Commencement
May 30 , 2023
Tuesday,
To Our Graduates and Guests
Congratulations and welcome to New Jersey City University’s 2023 Commencement!
This day is a celebration for you and all those who have supported you through your educational journey. It also marks a new beginning as you move into the next chapter of your life. I am proud to join you and your loved ones to honor the impressive achievement of earning a degree from New Jersey City University.
I know that the effort to get to this day was not easy for any of you. Earning a bachelor’s or a graduate degree is never a simple undertaking. Through this process, you have learned perseverance, developed your intellect and skills, and prepared for a career or improved your professional trajectory. Whether your challenges were academic, economic, physical, social, or emotional, they helped you to grow in ways that will serve you throughout the rest of your life.
This is a great victory in and of itself. However, I know that many of you have overcome hurdles outside the classroom that the average college student does not. Many of you — like me — are the first in your family to attend and graduate from college. Some of you were working full-time jobs while going to school. Others were raising children or caring for loved ones—or both. I know that
there are countless stories of triumph behind every degree earned at NJCU. Today, we celebrate your perseverance and acknowledge the sacrifices you made to be here today.
You now have earned a credential that less than 38 percent of adults in our country possess. With this, you have privileges that many others will not. I hope that you will remember this as you embark on this new phase of your life and make the NJCU Family proud as you embody our motto, “Enter to Learn, Exit to Serve.”
In all of your future pursuits, remember what you have accomplished and how you achieved it.
I look forward to seeing how your life unfolds with purpose and grace.
Onward and upward. Nunca para atrás, ni para coger impulso.
With admiration and respect,
Andrés Acebo PresidentJoseph F. Scott, J.D., Chair
Luke Visconti, Vice Chair, ’13 (Hon.)
T. Steven Chang, Ph.D.
Edward P. Fowlkes
James A. Jacobson
Carlos Lejnieks
Rafael Perez, Esq.
Irene Trowell-Harris, ’71, R.N., Major General USAF, Retired
Board of Trustees
Edward A. Whittaker, Ph.D.
Alejandra Martinez, Voting Student Trustee
Ashley Pottinger, Voting Student Trustee
Marilyn Williams Bennett, ’71, M.A., ’75, M.A., Trustee emeritus
John J. Moore, ’56, J.D., L.L.M., Trustee emeritus
Andrés Acebo, J.D., President, ex officio
NJCU Foundation Board Members
Peter Hernandez, B.S., Chair
Edward O’Connor, M.B.A., Vice Chair
Andrea Ducas, Secretary
Stephen Hess, M.B.A., Treasurer
Ashley Atkins
Natalie Brathwaite
William Eaves
Alex Forrester, ’10 (Hon.)
Carlos Lejnieks, M.Sc.
Nicole Leon
Jose Lozano
Jeffrey Martinez
Alfred R. Parinello, ’73 B.A.
Dagmar Rosa-Bjorkeson, M.S.
Kevin Schmidt, ’89
Aisha Thomas-Petit
Timothy White, ’99
Judith Wodynski, ’76, ’77 M.A.
Ashley Jimenez, Non-Voting Student Trustee
Kelechi Ralph-Mbah, Non-Voting Student Trustee
Sang Jin Kim, Ph.D., Emeritus
Luke Visconti, B.S., ’13 (Hon.), Emeritus
Andrés Acebo, J.D., President, ex officio
Benjamin Durant, Interim VP of Administration & Finance, ex officio
NJCU Alumni Association Advisory Board
Helen Dao, ’99, ’05 M.S., Chair
Vanessa Mendoza , ’17 M.B.A., Vice Chair
Samantha Webster, ’92 M.S., Secretary
Jake Buck, ’18, Treasurer
Junio J. Abraham Jr., '98
Padmaja Eluri, ’06 M.S.
Ronald Hurley, ’00, ’09 M.S., ’15 D.Sc.
Gwendolyn Jackson, ’69, ’75 M.A.
Christopher Scott, ’69, M.A., Ph.D.
Karen Travellin, ’92 M.A.
Edelynn Yap, ’18
Glenzell Baker
Jessica Nicole Garcia, ’23
Lexylee Martinez, ’23
Bryliz Paulino
Damon Lawrence Porter, ’23
Katrina Rada
Joshua Rosenthal
Sarah Kay Russell, ’23
Musical Theatre Workshop
Carmen Sofia Salas Torres
Mathew Segovia
Tatyana Serrato
Nebula Vidal
Simone Briscoe, ’23
Manuel Encarnacion, ’23
Byron Flores Jr.
Sydney Millevoi
2023 Senior Class Officers
Kudret Ozkaya
Senior Class Director
Nuha Sbateen
Senior Class Director
Joyce Ikedife
Senior Class Director
Laney Fox
Senior Class Director
Muizzat Alli
Senior Class Director
Dominique Graves-Holley
Senior Class Director
2023 Student Government Association (SGA)
Thyquel Halley, ’23, President
Danielly Garcia
Moses Garcia, ’23
October Gomes
Qawiyya Haqq
Janaya Jones
Gabrielle Stanowski
Kaury Urena
Marco De La Cruz, ’23, Executive Vice President
Alice Johnson, Vice President of Internal Affairs
Ruth Diegue, Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations
Darwin Garrido, ’23, Vice President of Finance
Processional
Program
Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1, Land of Hope and Glory Edward Elgar
Mace Bearer
Francis Moran, Ph.D., President, University Senate
Presiding
Andrés Acebo, J.D., President
Musical Piece
“You Will Be Found”, from the musical Dear Evan Hanson Musical Theatre Workshop
The National Anthem Greetings
Recognition of Alumni
The Star-Spangled Banner, Francis Scott Key Musical Theatre Workshop
Peter Hernandez, Chair, NJCU Foundation Board
Donna Breault, Ph.D., Provost and Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs
Welcome from the Alumni
NJCU Alumni Association Advisory Board
Student Reflection
Kudret Ozkaya, ’23
Conferral of Honorary Degrees
President Acebo
Tania León Composer, Conductor, Educator
Ryan P. Haygood
President & CEO of the NJ Institute for Social Justice
President’s Charge to the Graduates
President Acebo
Presentation of Degree Candidates
Huijian Dong, Ph.D., Dean, NJCU School of Business
Lourdes Sutton, Ph.D., Dean, Deborah Cannon Partridge Wolfe College of Education
Marvin Walker, Ph.D., Dean, College of Professional Studies
Scott Mittman, Ph.D., Dean, William J. Maxwell College of Arts and Sciences
Presentation of Student Leaders
Pia Stevens-Haynes, Dean of Students
Acceptance of Diplomas
Deans Assisted by:
Wanda L. Rutledge, Ph.D., Assistant Dean and Director of Graduate Business Programs, NJCU School of Business
Mary McGriff, Ed.D., Associate Dean, Deborah Cannon Partridge Wolfe College of Education
Christine Harrington , Ph.D., Professor and Co-Coordinator, Ed.D. In Community College Leadership, Deborah Cannon Partridge Wolfe College of Education
Theresa Spataro, Ed.M., Associate Dean, College of Professional Studies
Jason Martinek , Ph.D., Associate Dean, William J. Maxwell College of Arts & Sciences
Conferral of Degrees
President Acebo
Alma Mater Recessional
Green and Gold, Will Hayes, ’36, Ph.D., and Aubrey Kemper, ’36 Musical Theatre Workshop
Arsenal, Jan van der Roost Coronation March, Giacomo Meyerbeer
Honorary Degree Recipients
Tania León
Pulitzer Prize Winning Composer, Conductor, & Educator
Tania León (b. Havana, Cuba) is highly regarded as a composer, conductor, educator, and advisor to arts organizations. Her orchestral work Stride, commissioned by the New York Philharmonic, was awarded the 2021 Pulitzer Prize in Music. In 2022, she was named a recipient of the 45th Annual Kennedy Center Honors for lifetime artistic achievements. In 2023, she was awarded the Michael Ludwig Nemmers Prize in Music Composition from Northwestern University. Most recently, León became the London Philharmonic Orchestra’s next Composer-in-Residence—a post she will hold for two seasons, beginning in September 2023. She will also hold Carnegie Hall’s Richard and Barbara Debs Composer’s Chair for its 2023-2024 season.
Recent premieres include works for the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, Detroit Symphony, NDR Symphony Orchestra, Grossman Ensemble, International Contemporary Ensemble, Modern Ensemble, Jennifer Koh’s project Alone Together, and The Curtis Institute. Appearances as guest conductor include Orchestre Philharmonique de Marseille, Gewandhausorchester, Orquesta Sinfónica de Guanajuato, and Orquesta Sinfónica de Cuba, among others. Upcoming commissions feature a work for the League of American Orchestras, and a work for Claire Chase, flute, and The Crossing Choir with text by Rita Dove.
