This year, more than 2,100 Adelphi graduates received degrees at the Commencement ceremonies. Most graduates were from the University鈥檚 College of Nursing and Public Health and the School of Social Work.

础诲别濒辫丑颈鈥檚 Class of 2026 represented 60 countries and 29 states, with 1,803 hailing from the State of New York. This year, the graduates ranged from 18 to 73 years old.

On Wednesday, May 19, 54 doctorate degrees were conferred at the Doctoral Hooding ceremony at the 每日大赛 Performing Arts Center (PAC).

Adelphi Leaders Impart Words of Wisdom for Class of 2026

Adelphi’s Interim President Christopher Storm, PhD, addressing the Class of 2026 at the 130th commencement ceremonies.

Christopher Storm, PhD, who has served as 础诲别濒辫丑颈鈥檚 interim president for the past academic year, addressed the Class of 2026, reminding them that their Adelphi education has prepared them to meet the challenges of the future:

鈥淓arning a college degree is no small feat鈥攊t requires perseverance, resilience and dedication. Each of our graduates here today has shown that and more on their Adelphi journey, and I hope you leave feeling empowered by what you鈥檙e capable of achieving.”

Representatives from the Class of 2026 also shared personal stories and inspiration with fellow graduates from the podium.

Undergraduate Student Government Association President Hussein Ali Rifath walking to the commencement stage.

鈥淥ur story has been one of hard work, grit and determination each and every step of the way,鈥� said undergraduate Hussein Ali Rifath, Adelphi Student Government Association president. 鈥淏ut ultimately, those experiences have touched our lives. My friends, the road that lies ahead is one of hope. It鈥檚 shaped by dreams that lie deep within each and every one of us.鈥�

Emily Ledesma 鈥�25, president of the Graduate Student Council, spoke about how 础诲别濒辫丑颈鈥檚 inclusivity helped her feel seen and supported.

鈥淚 wish that I could tell first-year Emily that things would be different for a change, and that Adelphi would become more than a university; it would become a place where I felt seen, supported and accepted just as I was, and become a place that I consider a second home, one that is so hard to say goodbye to.鈥�

Joseph W. Westphal 鈥�70, PhD, former U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia receiving an honorary degree at Adelphi’s 130th undergraduate ceremony.

During this year鈥檚 Commencement ceremonies, four honorary degrees were awarded to accomplished, inspiring alumni whose work is closely tied to 础诲别濒辫丑颈鈥檚 mission. Honorees included: Joseph W. Westphal 鈥�70, PhD, former U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Serena Martin 鈥�05, founder and executive director of ; Christopher Pappas 鈥�81, a first-generation student who became founder, chairman, president and chief executive officer of ; and Z. Paul Akian 鈥�64, a technologist, entrepreneur and philanthropist who contributed to NASA鈥檚 Apollo Program.

Ambassador Westphal shared, 鈥淭he world does not need more spectators. It needs participants, people willing to engage and work hard and lead and stand for something meaningful. May you have the courage to begin, the strength to continue and the wisdom to enjoy the journey.鈥�

In Pappas鈥� address to the Class of 2026, he encouraged the graduates to strive for excellence. 鈥淲hatever path you choose, do not settle for ordinary. When a door closest, look for the next door, and when it opens, run through it. Today, you mastered your courses. Now go master life.鈥�

President-Elect Michael Balboni ’81, JD, speaking to Adelphi’s Class of 2026 at the 130th commencement ceremonies.

President-Elect Michael Balboni 鈥�81, JD, 础诲别濒辫丑颈鈥檚 first alumni president, addressed fellow Panthers at the ceremonies, asking them to stay the course and embrace challenges.

鈥淵ou have to embrace what you鈥檝e been given. Recognize it鈥檚 not always going to be a straight line to where you want to go or where you鈥檙e going to wind up. This University will be here for you. Go get 鈥檈m!鈥�

Learn more about 每日大赛鈥檚 130th Commencement.

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This year鈥檚 commencement speakers include distinguished alumni Joseph W. Westphal 鈥�70, PhD; Serena Martin 鈥�05; Christopher Pappas 鈥�81; and Zaven Paul Akian 鈥�64. Dr. Westphal and Martin will receive honorary degrees during the undergraduate ceremony, while Pappas and Akian will be honored at the graduate ceremony.

