IBS Celebrates 2025 Commencement
Gesshin Claire Greenwood | June 6, 2025
On Wednesday, May 21, 2025, students, faculty, trustees and friends of IBS gathered at the Jodo Shinshu Center to celebrate our graduating students Dr. Thomas Calobrisi delivered the commencement address. Faculty and staff also led a memorial service for Camille Reddy, an IBS student who passed away this spring.
Following Dr. Calobrisi’s address and remarks by Dean Takashi Miyaji and and Dr. Leroy Morishita, Dr. Myaji acknowledged the 2025 graduates, and conferred degrees and certificates to the following students:
2025 Degree Graduates
Chris Rolitsky, Master of Arts in Buddhist Studies
Sydney Shiroyama, Master of Buddhist Studies
Amy Shoemaker, Master of Divinity
Certificate in Buddhist Chaplaincy
Edward Tcheleshev
Ryoko Osa
Certificate in Buddhist Studies
Stephen Bales
Sumreen Chaudhry
Maria Nicolacopoulou
Certificate in Shin Buddhist Studies
JP DeGuzman
Galen Gorelangton
Rosalie May
Mariko Nishiyama
Sara Perrott
Sharon Sasaki
Following the ceremony, attendees gathered in the Jodo Shinshu Center Community Room (formerly the bookstore) for food and cake.
Recent graduate Amy Shoemaker