A founding member and first Music Director of the Dance Theatre of Harlem, León instituted the Brooklyn Philharmonic Community Concert Series, co-founded the American Composers Orchestra’s Sonidos de las Américas Festivals, was New Music Advisor to the New York Philharmonic, and is the founder/Artistic Director of Composers Now, a presenting, commissioning and advocacy organization for living composers.
Honors include the New York Governor’s Lifetime Achievement, inductions into the American Academy of Arts and Letters and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and fellowship awards from ASCAP Victor Herbert Award and The Koussevitzky Music and Guggenheim Foundations, among others. She also received a
proclamation for Composers Now by New York City Mayor, and the MadWoman Festival Award in Music (Spain).
León has received Honorary Doctorate Degrees from Colgate University, Oberlin, SUNY Purchase College, and The Curtis Institute of Music, and served as U.S. Artistic Ambassador of American Culture in Madrid, Spain. A CUNY Professor Emerita, she was awarded a 2018 United States Artists Fellowship, Chamber Music America’s 2022 National Service Award, and Harvard University’s 2022 Luise Vosgerchian Teaching Award. In 2023, Columbia University’s Rare Book & Manuscript Library acquired Tania’s León’s archive.
Honorary Degree Recipients
Ryan P. Haygood President & CEO of the New Jersey Institute for Social JusticeRyan P. Haygood is a nationally respected civil rights lawyer. As President & CEO of the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, Ryan leads a team of advocates who harness community engagement, research, writing, public education, policy and litigation to build reparative systems that create wealth, justice and power for Black, Brown and other people of color.
Under Ryan’s leadership, the Institute’s advocacy has become a model for states as places to build community power from the ground up.
While Jim Crow-like voter suppression has swept across America in recent years, Ryan and his team successfully championed the restoration of the vote to 83,000 people on probation and parole, a right denied since 1844; the establishment of online voter registration and early voting; and the end to prison-based gerrymandering. Ryan also led the Institute’s litigation efforts to defeat the Trump campaign’s challenge to New Jersey’s voting accommodations during the COVID pandemic and to ensure that voters’ ballots would not be rejected for signature mismatch reasons.
Under Ryan’s leadership, the Institute has also become a leader on New Jersey’s racial wealth gap, publishing original racial wealth data and championing policies to close the state’s vast wealth disparities, including the $15 minimum wage. Ryan oversees the Institute’s advocacy to expand homeownership opportunities; establish fair appraisal policies; and cancel student loan debt – as well as the Institute’s first-of-its-kind Say the Word: Reparations campaign for a state reparations task force.
Ryan has also led the Institute to the forefront of creating solutions to reduce the footprint of law enforcement and help keep communities safe.
Following Darnella Frazier’s courageous recording of George Floyd’s murder, the Institute championed the call for a statewide First Amendment policy to protect the right to record police conduct without intimidation, a policy subsequently established by the Attorney General.
The Institute’s advocacy also led to the historic closure announcement for two of New Jersey’s youth prisons and an $8.4 million investment in youth restorative justice hubs in communities most impacted by youth incarceration.
Ryan has also spearheaded the Institute’s membership on the Independent Monitoring Team overseeing the Newark Police Division’s Consent Decree with the Department of Justice. In that role, the Institute centered community engagement in the development of 16 new policies designed to bring about the transformation in policing that Newark residents have urged since the 1967 Newark Rebellion. The Institute and partners also championed the passage of an independent prosecutor bill to address police misconduct.
Prior to leading the Institute, Ryan served as Deputy Director of Litigation at the NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF), where he worked for more than a decade and litigated some of the most important civil rights cases of our time. In two of those cases, he defended a core provision of the Voting Rights Act before the United States Supreme Court. He also led LDF’s successful challenge to Texas’ racially discriminatory photo ID law, leading to the first ruling of its kind when a federal district court struck down Texas’s photo ID law as intentionally racially discriminatory, a violation of the Voting Rights Act and an unconstitutional poll tax. Ryan speaks and writes regularly on issues concerning race, law, social justice, democracy and power. Ryan received his J.D. from the University of Colorado School of Law and B.A. in American History and Political Science cum laude from Colorado College, where he was nominated for a Rhodes Scholarship and earned academic and athletic All-American and hall of fame honors as a football player. Ryan is a Trustee and Vice-Chair of the Board of Colorado College and a member of the Board of Directors of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center.
DEGREE CANDIDATES
This list is not official. It contains the names of candidates whose degrees are contingent upon completion of final degree requirements.
*August 2022 Graduates
**August 2023 Tentative Candidates
***Honors Program
† Patel Scholars
School of Business
Master of Business Administration
FINANCE
Priyanka Achanta **
Manisha Bajaj
Takshma Rajesh Gandhi †
Twinkle Ketanbhai Gor †
Prathna Ajaykumar Gupta †
Nanette Johnson
Jazlyn C. Johnson
Gianna Rachel Messina-Mir
Tripti Sarkar Mondol **
Tony Nguyen Ngo *
Dharti Divyeshbhai Nimavat †
Alex Buke Ojwang
Toyosi Iyanuoluwa Oyenola **
Dhwani Vipul Shah †
Mary Ella Truesdale
Deysy Tume
MARKETING
Todd Conine
Madelynne DelaRama
Deseree Graham McFarlane
Angelo J.C. Moreno
Fatima Marcela Quilcat
Erwin J. Rodriguez Jr.
Nayomie R. Serrano
Yolanda Lynn Vega
Brittany Waugh
Ivonna Janee Young
ORGANIZATIONAL MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP
Lorenny Acosta
Jennifer Anestine Adams *
Vivian Ilana Barrios
Ricky Santiago Cruz
Esperanza Garces *
Domenick Gran **
Kirandeep Kaur *
Katherine Martinez *
Georgina Moore
School of Business
Jose Manuel Ramos Guardo
Mary Louise Robinson *
Kelly Anne Rossiter
Aminata Sy *
Jonathan A. Telleria
Aylen Badilla Wargniez
Master of Science
ACCOUNTING
Dalma G. Altamirano
Sydia Avila
Michelle Da Cunha Barbosa
Alex Vicente Bastidas
Jose A. Calixto *
Jonathan Cayanan Cantada **
Miguel Angel Casais
Stephanie F. Colon
Kedwin De La Cruz
Amina Hassan Emara
Stephany Estevez
Raymond Garcia
Zachariah Mark Gisleson
Karen Natalie Gutierrez *
Yuko Iwano *
Pallavi Jain
Karina R. Jurgensen
Fara Kane
Twinkal Gautambhai Khetani *
Brianna Lynn Loughlin
Crystal C. Martins
Ashley Chanel Nicholls *
Neil Patel
Michael Paul Rafter
Juan Rosario
Anthony Sciarra Jr. *
Latoya D. Scott-Allison
Nataliya V. Seina
Gercy O. Sorto
Scott Anthony Williams Jr.
Mohamed Ahmed Youssef *
FINANCE
Business Analytics and Data Science
Sameh Hezkial
Preeta Pritam Jha *
Samuel Nchifuong Mingo
Anainya Mishra **
Elhadji Balle Ndour *
Thi Diem My Nguyen *
Ruth E. Ortiz *
Anchal Patel
Kirtan Shashikant Patel
Nidhi Patel
Sanskruti Patel
Poobalan Pitchai *
Rani Raghupathi
Pooja Singh
Vincent William Stanziale *
Neil Castro Villaverde
Luwen Zhang
Financial Analysis
Ivyannah Mwaka Tsuma
Financial Risk Management and Compliance
Joseph Anthony Aurora
Lisa Marie Marte
Vanessa Remson
Financial Technology
Hugo Andrade
Jayashree Mahesh Davey
Tushar A. Ramroop
SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
Bachelor of Arts
Leona Antwi
Nam Soo Cho
Chamar Chantal Coursey
Jennifer Georges
Mariela Lemus
Angel Madera
Alejandro Augusto Pereyra
Sarah Kay Imani Russell
Cum Laude
Remoun Hany Yasa Salib
Bachelor of Science
Tigist Abetu
Cum Laude
Mahamat Saleh Adji Mbodou
Maria Teresa Afonso **
Nicholas Kumar Aggarwal *
Polina Agutina
Cum Laude
Michael Ajenifuja
Jorge Luis Alicea Lopez
Cum Laude
Ali Saad Amer Sr.