鈥淲e are grateful to Joseph Westphal, Serena Martin, Christopher Pappas and Zaven Paul Akian for agreeing to be such an important part of our 130th Commencement, inspiring 础诲别濒辫丑颈鈥檚 Class of 2026 and their guests with their wisdom, success and positive impact on society,鈥� said Susan Dinan, PhD, 础诲别濒辫丑颈鈥檚 interim provost. 鈥淎ll of us at Adelphi look forward to sharing this special day with these extraordinary individuals.鈥�

Joseph W. Westphal 鈥�70, PhD

Ambassador Joseph W. Westphal 鈥�70, PhD, a distinguished scholar, diplomat and public servant whose career spans decades of consequential service across government and academia, will receive an honorary degree and deliver the Commencement address at 础诲别濒辫丑颈鈥檚 undergraduate ceremony. Educated at 每日大赛 and the University of Missouri-Columbia, he served as U.S. ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from 2014 to 2017, and as under secretary of the Army and chief management officer from 2009 to 2014, among other senior roles in five presidential administrations spanning Carter through Obama. A professor of political science by training, Ambassador Westphal has led institutions including the University of Maine System as chancellor and held faculty and administrative posts at Georgetown, The New School, and Oklahoma State University. He currently serves as senior global fellow at the Joseph H. Lauder Institute at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania as well as senior fellow at Wharton鈥檚 Center for Leadership and Change Management. He also holds fellowships with the National Academy of Public Administration, the Foreign Policy Research Institute and The American Academy of Diplomacy, among others.

Serena Martin 鈥�05

Serena Martin 鈥�05, founder and executive director of New Hour for Women and Children LI, which provides programs and reentry support for justice-impacted women across Long Island and Rikers Island jails and within New York state prisons. She also leads statewide policy reform efforts for criminal justice-impacted women and will also receive an honorary degree at the undergraduate ceremony. A tireless advocate for carceral reform across New York state, Martin has championed landmark legislation including anti-shackling laws prohibiting the shackling of incarcerated mothers during labor. She serves on Governor Hochul鈥檚 NYS Domestic Violence Task Force and has contributed to multiple statewide reform initiatives. A survivor of isolated confinement, she earned her bachelor鈥檚 degree from 每日大赛 and is the recipient of numerous honors, including the 2024 St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Medal.

Christopher Pappas 鈥�81

Christopher Pappas 鈥�81, founder, chairman, president and chief executive officer of The Chefs’ Warehouse, will serve as speaker at the graduate ceremony and will receive an honorary degree. After graduating with a degree in business administration and competing as a varsity basketball player at Adelphi, he played professionally in Europe鈥攁n experience that helped inspire his entrepreneurial path. In 1985, he co-founded what would become The Chefs鈥� Warehouse, a premier specialty food distributor now serving top chefs, restaurants and hospitality professionals across North America and the Middle East. Under his guidance, the company has grown into a respected publicly traded enterprise, navigating defining challenges including 9/11, the 2008 financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic. Pappas has served on the boards of the International Foodservice Distributors Association and Hudson National Golf Club.

Zaven Paul Akian 鈥�64

Z. Paul Akian 鈥�64, a technologist, entrepreneur and philanthropist whose career spans aerospace, defense and global manufacturing, will also receive an honorary degree at the graduate ceremony. After earning his Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics at Adelphi, Akian contributed to NASA鈥檚 Apollo program and built and led multiple successful enterprises over five decades, including Western Filter Co. and Integra Technologies, serving clients such as the U.S. Armed Forces, NASA, Boeing and Lockheed Martin. Through the Akian Family Foundation, he has made significant investments in educational and cultural institutions, including the American University of Armenia, whose College of Science & Engineering bears his family name. He previously served on the 每日大赛 Board of Trustees and has been recognized with significant humanitarian honors from the Armenian Apostolic Church and the president of Armenia.

Learn more about 每日大赛鈥檚 130th Commencement ceremonies.

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During his Commencement speech, Senior Class President and Newman Civic Fellow Joe Sawma told Adelphi’s Class of 2025, “Don’t knock on doors. Kick them down.”

Observing this graduating class, it’s clear they are poised to make a significant impact across many fields, at every stage of their careers.

