The University of San Francisco’s 166th commencement ceremonies celebrated the graduation of 2,135 students this May. Notably, 34 percent of these graduates are the first in their families to earn college degrees.
Incoming President Salvador D. Aceves is also a first-generation college graduate. He will officially take office in August.
A San Francisco native, Aceves earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the School of Management at USF and a Doctor of Education (Ed. D.) from the School of Education. Additionally, he holds a master’s degree in taxation from Golden Gate University.
Aceves began his career in Jesuit higher education, serving as an associate professor of accounting in both the School of Management and the School of Law. He later held the positions of vice provost and chief planning and budget officer.
In recognition of the service and sacrifices of former students, the University of San Francisco honored Joe Rosenthal, who captured one of the most famous photographs in history.
Rosenthal attended the University of San Francisco in 1942 and 1943 but left before graduating to cover World War II for the Associated Press.
On February 23, 1945, he took the iconic photo of six Marines raising the American flag atop Mount Suribachi during the Battle of Iwo Jima.
This photograph won him a Pulitzer Prize and inspired the design of the Marine Corps War Memorial. Just four days after the image was taken, it was transmitted worldwide by the Associated Press and published on the front pages of over 200 newspapers across the United States.
After graduating in May 2025, Nathaniel Gonzalez plans to join the Navy SEALs.
The chemistry major was one of three lifeguards honored at a civic ceremony in February for saving a life during a poolside heart attack.
Gonzalez was the first to jump into the water and perform CPR for more than 10 minutes until paramedics arrived.
Following commencement, he will return home to El Paso for his sister’s high school graduation before taking on a lifeguarding role over the summer while preparing for his future career, which has been shaped by his experiences at USF and his family background.
His grandfather and four brothers all served in the Navy, and his uncle was in the Army.
USF also showcased members of the Class of 2025 who already have full-time jobs lined up.
Deriana Brown, who earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a focus on Accounting, entrepreneurship, and innovation, will be joining Deloitte in San Francisco as an audit and assurance associate.
She secured this position by attending a “Meet the Firms” event on campus during her junior year, where a recruiter from Deloitte took note of her previous internship at Nordstrom.
Koa Fong, who graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Finance, will work as a finance and accounting assistant at CSM Group.
CSM operates around 100 Popeyes locations and has also introduced Tim Hortons, a Canadian coffee chain, to Houston.
Koa will be working directly under the head of finance to help manage these various restaurants.
Lucas Ruiz Brockl, who earned a Master of Science in Sport Management, will serve as the coordinator of brand partnerships for the Oakland Roots and Oakland Soul soccer clubs. These clubs aim to leverage the spirit of Oakland and use sports as a force for social good.
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