Diana Emad Andrawes
Xavier Emmanuel Andùjar Capó *
Dahiana Arias
Jennah A. Austin ***
Ahmed Hesham Awad
Zanab Amjad Aziz ***
Seifen Hendy Aziz *
James Michael Bajor
Brandon Scott Bart
Cum Laude
Michael Anthony Batista
Rod Vitho Beaucejour *
Jevon Justin Belisle
Karina Liliana Bermeo *
Joseph Anthony Bianchi **
Anthony Silvio Bianchini ***
Summa Cum Laude
Alissa Bikowski *
Verenice Ismari Bonilla ***
Vanessa Bonilla
Summa Cum Laude
School of Business
Theo Victor Bourghelle
Summa Cum Laude
Andrew Joseph Brehm
Laila Rianne Brumant
Jada Antia Camacho **
Chris Harrison Camargo
Summa Cum Laude
Ryan Nicholas Camargo
Summa Cum Laude
Eric X. Campoverde
Joao Pedro Carvalho
Vincent Nicholas Casale
Steeven Castillo
Richard Castillo
Carlos Javier Castro Mojica **
Manuel Steve Castro *
Ashly Nicole Castro
Erwin Catacutan
Juniahra Charles
Kevin Gustavo Chavez *
Di Chen
Summa Cum Laude
Zoha Choudhry *
Dejane Denise Ciceron
Mia J. Cobb-Roseberry
David Correa
Summa Cum Laude
Amanda Diana Costine *
Maria Isabel Cruz
Gisell G. Cruz
Natalia C. Dannunzio-Silva
Summa Cum Laude
Dilafruz Davronbekova ***
Summa Cum Laude
I' Mani Nicole Dawkins
Kedwin De La Cruz *
Samuel Alexander De Leon
Allish DeLeon Santos ***
Katherine N. Diaz **
Abigail Diaz
Kayia Marie Dingle
Hana Ela Doliente ***
Summa Cum Laude
Henry Dorvil *
Lydia Ducasse
Vincent Sabato Durso
Summa Cum Laude
Sal Dyevoich *
Mateo D. Egas *
Linette Espinal
Cum Laude
Mackenzie Fanelli
Magna Cum Laude
Rabia Fayyaz
Angelina Laila Feldman **
Julissa Fernandez
Chaz William Fernandez
Francesco Figliuzzi
Saul Flores
Lesley Fontan
Cum Laude
Tiarah M. Forester
Joseph Galapo
Nadezda Romanovna Galindo *
Samir Galindo *
Cristina Ashley Garay
Cum Laude
Rosemary Garcia *
Sheila N. Giacoman *
Adriana Gijon-Cruz
Eric Gil
Zachariah Mark Gisleson *
Destiny Davida Gittens
Jaslyn Marielys Gomez
Summa Cum Laude
Carla Gomezcoello *
Rosaura Gonzalez
Henry Alexander Gonzalez
Joseph E. Gorsky III *
Asha Aurora Gracia
Zeyad Hafiz
Rewim Haimor *
Liza Haxhaj
Jared Edison Heleno
Christin Michela Henry
Mackenzie Charlotte Holsten
Rawan Ismail **
Ashley M. Jackson *
Tyneil Christian Jackson **
Keyshawn Jagroop
Ebram Jayed
Valerie Sonia Jeetoo
Magna Cum Laude
Ngozi Kalu **
John Robert Kaminski
Fara Kane *
SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
Michael J. Kaplan
Summa Cum Laude
Montakim Billah Khan Majlis
Danny Jalaal King
Shannon Alexis Lemmon **
Khyle Cornero Lizo
Anthony Dominic Loffredo
Anthony Lombana
Jackeline Lizeth Lopez Orellana
Cum Laude
Beni M. Lopez
Hachmi Cherif Lounes **
Viktor Sandor Madar-Dank
Jennifer Madera
Sandi Maken
Yasmin Mamur
Briseli Amparo Marte **
Kristina E. Martinez *
Cum Laude
Bersabe Guadalupe Martinez
Aisha Lea McEachern-Hill
Stephanie M. Merlo *
Eyerusalem Michael
Magna Cum Laude
Rebekah Lyn Donasco Mirang ***
Magna Cum Laude
Nardos Hailu Mitiku
Savannah Carina Monterrosa
Magna Cum Laude
Auria Enid Morales
Magna Cum Laude
Jessica P. Moran Briones *
Mary Kathryn Morrison
Ebrahim Mostafa
Magna Cum Laude
Awais Rehman Nazir *
Justine Alaine Nesti
Jenifer Thi Ngo
Magna Cum Laude
Danielle Nickerson
Summa Cum Laude
Tania Estefania Ochoa
Hazel Aimee Olarte
Jeremiah Ayomide Olayinka
Esther Boluwatife Oluwasanmi *
Ihuoma Chisomuaga Onwunali **
Natalia Ordonez
Laura Osman *
Haresh Johnathan Oudhnarine II
Summa Cum Laude
Omoruaye O. Oyarebu
Jennifer Liz Pagan
Marla Paneque
Jennifer Torres Pascua
Sejal Patel
Isaias Angel Pena
Jonalee Perez
Magna Cum Laude
John Michael Perez **
Jose E. Perez
Kaylieann Pino **
Mihadily Alexandra Polanco
Arton Popaj
Tydel Anthony Powell ***
Cum Laude
Wajeeha Qazi
Jackson Ramirez
Cum Laude
Yulian Ramirez *
Kavita Ramlall *
Anessa Rasool
Magna Cum Laude
Phillipe Gabriel Read
Jose Rivera Carrera **
Jessica Marie Rivera ***
Magna Cum Laude
Luis Adrian Rodriguez *
Yelitza Rodriguez
Jacob Josue Rodriguez
Cum Laude
Izabella Mia Rodriguez
Julio Cesar Rodriguez
Alejandro Romo
Elanie Nicole Rosales *
Marcdeli Rosario-Burdier
Christopher Fernando Salazar
Sebastian Sanchez
Elizabeth Sanchez
Jonathan Sandoval *
Jessica Marie Sepulveda *
Hassan Shahzad
Sayam Sharfuddin
Mina Shehata *
Francis John Shipman IV **
Saika Sime
Eliskarime L. Simon *
Rahul Singh
Nisha Singh
Janiya Janae Smith
Roberto Soto Coyotl *
Joseph St Jean
Ana Subashi
Valerie Celeste Suga-Morales
Medalit Sullon
Zainab Tahir
Altamish Tahir
Erika Tapia **
Magna Cum Laude
Nadia Matilde Tavarez
Cum Laude
Yared W. Tefera
Nicolas Andrew Christian Teynie
Summa Cum Laude
Akeim Obrian Thelwell *
Thomas Theodorou
Cum Laude
Wilfrantz Therzy ***
Zachary Tighe
Yadeline Tineo
Summa Cum Laude
Victor Shamir Trinidad **
Cum Laude
Melanie J. Uraga Alvanez
Cum Laude
Kerry Valdelamar
Karen Valle
Glennys A Vargas Rosario
Mike Velasquez *
Diana Ventura *
Rudolph Anthony Vitale
Magna Cum Laude
Suhas A. Vittal
Kobe Vo **
Cum Laude
Ricky Alexander Voss *
Cum Laude
Patrice Sacha Withy
Summa Cum Laude
Shantel Brianna Worrell **
Jacqueline G. Zhinin
SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
College of Professional Studies
Doctorate of Science
CIVIL SECURITY LEADERSHIP, MANAGEMENT AND POLICY
Joseph C. Brickley
James Gabriel Kailie
Thomas Franklin Watson
Master of Science
CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Shadi A. Abdelmalak
Ross William Brown
Denise Arazely Cardenas
Elsa Colaj Colaj
Tayyaba Ehsan
Dounia Elaziz
Jesse Elsouly *
Lucero Estevez *
Nermeen N. Girgis
Luis Edwin Gonzalez Jr.