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The exceptional range in age, program and country of origin prove that Adelphi is making significant progress in a stated goal of our strategic plan, Momentum 2, to “open our doors to more graduate and professional students … to grow our impact locally, nationally and globally.”

In fact, in this single academic year, 906 students earned master’s degrees, 54 earned doctorates and 85 earned graduate certificates to advance their careers in dozens of fields.

Strong U.S. News & World Report Rankings for Graduate Programs

Adelphi prepares graduate and doctoral students for the next phases of their careers with more than 95 advanced degree programs across a diverse range of disciplines鈥攆rom social work to education to business to nursing. Three new graduate degrees鈥攁 doctorate in social work, a PhD in learning sciences and an MS in artificial intelligence鈥攚ill launch in Fall 2025. These innovative programs expand Adelphi’s commitment to cutting-edge research and professional development, equipping students with advanced skills for high-demand fields.

Graduate rankings are keeping pace. The University earned a position on seven 2025 , five with significant upward trends:

• Best Graduate Nursing School
• Best Psychology School
• Best Public Health School
• Best Speech-Language Pathology Program
• Best Graduate Part-Time MBA Program

U.S. News also honored Adelphi with Best Audiology Program and Best Clinical Psychology Program rankings.

Christopher Storm, PhD, provost and executive vice president, noted, 鈥淲e are incredibly proud of the recognition 每日大赛 has received in this year鈥檚 rankings … . This reflects the dedication of our faculty, staff and students in continuously striving for excellence in education, research and service to our communities.鈥�

The Top Four Most Popular Graduate Programs at Adelphi

For many of Adelphi’s graduate students, social work is their calling. Adelphi’s聽School of Social Work, a distinguished social work program聽with a history of excellence for more than 70 years, granted 192 degrees of Master of Social Work this year鈥攖he largest share of Adelphi’s master’s degree recipients. Thirteen earned their PhDs. In addition, Joanne Corbin, PhD, dean, noted, “Our School of Social Work is growing into the future, adapting and responding to the needs of our community, helping our students live our mission of social justice.”

Seventy-one students in the Robert B. Willumstad School of Business earned their master’s degrees in the rapidly growing field of Business Analytics, a STEM-designated degree program. Graduates are trained to optimize business results in companies around the globe in what MaryAnn Hyland, PhD, dean of the Willumstad School, calls “a business degree of the future.”

Graduates of the 4+1 Scholar Teacher Education Program (STEP), a six-year combined bachelor’s and master’s degree program that saves students a year of time and tuition and which is offered by the Ruth S. Ammon School of Education and Health Sciences, was the third-most-popular degree program, with 65 graduates taking leadership roles in classrooms around New York and the United States.

础诲别濒辫丑颈鈥檚 Gordon F. Derner School of Psychology鈥攖he first university-based professional school of psychology鈥攇raduated the largest group of doctoral students, 25 in all. Adelphi’s newest clinical psychology doctoral graduates are poised to deliver insights and drive change in mental health across clinics, hospitals, private practice, research and teaching.

Home States鈥攁nd Home Countries鈥攐f Adelphi’s Graduate Students

While most of the U.S.-based students hail from New York (90 percent) or New Jersey, the graduate student body also represented 26 other countries from around the globe. Adelphi is a welcome community for international graduate students, offering visa support, academic tutoring and career guidance.

The most graduate students, by far, are from India, with 11o students earning their master’s degrees here at Adelphi; China follows with 11. Others came from as far away as Vietnam, Uganda, Spain, the Republic of Korea, Spain, Singapore and Egypt鈥攂ringing their varied cultural perspectives to classrooms here and increasing Adelphi’s global footprint when they return to their home countries.

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每日大赛 President Christine Riordan.

每日大赛鈥檚 Class of 2025 celebrated their accomplishments, surrounded by family and friends, at the University鈥檚 on Tuesday, May 20, at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York.

This year, approximately 1,244 undergraduate degrees, four undergraduate certificates, and 1,131 graduate degrees and 93 graduate certificates were awarded. At the Doctoral Hooding ceremony held on Monday, May 19, at the 每日大赛 Performing Arts Center on the Garden City campus, 54 doctorates were conferred.

