Commencement 2025 (Archive)

Congratulations Class of 2025!

The VCUarts Qatar Commencement Ceremony is organized by the Strategic Engagement Department.

For further questions and concerns, please reach out to [email protected].

Commencement Speaker 2025

Peter Gould
Strategic Design Leader & Founder of Gould Studios

Peter Gould is a design leader and entrepreneur. He advocates for heart-centered design that aligns spiritual aspirations and strategic design practice. Over 20 years his clients have included Apple, Google, Disney, the United Nations and a diverse creative portfolio for governments, startups, and global nonprofits.

His contributions to design have resulted in international acclaim and awards. Peter is a recipient of the Stanford Certificate of Innovation & Entrepreneurship and has lectured Design Thinking at the University of Technology, Sydney. He was appointed as a UNHCR Ambassador in recognition of his efforts supporting refugees.

Peter’s book and educational platform, The Heart of Design, has helped hundreds of teams and individuals worldwide to align their spiritual aspirations with meaningful creative and professional paths.

At the intersection of design, spirituality, and entrepreneurship, Peter aims to inspire a global like-hearted movement and grassroots creative communities for a bright, heart-centered future.

Watch the 2025 Commencement Address below.

Valedictorian and Salutatorian

The titles Valedictorian and Salutatorian are bestowed on the students who hold the highest academic ranking among the graduation class. They have respectively earned the highest and second highest cumulative grade point average (CGPA) as assessed at the end of the Fall semester prior to the graduation term. 

The Valedictorian is invited to deliver the Student Address during the Commencement Ceremony. In the case of two equally qualified students, two Co-Valedictorians are selected.

Haneen Mohssen Darwich (BFA in Interior Design) has been announced as Valedictorian of the Class of 2025. Anastasia V Marinova (BFA in Graphic Design) has been announced as Salutatorian.

Class Marshals

The Class Marshals are appointed by the Academic Program Department Chairs/Directors in recognition of their services to the academic departments. Class Marshals lead their classmates in the commencement procession and are distinguished by a special sash as part of their regalia.

Class Marshals are announced during the Commencement Fair and will receive their special sash during the official part of the fair.

Class Marshals for the Class of 2025 are:

• Fatima Khalid Al Moftah, BA in Art History
• Halah Murad Marouf Rafiq Mahmoud, BFA in Fashion Design
• Minatuallah Khalil Al Aswad, BFA in Graphic Design
• Ayah Abdelrahim Ali ElFihail, BFA in Interior Design
• Ghada Abdulla Alkuwari, BFA in Painting + Printmaking
• Yasamin Shaikhi, MFA in Design

Class Champion

The Class Champion is competitively selected by the senior academic leadership from the graduating class of undergraduate students who earned a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 360 or higher at the end of the term prior to graduation. The Dean and the Class Champion lead the graduating class into the Qatar Foundation Convocation Ceremony that is usually held soon after VCUarts Qatar’s Commencement Ceremony.

The Class Champion is announced during the Commencement Fair and will receive a special sash during the official part of the fair.

Class Champion for the Class of 2025 is Amani Azhar (BFA in Graphic Design).