Ziana T. Halley
Thomas B. Josil
Helen Mafinejad
Audra Simone Mayorga
Brian Monsalve
Vanesa Preda
Zarin Qurbanzada
Kimyada L. Ward *
Ivy Desiree' Wilson
CYBERSECURITY
Yvan Andris
HEALTH SCIENCES
Health Administration
Jean Chris Beltran Arce
Elisia Bacon-Vaughters
Damonte Jade Cancel
Kevin Ndubuisi Emenuga
Brenda N. Herrera *
Princess Janet Adanne’ Igiri *
Muhammad Kashif
College of Professional Studies
Ann S. Lannaman
Melissa Alejandra Minguez
Samuel Rogelio Ramirez-Ancheta
Alexa Mariela Ramos **
Ileana Angelica Rivera *
Ammie E. Salom
Harry Samaniego
Sagida Shatursun *
Jacqueline Tatiana Ventura
Public Health Education
Muntaha Chaudhry **
Shaheera Hassan Kazmi *
Natalie Jean Mendez
Michael Owusu **
Alejandra Ayme Ramos
Tonya Letrice Walker
Maria Zia **
School Health Education
Allison Kate Baker *
Nicole M. Crincoli *
Tamara L. Garcia *
Gina Marie Nastro *
Aliyyah Shahamat
Anthea Waithe-Franklin *
Gulnaz Zangirova
NATIONAL SECURITY STUDIES
Information Assurance/Cybersecurity and Corporate Security
Mona Khandelwal *
Information Assurance/Cybersecurity and National Security
Resul Maksut
National Security Studies
Yiesena Esther Nunez *
Brian Veale
National Security/Corporate Security
Abir Aldrmly
NURSING
School Nursing
Rochelle Angulo
Lisa Cagliostro
Maria F. Fernandez
Erica Paige Gentile
Lisa Johnson
Jamie Elizabeth Kiernan
Jessica Lee Miceli
Amy Scheps
Nursing Education
Ethel Jacqueline Bran
Melissa A. Condit
COLLEGE OF
PROFESSIONAL STUDIES
Bachelor of Science
Emmanuel Abarah **
Isaac George Abraham
Magna Cum Laude
Kathy Adames
Saleha Afroz
Magna Cum Laude
Samoussiya Agbere
Arlene Sherina Albert
Magna Cum Laude
Ayisha Alhassan
Cum Laude
Joseph R. Allman
Summa Cum Laude
Joseph Paul Annunziata
Teneshia Jamelia Anthony
Ines Pereira Araujo
Guillermo Francisco Argueta Jr. **
Jackson R. Aumack *
Faith Oluwatimileyin Ayoola
Gianluca Baldino
D'Angelo Jouvan Barrow *
Jessica A. Barzallo *
Cum Laude
Jasmine Bass *
James Franklyn Belknap
Magna Cum Laude
Vincent Bell-Clementi
Summa Cum Laude
Tanajah Bivins *
Jose Fernando Blanco *
Donnielle Mytisha Bowman *
Aaliyah Joan Bradshaw
Lesley Marie Branch
Kayla Breaud
Magna Cum Laude
Na'zir Bernard Brown **
Thomas M. Burns
Kristopher Austin Campbell
Summa Cum Laude
Alin M. Campos
Summa Cum Laude
Veronica Lizbeth Cardoza *
Ashley Ivette Carranza **
College of Professional Studies
Jamie Caruso
Romel Castano **
Raphael Castro
Kelvin Joel Cedeno *
Johnathan M. Colon
Ayanna D. Comer
Magna Cum Laude
Jules Ashley Cook
Cum Laude
Zuleika Matilde Coplin
Bailey Crochet
Emiliano Crucey De Aza
Jazmin Cruz **
Enrique Cuevas **
Kayton Darley
Nathaly De Jesus
Cum Laude
Arame P. Diouf **
Tyria Dominick
Erika Ivette Donis **
Ryan Anthony Elliott *
Zeinab M. Elsayed
Justin Erezuma **
Chase Thomas Street Esser
Felipe Estrella *
Christopher S. Europe
Magna Cum Laude
Jabbar Nashawn Feggins
Carmelle Fils-Aime
Ashley Michelle Florentino Ortiz
Gregory Joseph Forbes Jr. **
Edward D. Francisco
Jumoke Ama Fuller *
Daniel Gonzalez Galarza
Cum Laude
Michelle Garcia
Matthew Zachary Garcia
Ryan Michael Gaskin
Brady Robert Gearst
Basanty Samir Gerges **
Cum Laude
Victoria Maria Gil
Mina Younan Girgis II *
Brigette A. Giron **
Joshua Marten Cambay Gotia
Summa Cum Laude
Heide Grant
Precious Green
Travis T. Grundy
Orlainie Guzman **
David Ariel Hernandez *
Odalis Maritza Hernandez **
Astrid Solange Hernandez *
Cum Laude
Joshua Hernandez
Stephanie Rachet Hilario
Kelly Ho
Ayanna De'Che Holmes
Johnnie Hughes
Summa Cum Laude
Victoria Paige Hulse
Cum Laude
Adrian Javier Infante *
Christopher Jangra
Summa Cum Laude
Noemie Desiree Jesper *
Sean Wesley Jost
Cum Laude
Robert Joseph Kafarski
Magna Cum Laude
Tiara Keys
Magna Cum Laude
Kellie Faith Kilsby
Magna Cum Laude
Michael Johnathon Kortenhaus
Magna Cum Laude
Samantha Michele Kutcher *
John Edward Kyle *
Magna Cum Laude
Annaliza Rollan Lagman *
Gregory Lalta
Matthew Kenneth Lemons *
Andrew James Lewis
Summa Cum Laude
Tyler Livingston
Cum Laude
David Loccisano
Magna Cum Laude
COLLEGE OF PROFESSIONAL STUDIES
Jeffrey Roman Lozano
Summa Cum Laude
Dennis Joseph Lucas *
Daniel Isaiah Malkowski
Anas Manasrah
Jorfy Marizan
Juan Pablo Martinez Sr. *
Christian Martinez
Hamza Matari
Shanta Shaniqua Mayweather *
Brianna Elizabeth McDermott
Robert E. Mcevoy
Magna Cum Laude
Shari Minerva Mcintosh *
Summa Cum Laude
Celso Everardo Mejia
Jonathan Mejia *
Julianna Menjivar Sanchez
Gian Carlos Morales
Marlin Morkos
Kirlus A. Nassief
Merna Nassim *
Cum Laude
Jalesny Navarro
Cum Laude
Asma Noubani **
Cum Laude
Christopher Michael O'Connor
Saja Mohammed Omar
Akainah Orelien
Doyan Osborne **
Oluwapelumi Oyenike Oyedeji
Roberto Alfredo Pachas
Kenia Xiomara Palacios Flores **
Cum Laude
Tomasz Paluch
Yashvi N. Patel *
Magna Cum Laude
Genniel Peguero *
Ysabel L. Perallon *
Jhonson Perez *
Daniel Felipe Perez
Summa Cum Laude
Bianca Danielle Perez **
Pablo S. Pintado
Summa Cum Laude
Gloria Preasy
Melina Libia Quispe
Summa Cum Laude
Kelly Marie Rainey
Summa Cum Laude
Estuardo Jose Ralda *
Jamie Jesse Reale
Magna Cum Laude
Kalel M. Redd
Jasmine E. Reese **
Justin Reyes
Alberto Rios Perez
Nicholas Luis Rodriguez
Abigail Rodriguez **
Summa Cum Laude
Kelly Romero *
Christopher Rooney
Summa Cum Laude
Peter Rosenthal
Emily Ruiz
O'Dell Daniela Russell
Magna Cum Laude
Brandon Joseph Russo
Cum Laude
Basil H. Said
Cum Laude
Sheyla Salazar **
Justine Brad Salinas ***
Cum Laude
Henry William Sanango
Angel Luis Sanchez Jr.
Summa Cum Laude
Maria Del Mar Sanchez
Magna Cum Laude
Violeta Maribel Sanders
Marlene Esteves Santos
Magna Cum Laude
Yuliana Santos
Summa Cum Laude
Pratik Sanyal
Cum Laude
Monica Sarker **
James Sellino
Cum Laude
Mohammad Usman Shahzad
Alexander Tomoya Shimizu **
Nicholas R. Simons
Alianijah D. Slade **
Jada T. Smith
Waleska Soto
Michael Guilherme Sousa
Zachary Spiegel
Solomiia Spyrydon
Summa Cum Laude
Billy Stanton
Magna Cum Laude
Meri Stojcevska *
Veolla K. Swisa **
Cum Laude
Mahamed Ahmed Tahir
Marlina Z. Takawy
Michael Persaud Tapalla
Abanoub M. Tawfeek **
Crystal J. Tepale
Kyle Thomas
Zahria Brielle Thomas **
Daniela Vanesa Tixi
Jaime Tlatelpa **
Dennisse Torres
David Tran
Christyn Anna Trimblett
Yohana Franco Tsegai
Herol Valcin Jr. **
Miguel Angel Valentin III *
Jose C. Vargas
Joskairy Vasquez
Junior Manandra Veerasammy
Aura Alina Vernaza
Lindsay Kathleen Weiss
Summa Cum Laude
Micah I. Wells
Richard Wesner *
Deonnah Nicole Willis
Myron Bernard Willis **
James Thomas Wilson Jr.