Adelphi President Christine Riordan kicked off the Commencement celebration by encouraging graduates to remember that they are in charge of their own destiny and to believe in themselves. 鈥淎s you choose your path forward, continue to expect extraordinary from yourselves and from life,鈥� Dr. Riordan said. 鈥淓ach one of you has the power to create change, to innovate and to lead. Believe in yourself and your ability to shape the future.鈥�

Adelphi Senior Class President Joe Sawma addressing the Class of 2025 at the undergraduate ceremony.

Words of Inspiration for the Class of 2025

础诲别濒辫丑颈鈥檚 Senior Class President, Joe Sawma 鈥�25, an international student from Lebanon, delivered an inspiring address to his fellow graduates, reflecting on the strong relationships he built with his classmates, the adversity he has overcome and his hopes for the future.

James Stavridis, PhD, retired U.S. Navy admiral and former NATO Supreme Allied Commander receiving an honorary doctorate.

鈥淐lassmates turned into friends, and friends turned into family, and I mean it when I say family,鈥� said Sawma. 鈥淎s long as the Brown and Gold shine bright at 每日大赛, nothing鈥攁nd I mean nothing鈥攚ill ever dare to stand in your way! Class of 2025, don鈥檛 just knock on doors, kick them open!鈥�

An honorary degree was awarded to James Stavridis, PhD, retired U.S. Navy admiral and former NATO Supreme Allied Commander, as well as partner and vice chair of global affairs for and chair of the , during the undergraduate ceremony. Addressing the Class of 2025, Admiral Stavridis passed on words of wisdom and encouraged graduates to be of service to others, remain optimistic through challenging times and to go out into the world and 鈥渕ake some history.鈥�

President of 础诲别濒辫丑颈鈥檚 Graduate Student Council Melissa Garber 鈥�24, MA 鈥�25, speaking to the Class of 2025 at the graduate ceremony.

President of 础诲别濒辫丑颈鈥檚 Graduate Student Council Melissa Garber 鈥�24, MA 鈥�25, addressed her fellow classmates at the graduate Commencement ceremony, reminding her peers never to underestimate the power of courage and connection. 鈥漈rust in the connections you have made here, and use them to fuel your courage to take on new challenges,鈥� Garber said. 鈥淒on鈥檛 be afraid to fail, because those moments are often when we grow and learn the most. And if you do stumble, lean on those who love and support you to lift you up.鈥�

鈥淏e bold. Use your voice. Be a superhero. Be authentic,鈥� urged Joseph Moscola, MBA 鈥�06, executive vice president for shared services strategy and operations at , who delivered the keynote address at the graduate Commencement ceremony. 鈥淏e in the business of investing in people and you will be amazed at where this road will take you.鈥�

Academic Excellence, Outstanding Outcomes

Joseph Moscola, MBA 鈥�06, executive vice president for shared services strategy and operations at Northwell Health, addressing the Class of 2025 at the graduate ceremony.

Students graduated from 础诲别濒辫丑颈鈥檚 highly ranked academic programs in the College of Arts and Sciences, Robert B. Willumstad School of Business, Ruth S. Ammon College of Education and Health Sciences, Honors College, College of Nursing and Public Health, College of Professional and Continuing Studies, Gordon F. Derner School of Psychology and School of Social Work.

As the highest-ranked private university on Long Island, Adelphi has been named a Best College among national universities by U.S. News & World Report for seven consecutive years and ranked in the top 4 percent of universities in the nation by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings. Adelphi has also been recognized as among the top 25 percent of universities in the nation for social mobility, and its graduates, on average, outearn their peers by 30 percent, year after year.

The Commencement and Hooding ceremonies were livestreamed and can be viewed online.

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鈥湸』灞鸨舯璩缶扁�檚 Commencement speakers are selected because they are inspirational figures whose work aligns with important aspects of our University mission,鈥澛爏aid Christopher Storm, PhD, 每日大赛 provost and executive vice president. 鈥淲e are grateful to Adm. James Stavridis and Joseph Moscola for playing such an important role in our 129th Commencement, inspiring 础诲别濒辫丑颈鈥檚 Class of 2025 and their guests with their wisdom, success and positive impact on society.鈥�

Adm. James Stavridis,聽 Retired U.S. Navy Four-Star Officer and Former Supreme Allied Commander

