Commencement 2025 Speakers
The University of Minnesota Rochester celebrated commencement on Saturday, May 17. The following individuals were selected to speak at the ceremony.
Amy Collins, PhD
Faculty Speaker
Dr. Amy Collins earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Ohio Wesleyan University, studying history and zoology. Dr. Collins went on to earn four graduate degrees in education, including a PhD in agricultural communication, education and leadership from The Ohio State University. Dr. Collins joined the University of Minnesota Rochester faculty in August 2022. She teaches academic and personal success courses, including self-regulated learning, Capstone and foundations of leadership. Through her research, Dr. Collins seeks to understand how students’ needs have changed since the pandemic and how instructors can effectively facilitate academic success. She was the recipient of the 2024 UMR Raptor Impact Award for going above and beyond for students. Dr. Collins is known for her love of birds and birdwatching, her pet guinea pigs and her colorfully decorated office.
Melanie Lor
BSHP Student
A first-generation Hmong-American college student, Melanie Lor is graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Health Professions from the University of Minnesota Rochester and a certificate in Radiography from Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences with plans to specialize in MRI. Her commitment to compassionate, equitable and innovative health care inspired her journey to UMR. Through her experiences at UMR and Mayo Clinic, she has developed skills that empower her to give back to her community—especially by serving diverse and underrepresented populations like those in her hometown of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Greta Lee
BSHS Student
Originally from the small, rural town of Badger, Minnesota, Greta Lee learned early the value of community and the importance of those around her. This background was pivotal in her decision to continue her education at the University of Minnesota Rochester, where the small campus and health science-focused community aligned perfectly with her aspirations to make a difference in the world of health.
Lee was involved in a number of activities and roles on campus, including resident assistant, undergraduate academic assistant, intramural student leader, student ambassador, board member for the Research Club, member of the Raptor Eats Food Committee, multiple research experiences and a part-time job at the Canadian Honker Restaurant.
Lee is proud to further her education at the Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences in the Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics PhD program, where she aspires to develop new cancer treatments.