Summa Cum Laude
Drew B. Wislock
Summa Cum Laude
Armani Zaccario
Russell James Zarzuela-Dizon
COLLEGE OF PROFESSIONAL STUDIES
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Sabrina Abrams-Vetter *
Cum Laude
Angelo Addesso *
Cum Laude
Sarah Adkins
Emuobosa Akiri
Marc Renzo Azcarraga Anastacio
Daniel Ignacio Diaz Antunes *
Sonia Avitus
Loren Nicole Balunis
Cum Laude
Mary Kate Barone *
Cum Laude
Joanna Belzak *
Jessica Monica Blakeney *
Grace Bonema *
Shante Bracy
Janet Brooks
Jacqueline Brown
Regina Budakov *
Jacqueline Betty Burstyn *
Richard Cassidy
Rodelene Chery *
Matthew George Choucrallah *
Nancy Chu
Panatda Anne Chullanandana
Megan Elizabeth Ciampi
Krysta Elizabeth Cieslik
Mary Connelly
Ruth Shana Cyrius *
Cum Laude
Diya Datta *
Caitlin Elisabeth Delaplain
Cum Laude
Marianna Dibella
Hannah Leigh Dowzycki
Kristin Marie Drayton *
Deliah Nicole Dunbar *
Simone Ebeid *
Karen Ugochinyere Ehiri *
Hubert Bron Espiritu *
Joella Fleurancois *
Karen Fiorella Florez
Cum Laude
Daniella Marie Galati *
Maria Galvez
Kevin Paolo Garcia *
Anjanie A. Gilzean-Colon
Cum Laude
Darshel Monique Hall
Samuel Jacob Hanna
Raneshia F. Hardy *
Amber Nirvana Hernandez
Kayla Lee Hutchins
Katie Hwang
Aishatu Meizongo Tafi Hyppolite
Udochukwu Chinelo Igweze *
Magna Cum Laude
Jenny Joachim *
Claire Eunbi Jung
Jonathan Henry Juste *
Navpreet Kaur
Summa Cum Laude
Maximillian Kitaychik
Cum Laude
Alexander Kwon *
Chiseon Lee *
Jalyse Lee
Keith Harry Rabanal Leomo *
Cum Laude
Sylwia Lubczenko *
Beatrice Bukola Makinde
Guadalupe Martinez *
Leonard Mbuti
Cum Laude
Kathleen Marie McCarthy
Cum Laude
Stacey Medina *
Nicole Mendez *
Cum Laude
Melanie Lonz Miglionica *
Nicola M. Mollica
Cum Laude
Marlyn Monegro
Alexis Ann Moorman
Taniya Multani *
Yechiel Nadborny *
Jennifer D. Narvaez
Sefi Bunawati Ng *
Magna Cum Laude
Katherine Hoang Nguyen
Cum Laude
Erin Norden
Summa Cum Laude
Obialo Nwaro
Sarah Ogilvie
Griffin Thomas O'Neill
Camila-Mae Palad
Thomas Michael Perlman *
Cum Laude
Yoxandry Polanco Corporan
Katherine Umali Ramirez *
Shadi Rimawi *
Sara Lauren Rusconi
Sara Sanchez-Maldonado *
Perry Santeng
Skyler Brielle Santos *
Joanne Melissa Sarte *
Victoria Scism
Cum Laude
Arti Sharma *
Frank Andrew Shihadeh
Cum Laude
Beatriz Catherine Simbulan *
Veralda Simeon *
Jacqueline Simon
Alyssa Spaner
Cum Laude
Harmony L. Stark
Cum Laude
Samantha Storniolo
Samantha Tallman
Sibel Ayca Tarcan *
Magna Cum Laude
Nyla Imani Thomas
Tia Vatallia Thompson *
Tuan Tran
Summa Cum Laude
Bethany Renee Trowers *
Aloysius Chukwuasinam Umezinwa *
Hannah Leigh Vancleve *
Kaylee Maria Velasquez *
Angelica Marie Villatoro *
Magna Cum Laude
Maria Viniam
Ramona Ward
Kelan Chase Yalong *
Cum Laude
Sonyia S. Yar *
COLLEGE OF PROFESSIONAL STUDIES
DEBORAH CANNON PARTRIDGE WOLFE College of Education
Deborah Cannon Partridge Wolfe College of Education
Doctorate of Education
COMMUNITY COLLEGE LEADERSHIP
Edna Asknes
Leyna C. Beard
Kimberlee Marie Hooper
Floyd Jeter
Sandra Jones Legay
Christopher John Marx
Mirian J. Ochoa Morillo
Derrick Andre Perkins
Yeurys A. Pujols
Sanjay Ramdath
Tammy Sanders
Carey J. Schroyer
Aqsa Sheikh
Faraz Siddique
Ellen Wasserman
Hamza Seidu Wedam *
Jonathan Weisbrod
EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY LEADERSHIP
Alex Alexandre
Jiahui Chen
Francis James Ciccitto
Ma Guohua
Kristina Harb
Deniz Ismailoff
La-Dana Renee Jenkins
Hualei Ji
Yan Liang
Yanjing Ma
Susan Deehan Murray
Stephanie Corinne Peborde Burke
Giancarlo A. Perez Flores
Dandan Song
Feifei Wang
Quanwei Wu
Chunyang Xu
Xue Xue
Filiz Zeybek
Michelle Anne Zgombic
Yumei Zhang
Lin Zhang
Xiangli Zheng
Master of Arts
COUNSELING
Felipe Alexandre
Grace C. Amparo
Alyssa Kate Baez
Carl Anthony Bain
Tameka S. Bordeaux
Allison Marie Carella
Erica L. Carrington
Francesca Cherasaro
Alexandra Christ
Natalie Cofone
Robert Lawrence Daly Jr. *
Michael P. D'Andrea
Corryn Amelia DeFazio
Daylin Diaz
Giulia Esposito
Rachel Mollie Feinstein **
Vanessa Jennifer Garcia
Levi Sighee Johnson
Alexandra Kapitonova
Barbara Maino
Jaime J. Mootoo
Karina Moreno **
Geovonna F. Parker
Bhavika Mahesh Patel
Lauren Perez
Gina M. Pollaro
Martis Ramirez
Irina Santa
Jenell L. Santiago
Brittany Marie Santiago **
Alla Shahin
Rakeeda Sneed
Julia Sontag
Mario Spiniello
EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY
Catherine A. Astor
Catherine D. Baggett
Douglass James Bailey
Arianna Bianciella
Aimee Marcey Brown
Alice M. Dean *
Michele A. DeMatteo
Patricia M. Dennis
Kelly Digirolamo *
Jennifer L. Fisher
Tracey Alexandra Gould
Kimberly Ann Green
Rebecca Halleran
Alina Khan Gumbs
Erin Lafond
Stacey Renee Lespinasse
Julie Anne Marck
Jenna Rose Maus-Colucci
Stephanie Marie Merino
Chris Nerkizian
Amanda Rego
Leticia Maureen Romero
Melissa Ivy Serra
Kaelah B. Steenstra
Eve Marie Valente
Jahaziel Benaias Valeriano
LITERACY EDUCATION
Reading Specialist
Nicole Leigh Bonner
Jessica Ann Carroll
Toni-Ann Cerbo
Amira Rebhi Dalia
Daniela Stefanny Fernandez
Shannon Marie Gallagher
Jessica L. Geter *
Rana Ghacham
Jacquelyn Marie Guidi
Beth Anne Kulik
Eileen McGowan-Pecci
Sarah Marie Monteiro
DEBORAH
WOLFE
OF EDUCATION
CANNON PARTRIDGE
COLLEGE
Deborah Cannon Partridge Wolfe College of Education
Allison B. Perz
Fabiana Cristina Rebollo
Harriette Nadia Reynoso
Jennifer M. Roman *
Suzy D. Roushdy
Jessica Katelyn Smith *
Melissa Spino
Claudia Turcios
Stacey Wharton
SPECIAL EDUCATION
Ashley Helen Bichao
Rachel E. Caldari-Stroh
URBAN EDUCATION
Administration and Supervision
Nazea Ali-Singh
Charae Marie Baulkman-O'Bryant
Marqueritha Desiree Clarke
Jillian Nicole Colasurdo
Jessica Ann Cunningham
Andrea D. Dornbos
Naheelah G. Irving
Tatiana Irina Meza
Angela Molina
David Alan Mulholland
Siiera Monique Robinson
Edwina Christaline Suarez
Shaquana Young
Bilingual/Bicultural Education
Pamela Minchola
Arianna Perez
Michelle Torre
Aura E. Wilkins
Lillian Irene Zepeda
English as a Second Language
Michelle Badillo
Marisa Ferrante
Carolina M. Ferro
Nataly C. Ramirez
Betsy A. Rodriguez
George Roushdy F. Soliman *
Master of Arts in Teaching
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
Roxanne Sharmilla Aggarwal
Katiria Ivette Garcia
Paula S. Gray
Sabrina Magee
Victoria Magee
Jennifer Ortiz
Nicole Karas Ropke
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION/ SPECIAL EDUCATION
Amara Ahmed
Tiarra Brown
Stephanie Anne Champion
Ilene K. Hughes
Javaid Rashid Khan
Shenika Shenelle McPherson
James Murtha *
Sandra Nesheiwat
Katelyn Anne O'Neill
Brooke Alexandra Stoner *
Gabrielle Rodriguez Testa
Deana Gladie Valle
ELEMENTARY EDUCATION
Joshua Balasa
Yana Eva-Maria Doyle
Cheryl T. Drakeford