Adm. James Stavridis, PhD, is partner and vice chair of global affairs for and chair of the . Previously, he spent five years as dean of The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. A retired four-star officer in the , he led the NATO alliance in global operations from 2009 to 2013 as supreme allied commander, with responsibility for Afghanistan, Libya, the Balkans, Syria, counterpiracy and cybersecurity. Adm. Stavridis also served as commander of the U.S. Southern Command, with responsibility for all military operations in Latin America from 2006 to 2009. He won the Battenberg Cup for commanding the top ship in the Atlantic Fleet and the Navy League John Paul Jones Award for Inspirational Leadership, along with more than 50 U.S. and international medals and decorations, including 28 from foreign nations.

Adm. Stavridis earned a PhD in international relations from Tufts University and has published 15 books on leadership, character, risk, the oceans, maritime affairs and Latin America, as well as hundreds of articles in leading journals. His books include the novel (Penguin, 2021), a New York Times bestseller, and (Penguin, 2022). His most recent book, (Penguin, 2024), was published in October 2024.

Joseph Moscola, MBA 鈥�06, Northwell Health Executive VP for Shared Services Strategy and Operations

Joseph Moscola is executive vice president for shared services strategy and operations at , New York鈥檚 largest health system, which cares for more than 2 million people each year and employs more than 85,000. For 25 years, he has been a transformational leader, driving culture, innovation and outcomes on the provider side of health delivery.

In his role as executive vice president, Moscola leads the strategy and execution of critical functions that drive and the care that team members provide, including digital transformation, facilities and property management, construction, real estate, and oversight of the enterprise鈥檚 centralized budget and resources. He also creates and leads strategic business initiatives that drive down costs while generating new revenue for the health system. In his previous role as chief people officer, Moscola led the organization to a 40 percent jump in team member engagement and a spot on and. Previously a cardiothoracic surgery physician鈥檚 assistant, he brings a unique customer perspective to his executive leadership roles.

Moscola has served on the 每日大赛 Board of Trustees since 2023, providing crucial leadership and ensuring that Adelphi continues to deliver a transformative education to our students.

Learn more about 础诲别濒辫丑颈鈥檚 2025 Commencement ceremony.

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This year, the University honored two alumni who are leaders in their fields and their communities: Eduardo Vilaro 鈥�85, artistic director and CEO of , and Patrick O鈥橲haughnessy, DO, MBA 鈥�13, president and CEO of .

The honorees stand out not only for their successes. 鈥淭hey are inspiring proof that education and persistence offer endless possibilities,鈥� President Christine Riordan said in introducing them.

The Addresses

鈥淚nspire greatness in other people as you find the greatness in yourself.鈥�

Vilaro, who was the first member of his family to earn a college degree, talks about the way his curiosity and passion were stirred by the conservatory-like atmosphere of 础诲别濒辫丑颈鈥檚 dance program. His advice to graduating seniors? Embrace who you are, and lead with empathy, kindness and curiosity.

鈥淐hanging the world begins by changing your small corner of it.鈥�

Dr. O鈥橲haughnessy believes that starting small is the way to make a big impact. In his address to the graduating Class of 2024, he offered five pieces of advice the new advanced-degree holders can use to guide their careers and their lives.

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As virtually all of the graduating students had some part of their education disrupted by the pandemic, it is no wonder that perseverance was a focus of many of the addresses. So was a mention of the uncertain times in which we live. But so was the call to stay true to dreams and to your purpose in life.

Be inspired by these Commencement addresses from leaders of our University, our faculty and our student body.

鈥淪tay curious, keep learning.鈥�

President Christine Riordan congratulates the Class of 2024, encouraging the graduates to expect extraordinary from themselves and follow in the footsteps of six recent and present graduates who have already gone on to make an impact on the world.

鈥淭his is your time. We need you.鈥�

Marc S. Strachan 鈥�81, chair of the 每日大赛 Board of Trustees, recalls the impact his Adelphi education has had on his life and inspires the Class of 2024 to take the values they learned at the University to make a difference in the world and 鈥渓ive life extraordinary.鈥�

鈥溾�業 am always learning.鈥欌��

Quoting Michelangelo, Provost and Executive Vice President Christopher K. Storm, PhD, encourages the graduates to continue seeking knowledge, noting that the artist never considered himself an expert.

