KENTFIELD / NOVATO, CA—College of Marin’s (COM) 98th Commencement Exercises will take place on Friday, May 23, at 6 p.m. at Pieper Field, 700 College Avenue, Kentfield. Of the approximately 485 students receiving degrees and certificates this year, over 230 will participate in the formal ceremony. This year’s youngest graduate is 17 and the oldest graduate is 76 years old. The College will be awarding 310 associate of arts degrees, 184 associate of science degrees, and 117 certificates. Some students have earned more than one degree or certificate.
“We are pleased to have helped this year's graduates and transfer students achieve over six hundred degrees and certificates, fulfilling our mission as the community's college,” said Superintendent/President Dr. Jonathan Eldridge. “I look forward to congratulating each of them Friday evening and cheering them on as they take the next step on their educational and career journeys.”
The Commencement and Transfer Recognition Ceremony will be opened by Academic Senate President Maria Coulson. Dr. Eldridge will welcome graduates, attendees, and transfer students, followed by remarks from Board of Trustees President Dr. Paul da Silva. Assistant Superintendent/Vice President of Student Learning and Success Dr. Dana Emerson will introduce the student speakers, Layla Butero and Reva Siu-Masset. Following remarks from the speakers, Dr. Eldridge will confer the degrees and certificates, and the ceremony will be closed by Maria Coulson. The Class of 2025 will exit the field to Mariners’ March, composed by COM Music Professor James Stopher, D.M.A., performed by the COM Symphonic Wind Ensemble, and directed by Trevor Björklund, Ph.D.
About the Student Speakers
Leyla Butero
Leyla Butero is a dynamic entrepreneur and community advocate, renowned for her innovative spirit and commitment to empowering others. As a proud mother of two daughters, she balances family life with her business and creative pursuits, embodying resilience and heart.
Together with her husband, Sam Butero, Leyla co-founded and successfully sold a health and wellness company. Following this achievement, she returned to California to pursue her passion for real estate at COM.
In addition to her entrepreneurial endeavors, Leyla co-authored Toasty Tales, a children's book focused on emotional intelligence, designed to help young readers understand and manage their emotions. Through her ventures and storytelling, Leyla continues to inspire others and make a meaningful impact.
Reva Siu-Masset
Born in Berkeley, California to Chinese-Tahitian immigrant parents, Reva Siu-Masset is a second-generation American whose life has always bridged cultures and coastlines. After spending her early life in the Philippines, she witnessed the impact of climate change on vulnerable communities and grew determined to speak up for those left out of environmental conversations. Her passion for sustainability is grounded not only in science, but also in a commitment to equity, storytelling, and resilience.
After moving back to California in 2021 to pursue a stronger education, Reva enrolled at COM, where she found her footing as a student leader and climate advocate. She rose through the ranks of the Environmental Action Club, joined Puente and EOPS, and worked as a tutor in English and communications. In 2023, she founded Heritage of Asia & the Pacific (HAP)—the College’s first organization centering the voices of Asian and Pacific Islander students. Under her leadership, HAP became a space for students to be seen, celebrated, and empowered.
Reva plans to transfer to Stanford or UC Berkeley to major in sustainable environmental design. Her long-term goal is to help build climate-resilient communities and support nations on the frontlines of climate change—both in California and across the Pacific—through sustainable infrastructure, inclusive policymaking, and community-driven design.
Friday, May 23, 2025
6 PM — 8 PM / PDT
College of Marin Pieper Field (in person)
700 College Ave
Kentfield, CA 94904
Kentfield Campus Map | Pieper Field Map
Additional information about the ceremony is at marin.edu/commencement.