Commencement Speakers
Tiara Taylor
Student Speaker
Tiara Taylor will receive her Associate’s Degree for Transfer in Business Administration. She will be pursuing her Bachelor’s degree with a concentration in Management or Finance.
Raised in Compton, California, Taylor moved to Moreno Valley not long ago at the age of nineteen. Pursuing higher education, being involved in the community, and taking on an entrepreneurial spirit were values instilled in her from a young age.
Taylor considers herself to be a creative individual and nurtures a deep appreciation for the visual arts, theatre, music, and animation. Taylor is also a fan of storytelling, from fantasy and sci-fi, to horror and comedy. She aspires to create fully realized stories of her own through comics and short films. Her hobbies include drawing, writing, singing, and being a foodie.
She has participated in a variety of extracurriculars and programs including EOPS, UMOJA, ASMVC, College Corps, the National Council of Negro Women, and MovaLearns. She was also a member of various different student-led clubs. Taylor prides herself on being involved in the community and seeks to be an example for her younger siblings as the first child to attend college as she is a heavy believer in being a lifelong learner.
Felipe Galicia
Faculty Speaker
Felipe Galicia joined Moreno Valley College in 2005, bringing with him a passion for biology education and student empowerment. A former high school AP and Honors teacher, Galicia earned his master’s degree from California State University, San Bernardino, with research focused on the cellular and molecular mechanisms of Type II diabetes. At MVC, he has served as Academic Senate President and department chair while championing student support programs such as supplemental instruction, the PUENTE mentorship program, and outdoorfocused student clubs.
Galicia is also known for connecting students to the natural world through field studies at locations such as Joshua Tree National Park and the San Jacinto Wildlife Area. These trips have allowed students to engage in realworld research, including contributing to climate change studies. A fourtime recipient of the Natural Sciences Instructor of the Year award, Galicia continues to inspire through his leadership, mentorship, and commitment to equity and sustainability.