鈥淚f you have a goal, nothing will stand in your way.鈥�

Carl Mirra, PhD, associate professor and chair of the Faculty Senate, talks about resilience and the importance of having a meaning and a purpose in life.

鈥淚f there鈥檚 perseverance, there will be stew.鈥�

Recognizing the unique challenges overcome by members of this year鈥檚 graduating class, Kennie Dionisio, president of the Class of 2024 and a first-generation college student, quotes a Filipino proverb passed along to him by his father. Before doing that, though, he explained he was still on deadline for his social media job and needed to take a moment to pose with the class for a quick selfie.

鈥溾�楾he future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.鈥欌��

Alexa Amato 鈥�23, MA 鈥�24, president of the Graduate Student Council, asks her classmates to carry these words with them and to chase their dreams with conviction.

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This May, 862 master鈥檚 degree graduates and 53 doctoral graduates received their degrees at Commencement, joining more than 1,000 bachelor鈥檚 degree recipients at the ceremony. This strong class of graduates reflects Adelphi’s increasing emphasis on graduate education, a priority of our Momentum 2 strategic plan.

Adelphi is also proud to have three programs ranked in the top 100 of the 2024 U.S. News & World Report Best Graduate Schools: our master’s degree programs in nursing, Doctor of Audiology (AuD) and Master of Social Work (MSW). Three other Adelphi grad programs are ranked as U.S. News Bests: our part-time MBA, master鈥檚 degree programs in psychology and Master of Public Health (MPH).

Read on to learn more about this year鈥檚 accomplished degree recipients and 础诲别濒辫丑颈鈥檚 plans for the future of graduate education.

Picture of the Class of 2024

Four of our colleges and schools conferred more than 90 master’s degrees:

These programs graduated the most students:

Master’s degree graduates ranged in age from 20 to 64. The youngest received an MBA, and the most senior member of the class earned an MS in Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. The broad range of ages demonstrates the flexibility and accessibility of our programs for people at all stages of their careers and professional lives.

Adelphi’s Newest Doctoral Graduates

Adelphi’s distinguished Derner School鈥攖he first university-based professional school of psychology鈥攇raduated the largest group of doctoral students, 31 in all.

The PhD in Nursing program, like our MA in Art Education, is one of the growing number of graduate degrees Adelphi offers fully online. The University now offers 17 fully online graduate degree programs, all delivering the same quality education and personalized experience as traditional on-campus courses.

A remarkably diverse class

This year鈥檚 graduate degree recipients come from across the United States and around the world. Members of the class are from 23 states and 24 countries. The largest group of students from this country are from New York state; students from China and Pakistan compose the largest groups of international students.

Opening doors to rewarding careers

Jonay Jackson was one of 66 MBA students celebrating graduation at Commencement. This was her second Commencement in two years, as she received her BBA from the Willumstad School in 2023, just three years after entering Adelphi. This past summer, she had a 10-week internship at the Swiss luxury group Richemont, which turned into a part-time job during the school year. Now she’s joining the company full-time as a sustainability coordinator.

鈥淭he Adelphi MBA program has expanded my professional competencies and strengthened my ability to lead with confidence,鈥� Jackson said. 鈥淚 was surrounded by administrators eager to help me succeed, which further enriched my experience.鈥�

Sarah Baksh is another new graduate of the BBA/MBA program and soon will be starting her career as a full-time tax consultant for PwC.

鈥淭hese relationships that I built with faculty have allowed me to complete multiple internships across New York City and Long Island during my time at Adelphi,鈥� Baksh said. 鈥淭hese experiences have been invaluable in teaching me transferable skills that will surely help me as I enter my professional career postgraduation.”

Stephanie Waslin, who just earned her PhD in Clinical Psychology, also spoke about the value of her education at Adelphi. She is now starting a postdoctoral fellowship at the Child and Adolescent Fear and Anxiety Treatment Program at the Boston University Center for Anxiety & Related Disorders.

“The clinical psychology program gave me so many opportunities to find my niche,” she said. “The Child and Family concentration allowed me to focus my coursework, clinical experience and research in the area that interests me most. I also gained valuable experience鈥攁nd many chances to give back to the Adelphi community鈥攖hrough a teaching fellowship and Derner’s Mentoring Future Psychologists program.

