Approximately 306 students will receive their graduate and undergraduate diplomas at the ceremony at 2 p.m., Sunday, May 21, in the UOG Calvo Field House. The event will be streamed at https://www.facebook.com/UniversityofGuam/ 

Ms. De Peralta earned her Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering degree from the University of California, Los Angeles, with an emphasis in Thermal Science and Power Systems. She received her Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling from Argosy University, and Certificates in Engineering Management and Fire Protection Engineering from UCLA Extension and Cybersecurity for Information Systems from Harvard University’s Office of Vice Provost. 

In 1986, when she was nearing graduation from UCLA, the Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster happened. She was glued to the news and saddened about the people impacted by the disaster.

 “That was when my passion with nuclear power plants started. I specialized in ensuring that power plant operators can safely shut down the nuclear reactor in the event of a fire or other types of accidents occurring – such as earthquakes, tornadoes and floods,” she said.

Ms. De Peralta is now a Senior Advisor in the Risk and Environmental Assessment Group in the Energy and Environment Directorate at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), which is operated for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).  

Ms. De Peralta has over 35 years of professional experience in various projects involving the design and operation of nuclear power plants; integration of renewable energy-generating assets into electricity grids, environmental assessments and cyber security programs, among others.

Ms. De Peralta is the project manager for two U.S. Department of Energy-funded projects to collaborate with the University of Guam on developing clean energy science toward the generation of hydrogen through seawater electrolysis – and assessment of the use of ocean energy systems.

This will be the last set of graduates to receive their diplomas from UOG President Thomas W. Krise, who is retiring in August after having led the University for five years.

"No matter where you are, I encourage you — as you have during your time at UOG — to continue seizing opportunities. Take any chance you might have to use your talents, your knowledge, and your values to lift up your island's community or any community that you serve," President Krise said to the future graduates. 

An honorary degree of Master of Micronesian Traditional Knowledge will be conferred to Baskas Mark who comes from a family of traditional canoe navigators. A native of Polowat Atoll, in the Federated States of Micronesia, Mark is being honored for being a “Rapiniwog” or Grandmaster Navigator in seafaring. 

Watch Commencement Livestream