Kate M. Klingler
Rahmiece Lawson
Justice L. Mascola
Sabina Mollot
Talib Akewi Orotiewa
Brianne Orourke
Cassidy R. Stazak
Janice Tarabocchia *
Sherouk M. Youssef
SECONDARY EDUCATION
David Adam
Joseph Martin Aponte *
Natasha E. Collova *
Erin K. Donnelly *
Radeyyah Hossain
Nia Shani Houston
Jeffrey Richard Kitts
Gustavo Maia de Amorim
Martin John McNerney
Kristina Mejias
Airan Negrin
Samantha Elizabeth Nunez *
Erin Quinones
Lauren Ransom
Milan Sean Robinson
Nancy Jane Schieda *
James L. Shaw
SPECIAL EDUCATION
Carol Laura Oliver Alberque
Susan M. Altringer
Christopher Michael Arecchi
Lauren B. Bagehorn
Talia Del Carmen Boado
Amy L. Brewin
Maricruz Castillo **
Kayla Cook
Zachary Cooper
Emily Kathryn Dempsey
Capri Rose Dinovelli *
Pearl A. Dominguez
Simone G. Edwards *
Jillian Nicole Esposito
Patrick Joseph Fahy
James D. Gianetti
Liliana Fabiola Grullon
Humeyra Guven *
Ashley Elizabeth Iliff
Kelsi Marie Jacob
Norah Kubra Kose
Stephanie Anne Liriano
Kimberley A. Madalena
DEBORAH CANNON PARTRIDGE WOLFE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
Nicholas J. Malato
Matilde R. Miano
Kerri A. Murphy
Karen A. Olander
Michael David Orabona
Cristina Pivetta *
Jennifer Rogers
Daniel Joseph Rudd *
Fatemah Saab
Victoria Alessia Santos
Andrew Scala *
Corie Stone
Ashley Tavakoli *
David J. Torosian *
Patrick Travis
Rowena De Ala Trias
Shannon R. Vasile
Deborah Cannon Partridge Wolfe College of Education
Bachelor of Arts
Jessica Y. Perez
DEBORAH CANNON PARTRIDGE WOLFE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
WILLIAM J. MAXWELL College of Arts and Sciences & DEBORAH CANNON PARTRIDGE WOLFE College of Education
Bachelor of Arts
Jennifer A. Aguilar
Cum Laude
Lily Chandler Aycox ***
Christina Ruth Bodine
Andrea Cecilia Cifuentes
Cum Laude
Ashley Nicole Doughty
Angelica Oriana Escano
Magna Cum Laude
Brianna Esteves
Holly A. Faleye
John Marino Mallanao Fugaban *
Magna Cum Laude
Melanie E. Grey
Cum Laude
Evelyn M. Gurczeski
Cum Laude
Monica Hanna
Cum Laude
Melany Daiana Hernandez
Justin Victor Jablonsky
Summa Cum Laude
John Finley Liddell
Magna Cum Laude
Iris J. Martin
Nesrin Malak Mekhael
Cum Laude
Nikki Aaliyah Mitchell
Magna Cum Laude
Nervana N. Nageeb
Diego Alan Reyes
Candice Marie Robertson
Ixsel Rodriguez
Magna Cum Laude
Bouchra Sedjari
Summa Cum Laude
Urvi Apurva Shah
Karla Stephanie Silva Cherres
Cum Laude
Brianna Frances Stackhouse
Selena Vazquez **
Alexandra Williams
Cum Laude
Renato Yon vassallo
Magna Cum Laude
Alejandro Jose Yumiguano
Bachelor of Fine Arts
Christopher Pereira
Bachelor of Music
Zachary James Maccini
William J. Maxwell College of Arts and Sciences & Deborah Cannon Partridge Wolfe College of Education
WILLIAM
J. MAXWELL College of Arts and Sciences
William J. Maxwell College of Arts and Sciences
Master of Arts
EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY
Celine Arias
Daniel-John Jesus Gonzalez *
Benjamin Joseph Harder *
Nahdiyyah Hogue *
Theodora Horowitz
Bryana Lewis
Brittany Rose Marolda **
Mia Menendez
Gilfrank Nunez Jr.
Tamecia Denise Ransom
Gabriela Soledad Rivas
Jennifer Verdina
MATHEMATICS EDUCATION
Martha Thabit Abdelmalak Marzouk
Mariam Aziz
Maryanne T. Fam
Claudia L. Mendoza
Lismers Padilla
Melissa Ann Travelino
STUDIO ART
Nick M. Magarelli
Saina Moazami
Master of Fine Arts
ART
Nedko Hristov Bucev *
Jonathan Robert Cohen
Sergio Giovanni Villamizar
Master of Music
JAZZ
Alonso Alejandro Acosta
Cynthia Mabel Aissi
Nelson Riveros
Ariel Omar Robles *
Yangke Tang
Ariacne Trujillo Duran
MULTIPLE WOODWINDS
Connor Michael Glynn Babos
Mackenzie Johanna Conroy
Tessa Marie O'Boyle
MUSIC PERFORMANCE
Benjamin Kestnbaum Daniels
Lazara Luisa Diaz
Eamon Dingle
Martin Granda *
Ignacio Lara Romero
Courtney Denise Pinski
Lourdes Isabel Rosales Martinez
Elif Sinan
Thomas Lee Valdez
Professional Diploma
EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY AND SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY
Lauren Grace Hahn
Brianna Alyssa Rohr
SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY
Jacqueline Elizabeth De Quatro
Jennifer Fonseca *
Dana Josephine Green
Raquel Alexandra Henriques **
Jocelyn Ranero
Amanda Romero
Jessica L. Stancampiano
WILLIAM J. MAXWELL COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
Bachelor of Arts
Reem Walid Aboutaleb
Alexander Jeremy Acosta *
Cum Laude
Leiha Adams
Emily Marie Adams
Adeshola Renee Adedeji
Ibrahim Ais
Khalid Alexander Alami-Campos
Rhoda Anuri Itohan Alaribe
Aseefa Ali
Adamia Alicea
Edward John Maralit Alonto
Sarah Ann Alston
Maria S. Alvarado
Ambra Nickole Amores
Zy'Eimah Anderson
Naomi Andujar
Camila Angel
Nahomis L. Angulo *
Chinyere Angel Anyanwu
Lesly G Arevalo Jr.
Gabriel N. Armena
Stephanie Aroca *
Adiel Arvizu *
Alyssa Marcellin Attidore
Gueldine Barbara Auguste
Amanda Marie Auriemma
Cum Laude
Abril I. Avila
Ryan Thomas Baccarella
Antoinette Badger
Isatou Bajaha *
Krista Noelle Bartko
Miral Medhat Baskhroun
Dianny Maria Batista *
Zakiyah Amirah Beard
Rebecca Becerril
Cum Laude
Da'Quon Terell Benders
Maria Fernanda Benero
Cum Laude
Amina Benkaddour
Summa Cum Laude
Ciara Bent
Roger Betancourt **
Michelle Bonardo
William J. Maxwell College of Arts and Sciences
Rachel Breton
Magna Cum Laude
Simone Kelis Briscoe
Cum Laude
Jessica Lyndsey Brown
Chandler Sinclair Brown
Sharon Elizabeth Brown
Tyvera Jauvel Bryant
Star F. Bullock *
Ronshera Chacorda Byrd *
Hector Ramon Cabrera **
John Michael Calderon **
Leo Calderon
Nicolas Manuel Camejo
Magna Cum Laude
Collin James Canaley
Chelsea Cancino **
Alexia Cane
Cum Laude
William Elven Carter Jr.
Wynayah Q. Carter
Amy Castellon
Cum Laude
Lissette Castillo
Cum Laude
Patrick Robert Castillo
Julien Alexander Castro
Summa Cum Laude
Brianna Sally Celestin
Ysmelys Ceri
Olivia Anna Cerqueira
Anaika Cezil
Abigail Jennella Charles
Imani Chavis
Hilenne P. Chemas
Cum Laude
Anna Chen
Cum Laude
Amina Masood Chohan
Zeniyah Cobb
Evan Li Collado
Diana Concepcion ***
Summa Cum Laude
Hennesys Amelia Condo *
Angel Cortez
Kareena Cruz
Barbara Luana Da Silva Pereira *
Magna Cum Laude
Robert Joseph Dabal *
Magna Cum Laude
Maryam Dahhan
Mouaz M. Dahhan
Lucero Dalia *
Rae-Anne Castillo De Jesus
Summa Cum Laude
Jesselee De La Torre *
Kimberly De Leon
Alanis De Los Santos *
Diamond Deboroh Debarros
Tiana Deberry
Abigail Deleon
Nicholas Anthony Deros
Summa Cum Laude
Miriam Diaz
Divante Josiah Dickens *
Francesca Alexandra Dobies *
Jonathan Tyler Dorcin
Mohamed Drame
Amanda Mariah Diane Dumas
Cristian Durango
Farah E. Ebrahim
Kimberly Echevarria
Lesly Ester Escobar
Daniel Esteva
Melinda Estrada
James Mitchell Falero *
Kamola Fayzullaeva
Maxiel Y. Ferreira Sr.
