sharp,” he said. 
Get all the latest LA events in your inbox
Sign up for the free LA Events newsletter from the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts. Grow your community and stay in the loop with all the latest panel discussions, exhibitions, film screenings and more.Subscribe
Co-presented by Zócalo Public Square, Fresnoland and Arte Américas: How Does the Central Valley Harness Its Power?
This free event in Fresno features a panel conversation about the future of the Central Valley. It will be moderated by Fresnoland founder and editor-in-chief Danielle Bergstrom, and will feature affordable housing developer Betsy McGovern-Garcia, Fresno County Public Health Director Joe Prado and “Shaan Punjab Di” radio host and City of Fresno planning commissioner Gurdeep Shergill. This event can be attended online and in-person.
June
11
Arte Américas
1630 Van Ness Ave., Fresno
7–9 p.m.
Learn more More from ASU
Fighting fire damage with fungus
ASU researchers are turning to mycelium as a cost-effective, sustainable way to stabilize land after a fire.Read more
For more information, contact:
Nikki Ripley
Assistant Vice President, Media Relations & Strategic Communications
Nikki.Ripley@asu.edu
480-231-7501
This email was sent to: peterhovis@icloud.com
Forward to a friend | Update Profile | Unsubscribe
View this email onlineArizona State University
PO Box 877705, Tempe, AZ, 85287-7705, USA
Copyright © 2026 Arizona Board of Regents | Privacy statement
