ALANA Celebration

Date: Thursday, May 14, 2026
Time: 2 p.m.
Location: Center for the Arts

Guests and Graduates requiring accommodations:
If you or a guest need special accommodations, please email us. We’d be happy to meet with you to determine your needs. On the day of the celebration, you can visit the Guest Services kiosk in the Center for the Arts for assistance.

As this is not a degree conferral ceremony, no academic regalia is to be worn, and business attire is required.

The Kente stole is given to students who participate in UB’s ALANA celebration, which historically has honored graduating African, Latino/a, Asian, and Native American students.

Co-sponsored by: Office of Inclusive Excellence, Office of Alumni Engagement,  Educational Opportunity Program and Cora P. Maloney Center

Iman Lathan is a PhD graduate of the University at Buffalo's Graduate School of Education and a Southern California native. She is a 2025 National Academy of Education/Spencer Foundation Dissertation Fellow, a distinction that recognizes the significance and rigor of her research. As a former Division I collegiate basketball athlete, her personal and professional experiences in higher education and collegiate athletics deeply inform her interdisciplinary research at the intersections of Black feminism, athletic capitalism, media studies, and higher education. 

Her dissertation, The Secondary Diaspora: Black Women in NCAA Division I Basketball, lays the foundation for a broader research agenda and forthcoming book project, as it weaves together theory, oral histories, and archival research to interrogate the entanglements of identity, capitalism, and educational pathways among athletes across diverse sporting contexts. Lathan's work not only centers Black women's voices in sport but also contributes to broader discourses on racial and gendered capitalism, representation, and educational equity. Her research has implications for media practices, policy reform in college athletics, and the support systems designed for student-athletes. 

Beyond her research, Lathan is committed to mentorship, public scholarship, and expanding access to critical conversations within and beyond academia. She is passionate about supporting students navigating non-linear educational pathways and creating spaces where they feel seen, valued, and empowered, while also naming and interrogating the hypocrisies and layered histories of the institutions we call home.

Trebor Entzminger is a South Carolina native. He is graduating with his Master's in Industrial Engineering. Throughout his time at UB, he has juggled being a Graduate Intern for the Intercultural and Diversity Center, an engineering fellow, and being involved with the Phi Epsilon chapter of Omega Psi Phi fraternity. These opportunities helped him strengthen his passion for community and education. Beyond academics, he is known for being a lively soul who loves sports, music, and learning about cultures.

Karen Guerra-Quijada (she/her) is a first-generation Salvadoran American and Pre-Physician Associate student graduating with a baccalaureate degree in Public Health. She serves as President of the Pre-Physician Assistant Society, where she mentors and supports aspiring healthcare professionals.  Karen also worked with the Intercultural and Diversity Center (IDC) as a Diversity Advocate, promoting inclusion and fostering supportive spaces for students of all backgrounds, while also gaining experience as a medical assistant, advocating for women’s health throughout her undergraduate career.

She is passionate about advocating for marginalized communities, with a focus on the Hispanic/Latino community, and advancing health equity through culturally responsive, patient-centered care. With experience in clinical care, health education, leadership, and community engagement, she strives to help bridge the gap between healthcare and underserved populations. Following graduation, she plans to apply to Physician Associate programs and continue working toward a career dedicated to reducing healthcare disparities and improving access to inclusive care.

Tina Treherne is a proud African American and Jamaican woman from Brownsville, Brooklyn, in New York City. She is graduating with a Master’s degree in Criminology and is committed to pursuing law school, where she plans to become a criminal justice attorney advocating for juveniles. Her work is grounded in a deep commitment to supporting at-risk youth while expanding fair opportunities for those too often impacted by inequities in the justice system.

Throughout her graduate experience, Tina serves as a Graduate Intern for the Intercultural Diversity Center where she fosters inclusion while building meaningful connections across campus. She is also the sole Graduate Ambassador for the Master’s in Criminology program in the college of Arts & Sciences where she guided prospective students through the application process for graduate school. In addition, she works as a Student Success Coach with City Year Buffalo, where she supports young students from 5th-8th grade in their academic growth and personal development in the classroom. Lastly, Tina also serves as the Graduate Advisor for the National Black Pre-Law Student Association where she mentors aspiring pre-law students. 

Tina earned her Bachelor’s degree in Criminology and Sociology, with a minor in Counseling. As a first-generation college and graduate student, she carries her journey with purpose as she uses her experiences to uplift others. She remains deeply committed to advocacy, mentorship, and creating spaces where underrepresented students feel inspired to thrive. At the celebration, she will be giving a speech on her journey at UB and what it means to be PROUD.

Even if you're not able to attend the ALANA celebration, you can still make a difference! Consider volunteering or making a donation to help make this milestone event even more special. Your support means the world!