Sharaunda Shonell Fiedtkou *
Kira Marisol Flores Murillo
Summa Cum Laude
Laney Nicole Fox ***
Summa Cum Laude
Megan Imani Francis **
Lawrence K. Furlow
Marna Garces
Genesis Altagracia Garcia Vasquez *
Marie Claire Garcia
Jessica Nicole Garcia
Summa Cum Laude
Arian Garcia
Summa Cum Laude
Fallon Margaret Garretson
Francis Geslicki
Kynema Rosa Gibson **
WILLIAM J. MAXWELL COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
Deanna Gabriela Glogowski
Summa Cum Laude
Rosaury Maria Gomez
Claudia Maria Gonzalez
Ana Victoria Gonzalez
Tamesha S. Griffin
Vanessa Kristina Guerrero
Summa Cum Laude
Zady Avigail Guzman-Amaya
Thyquel M. Halley
Craig Anthony Hamilton
Megan Rose Hanley
Shakeema N. Hardnett *
Steven G Harris *
Haroon Ahmed Hashmi *
Priscilla Renia Hatchett ***
David Blake Hendricks **
Merret Rafik Hennes
Austin J. Henry
Cum Laude
Naomi Jermiller Henry ** ***
Grace Hernandez
Joeleny Hernandez
Alexa Camila Hernandez
Cum Laude
Rosario M. Hernandez **
Vianca Horta
Sean Ho Hsiang Hsieh
Angela Joy Huggins
Martina Isaac
Adio Iskander
Magna Cum Laude
Linda Najah Jada
Summa Cum Laude
Ibtissam Jaouad
Rebecca Jean Baptiste
Jennifer Marie Jimenez
Jhakeer Xavier Johnson
Jerard Johnson
Za'kiayah Imani Johnson **
Jeffrey Thomas Johnson
Juliette Mae Johnston *
Cum Laude
Kevin M. Jones **
Mahquella-Felyce Elizabeth-Rose JonesMitchell
Rosario De Los Angeles Jordan Freire
Harlette Esbeydi Juarez *
Cum Laude
Sia J. Kahiga
Timothy Joseph Kahle
Jacqueline Keys
Madonna Hany Khalil *
Rabia Khatoon *
Rabia Mansoor Khilji
Abdul Khokhar
Khalif Abdul King Hankerson
Amirah Dorothy Kitchen ***
Anna M. Kyle
Alan Anthony Laborde
Linda Iris Laboy
Gabriela Jessica Lage
Galo V. Lambides
John B. Latag
Kyra Paula Lawson-Kamau
Arlinda Lebl
Brieanna A. Lemus ***
Summa Cum Laude
Makayla Na'imah Lewis
Cum Laude
Nuve Lliguichuzhca
Magna Cum Laude
Virgil London III
Amanda Lopez
Brianna L. Macklin *
O D Madison Jr.
Summa Cum Laude
Padvina Mahadeo *
Krystal Carmen Maldonado
Cum Laude
Angela Janessa Mandich
Laleshka Manuel
Sean Edward Manuel ***
Summa Cum Laude
Masai March Maple
Michael Maravillas
Charisse Marcelino ***
Magna Cum Laude
Jenniffer Estefania Marchan
Magna Cum Laude
Yanelly Evelyn Marin
Chelsea Rose Marrero
Cum Laude
Rosa A. Martinez *
Camila Otlia Martinez
Charlene Martinez
Dana Victoria Massung **
Freisy Arleny Matias *
Victoire Kiamanga Mayama
Tamara Christina Mcleod
Rosemary Margaret Mcnally
Jordan K. Mcphee
Giancarlo Benjamin Megale
Magna Cum Laude
Edith Mejia
Marina Alfy Meleika **
Lesley Ann Mena
Kelsey Marie Mendez
Summa Cum Laude
Sabrina D. Mezzina
Kendra N. Mitchell *
Isabella Marie Molina
Sarahy Montalto ***
Denise Montalvo
Cum Laude
Steven Montero
Nelson Rodolfo Monterrosa
Nadia E. Montgomery
Aaliyah Montgomery **
Fiona Leigh Moore ***
Cum Laude
Ian Michelle Morales *
Ryan T. Morales
Cum Laude
Mabel J. Moreira
Kailee Sofia Morel
Summa Cum Laude
Valeria Cristina Moreno
Damian F. Morillo
Shantell Mori-Ulloa
Cum Laude
Griselle Elaine Morla *
Francy M. Moser
Summa Cum Laude
Danamitzi Guadalupe Munoz
Vanesa Munoz *
Summa Cum Laude
Destinni Saleese Myrick
Sabrina K. Nagi
Michele Nahrwold
Sabina Erika Nelson
Shaquana Ronique Nelson *
Whitney Newton
Guerline Octavius
Martha Ofori-Boakye
Marvellous O. Oluwafemi **
Muhammed Temileye Onisarotu
Cum Laude
Mordecai Asiago Onsongo
WILLIAM J. MAXWELL COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
Giana M. Orlando
Magna Cum Laude
Santiago Orozco
Kevin Orsini
Brianna M. Ortiz *
Cassandra Ortiz **
Cindy Ortiz
Martha B. Osorio
Cum Laude
Brayan Ospina *
Magna Cum Laude
Terrys Marie Otero *
Jordan Michael Owens
Dimarie Veronica Pagan
Jennifer Veronica Palaguachi
Summa Cum Laude
Melina Aracely Pareja
Beatriz Q. Pascoal
Gina Patton
Karen Raquel Peguero **
Mia Antoinette Pepe ***
Summa Cum Laude
Jasmin Verenice Perez
Sean Thomas Perez
Judelca Perez
Grace Victoria Nichols Perez
Susana Perez **
Yomalis Noemi Perozo Sanchez *
Kianna Peterson *
Coritha Pinedo
Luis Alejandro Pomales-Diaz
Cindy Portillo
Damon Lawrence Porter
Britney Previl
Sheyla A. Prieto
Cum Laude
Ian Miguel Punzal **
Gabriela Carolina Quinde
Dineen Nicole Rackley **
Alexa Marcela Ramirez
Diana V. Ramirez
Rubi Elizabeth Ramirez
Summa Cum Laude
Nigel Ramjattan
Jessica Ramos
Davena Hasena Rattipal *
Dylan Real
Ramon E. Regalado Jr.
Steven Francisco Reyes Santos *
Melissa Reyes *
Jordan Xavier Richardson
Kendreya Richardson
Alicia Rivas
Cum Laude
Jose M. Rivas
Eraina Rivera
Veronica Rivera
Tiffany Nicole Rivera
Destinee Marie Rivera
Marco A. Rivero
Wendy Rodriguez
Magna Cum Laude
Jonathan Rodriguez
Lilibeth Rodriguez
Yulissa Maely Rodriguez
Yosmar Rodriguez *
Magna Cum Laude
Leonardo Rodriguez
Magna Cum Laude
Jorge Luis Rodriguez
Jailyn Patricia Rodriguez-Villa
Odarlyn Rosario-Perez *
Christina Marie Sabater **
Rachel Salinas
Summa Cum Laude
Regine Ivanka Salomon
Gleidys Santana De La Cruz **
Andrea Liliana Santiago **
Xavier Gage Santos *
Kimberly Sarara
Promi Sarker
Metesha T. Satchwell *
Madison Elizabeth Schwarz
Summa Cum Laude
Gillianna Seecharan *
Cum Laude
Leah Nicole Seickendick **
Jazmin Verenice Serrato
Hiren Shah *
Aisha Shah
Halima Shifa
Faria Shuaib
Gessica Amanda Silva
Roman Alexander Simmons
Robert Patrick Smarz *
Jada Labria Smith
Joseph Omar Soto
Yssamo Souza
Summa Cum Laude
Habibatou Sow
Vincent Michael Squitieri
Summa Cum Laude
Naika St. Pierre
Jeffrey N. Starczewski
Chelsea Sterling
Elhassan Tachtab
Paul Tannucilli
Magna Cum Laude
Josefa Tapia *
Kyianna Alexus Tapia
Karina Altagracia Taveras
Maia J. Tejeda
Llary Ivette Tejeda *
Maritza Karolina Tenempaguay
Logan Taylor Thomas *
Carmen Paola Toledo
Magna Cum Laude
Tajani Tomlinson **
Lenayah Jade Torres
Magna Cum Laude
Jennifer Torres
Melissa Tudela
Magna Cum Laude
Francesca Noel Turi
Magna Cum Laude
Erick Anthony Valentin
Cum Laude
Justyn Vallin
Yoandra Vazquez Perez
Summa Cum Laude
Kelly Velasco **
Summa Cum Laude
Angel Velazquez
Jasmine Christina Veliz
Melissa Veliz
John Ryan Veltri
Bruce Vereen-Nealous Jr.
