Twin sisters Tia and Jasmin Criss have made history by graduating as valedictorian and salutatorian of Cheyney University — the nation’s oldest HBCU.
Tia, with a perfect 4.0 GPA, earned valedictorian honors, while Jasmin, with a 3.9 GPA, is salutatorian. The Philadelphia natives completed their degrees and walked the stage on May 9, 2026, showcasing excellence, resilience, and unbreakable sisterhood.
They credit their late father’s guidance and their mother’s support for fueling their success. Their story is a powerful example of Black brilliance and the strength of HBCU education. Their father would surely be beaming with pride. 🙏🏿
BA - English and Literary Studies
MA - English Language (Critical Discourse)
PhD - Corpus Stylistics
Academic Publications - 10
Citations 5 +
Certifications - TEFL, Nigerian National code for health research ethics,
2024 Ife Institute Fellow
Winner 2024 LSA Travel grant
Bachelor of pharmacy
Master’s Pharmaceutics (Distinction)
PhD Pharmaceutics/Pharmaceutical Technology (in view)
Academic publications- 17 (First authored, 3).
Fellow, Center for Biomedical Research, NYC.
Lecturer, Department of Pharmaceutics, Unilag!
Graduated with a Doctorate in Medicine with a distinction in Global Health Equity from Mayo Clinic.
Matched into Dermatology residency without a research/gap year!