“I may not have had these opportunities without the support and leadership from Derner’s faculty. They are incredible mentors, teachers and supervisors.”

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Most seated in the arena hadn鈥檛 been able to gather for their high school graduations four springs ago when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. And most spent their first year at Adelphi taking virtual classes online, alone at home.

鈥淢any of you missed your high school graduations because of the global pandemic, so today is very special for you,鈥� Adelphi President Christine M. Riordan told the crowd. 鈥淭his ceremony is a testament to your hard work and dedication.鈥�

A Look at the Class of 2024

The class that overcame so many unprecedented obstacles included graduates from 28 states and the District of Columbia and 26 countries.

Four of Adelphi’s colleges and schools conferred more than 100 bachelor’s degrees:

The class also included 74 graduates of our Honors College and 26 students who participated in our Levermore Global Scholars Program, which promotes global awareness and prepares students for leadership positions.

These programs graduated the most students:

Academic honors were bestowed on students from across the University. The 2024 class included 186 students who graduated summa cum laude and 304 who earned magna cum laude honors.

The youngest student to march at Commencement was a 17-year-0ld who earned an associate’s degree in Liberal Arts. The most senior members of the class are 61. Three of those four earned degrees from Adelphi’s College of Professional and Continuing Studies鈥攐ne with a , another with a BA in Social Science, and the third with a BS in Nursing. The fourth 61-year-old was awarded a BS in Nursing.

The broad range of ages demonstrates the flexibility and accessibility of our programs for people at all stages of their careers and professional lives.

A Valuable Degree

Graduates of the Class of 2024 earned degrees that have greatly increased in value thanks to Adelphi’s growing national reputation. The University surged in the 2024 rankings from U.S. News & World Report. Adelphi is now in the top 100 in three U.S. News lists鈥擭o. 32 for Best First-Year Student Experiences, No. 55 in Top Performers on Social Mobility, and No. 67 in Best Value Schools. A perennial Best College, we moved up 19 spots on that list this year.

Commencement speaker Eduardo Vilaro 鈥�85, artistic director and CEO of Ballet Hisp谩nico, told the students that Adelphi launched him on his own journey to success. 鈥淚 was the first person in my family to graduate college,鈥� the native of Cuba said. 鈥淢y story, like many immigrant stories, was filled with struggles and challenges. But through it all education has been the cornerstone of my journey towards achieving my goals.鈥� He said the Adelphi community supported and shaped him. 鈥淚t鈥檚 where I honed my craft as an artist, an educator 鈥� and discovered the power of education.鈥�

Graduates Reflect on Dreams Achieved

The students tell the story behind the rankings. Adelphi put them on a path to their dreams.

鈥淎s a first-generation college student, these past four years have been a dream come true for me and my family,鈥� said Kenny Dionisio, the 2024 Class President who got his BS in Computer Science and a minor in communications. 鈥淚 have big aspirations of making it in the media industry, and my time here has helped me grow.鈥�

Kate Ackley graduated from the Honors College with a BA in Economics. She has already landed a job as a global capital markets analyst. 鈥淎delphi and the Honors College helped me succeed by encouraging the development of meaningful relationships with my professors and peers,鈥� she said.

鈥淎delphi has helped me grow as an individual, daughter, sister and a friend,鈥� said Jolisa Lynch, president of Black Students United, who earned a BS in Health Sciences, concentrating in Healthcare Administration and Leadership, with a minor in African, Black and Caribbean Studies. 鈥淚 was able to get involved in many things on campus, and that helped me clarify the values that are important to me.鈥� Lynch was recognized as an outstanding student leader at the Brown and Gold Awards ceremony a few weeks before Commencement.

鈥淎delphi provides a path to students who are driven,鈥� said Kevin Carratu, an Honors College graduate who got his BS in Neuroscience, concentrating in Molecular Neuroscience, and is applying to medical school. 鈥淚 got the support and encouragement I needed to go on to medical school from my professors and fellow students.鈥�

Adelphi serves more than 7,400 students at its main campus and at learning hubs in Brooklyn, the Hudson Valley and Suffolk County, as well as online. More than 121,000 Adelphi graduates have gained the skills to thrive professionally as active, engaged citizens, making their mark on the University, their communities and the world.

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