Jessica Victor
Destiny Marie Villafane *
Cum Laude
Tara Villanueva Rodriguez
Anthony Vinci
James Edward Vizzoni
Kamia Geneen Walker
Ava Marie Walsh
Caleb Khalif Ware
Brittany Amber Williams Henderson
Tamekia Mya Yanessan Williams *
Cania Mary Williams
Yemaya M. Williams
WILLIAM J. MAXWELL COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
Jaylen Ahmir Wilson *
William P. Worosila
Sophia Worsley *
Cum Laude
Adaijah Wright *
Marquis Wright *
Mariam Said Zoair
Cum Laude
Bachelor of Fine Arts
Bukola W. Adeleye *
Aydan Alpyildiz **
Summa Cum Laude
Anibal Arroyo *
Cum Laude
Joseph Bachanes
Maria Belen Barros
Paige Tyler Bishop
Cum Laude
Naomi Emily Brito
Cum Laude
Kassandra Lynette Brown
Kendall Gheorghia Brown
Magna Cum Laude
Andrea Isabel Camacho *
Jennifer C. Catalfamo
Cum Laude
Nicholas Andrew Ciborowski
Kelsie Marie Clapp
Summa Cum Laude
Sofia Cozzolino *
Magna Cum Laude
Lily Grace Cummings
Summa Cum Laude
Jose Manuel De La Rosa
Margaret L. Deignan ***
Summa Cum Laude
Heber B. Diaz
Anya S. Dudley
Jonah Dunstan
Laura Josefina Goossens
Cum Laude
Daniel Guiller
Madeline Herrera
Jonathan Matthew Izyayev
Cum Laude
Patricia Jane
Sofija Kucere-Lavcinovska
Magna Cum Laude
Fransheska D. Larios
Magna Cum Laude
Ariel Marks
Nelia McNicol
Tessa Murray
Abigail Gissell Ostorva
Magna Cum Laude
Michelle Gianna Palatucci
Magna Cum Laude
Michael Justin Pantaleon
Jhyda Caniela Pura-Quilla
Renee Anne Ramos
Summa Cum Laude
Brandon Alexander Robles *
Loeke Elisabeth Sakkers
Nelson Antonio Solis Romero *
Summa Cum Laude
Sarah Fernanda Stafford *
Lucero Alisa Torres
Summa Cum Laude
Merlee Joy Vergara
Katherine Angelique Willmore
Emi Piper M. Ziemba
Summa Cum Laude
Bachelor of Music
McKenna Katelynn Blair
Magna Cum Laude
Andrew Joseph Choffo
Cum Laude
Daemen Jacob Den Bleyker *
Daniella Layseca
Summa Cum Laude
Nicholas Oreste Neve
Joshua Alexis Nieves
Danielle May Reilly
Gabrielle Angelic Sammarone
Cum Laude
Bachelor of Science
Kirolos Abdelmaseih *
Souley Abdoul Aziz
Ramez Fekry Abeid
Dania Abueid
Jacques Henry Adams
Rania Esmat Ahmed *
Favour Olasubomi Ajuwon
Eniola Ayomide Ajuwon **
Emmanuel Akintunde Akinbowale
Emmanuel Simisola Akinleye
Jonathan Alemany
Muizzat Omotoyosi Alli
Summa Cum Laude
Robert Alparan **
Taiye Olayemi Amedu Babatunde
Rocio Andrade **
Prashanth Balakrishnan
Mazzarine Barboza ***
Cum Laude
Juan Miguel Belamide ***
Summa Cum Laude
Robert George Belibrov ***
Summa Cum Laude
Eva Bolis
Nazek Boughdiri
Magna Cum Laude
Tirso Bravo Tello Jr. *
David Cancel
Cum Laude
Verenice Carangui
Jessica Casiano
Gulearzoo Faiz Cheema **
Kevin Alexander Chicas
Ebony V. Chilin
Eliza Dominique Clamor
Summa Cum Laude
Carlos Colmena
Summa Cum Laude
Caue D. Coradi
Summa Cum Laude
Evelyn Vanessa Criollo Barros
Cum Laude
Maria Ariane Antonia De Jesus **
Philip Jeremiah Cruz De Ramos *
Katya Melanie DelMundo
Michael Jan Dworakowski
Temidayo Olugbenga Ekundayo
Imen Elmaraoub
Summa Cum Laude
Emad F. Farag
Joaquin Florencio Jr. *
Brenner Alfredo Flores
Cum Laude
Amanda Forty
Darwin R. Garrido ***
Cum Laude
Luis C. Garzon
Cum Laude
Mohamed Ghacham
WILLIAM J. MAXWELL COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
Christina H. Ghattas
Andrew Gilmete *
Victoria Gonzales ***
Jorge Gonzalez-Vazque
Summa Cum Laude
Andy A. Guevara
Rahul D. Gupta *
Megan M. Halaburda
Amanda A. Harriott
Connor Robert Harsch
Sasha Delicia Hernandez
Donovan Hines **
Reginald Michael Hudson II **
Sabrine Moustafa Hussein *
Joyce Chinaemerem Ikedife ***
Magna Cum Laude
Albert Rainieri Jimenez Martinez
Joshua S. Johnson
Magna Cum Laude
Victoria Rebecca Johnston ***
Cum Laude
Omar M. Kanaan
Amrit Kaur
Cum Laude
Mohamad Ali Kawtharani **
Adnan Kennedy Kpodo
Cum Laude
Michael Peter Lavell ***
Cidney Miérra Lee-Sam
Denilson F. Lopez
Cum Laude
Cuong D. Lu
Hamid Mahsi
Pamela Rosy Martinez-Asuncion
Sara Massoud
Summa Cum Laude
Andrew Mastrolia
Mohammad Matari
Shouhaybou Madiyana Mbow
Oscar G. Mejia
Elam Mesa ***
Summa Cum Laude
Shabely Amarys Moran
Georgette Morgan
Cum Laude
Abdelrahman Ibrahim Mosbah *
Joyce M. Najm
Elhadji Malick Ndiaye
Huy Nguyen
Khoa Thanh Nguyen **
Ibraheem Mohammad Noubani
Ishtar Olaveja ***
Obaida Mohammed Omar
Cum Laude
Abdul-Latief Mohammed Omar
Tiffany Ortiz
Magna Cum Laude
Vishiel Outar
Kudret Selin Ozkaya
Cum Laude
Izzet Semih Ozkaya
Kristopher M. Pacifico *
Bryam Armando Perez *
Carlos J. Perez *
Christopher Arturo Perez ***
Cum Laude
Arquimides Pierantony Jr.
Cynthia J. Pineda **
Merani Pornela
Nipun Puri
Magna Cum Laude
Ryan Rampersaud
Summa Cum Laude
Bryan N. Rampersaud
Cum Laude
Brian Louis Ribas
Helen Astrid Rivera
Matthew Immanuel Rivera
Mina Tawab Sadek *
Naglaa Saeid
Karla Alejandra Salazar-Velez
Cum Laude
Lissel L. Sanabria-Caballero
Michelle Shanine Sanchez *
Nuha H. Sbateen **
Cum Laude
Pierre Shenouda
Navin Shievdayal
Manesha Singh
Cum Laude
Cory Skievaski
Mariam Solieman
Nizar Soltan
Sana Tahir
Rishmitha Reddy Talusani
Magna Cum Laude
Kirolos Tawfeek **
Sokhna Mareme Thiaw **
Malachi K. Thomas *
Gianna Isabel Tirona ***
Christopher J. Torres
Summa Cum Laude
Joshua Mauricio Tunnermann
Tiana Jordan Ulloa
Brian Vargas
Eduardo Vidals
Summa Cum Laude
Pablo Villa Jr. *
Josue Zurita
Bachelor of Social Work
Brianna Maria Abreu
Summa Cum Laude
Bryan Remigio Auz
Elissa Mariah Bonilla
Alex Joseph Camacho
Summa Cum Laude
Alex Shawn Cameron **
Savannah Ferland
Cum Laude
Rebecca Aileen Jeter **
Grace Matta
Magna Cum Laude
Koreana A. Nixon
Eva Same
Bakir Amanda Shakoor **
Magna Cum Laude
Grace Luz Torres **
Araceli Marilu Trevino
Cum Laude
WILLIAM J. MAXWELL COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
Commencement Committee & Volunteers
Jodi Bailey, Chair
Jennifer Aitken
Monica Almonor
Ana Aponte
Michael Arbitblit
Angela Arriaza
Betty Arzuaga
Danielle Bachant
Jose Balda
Wahjerjay Blango
Stephanie Burbano
Anna Carhart
Isabel Castano
Sandy Checo
Gretchen Clayton
Robert Cole
Karen Cotter
Bianca Cribeiro
Alan Cruz
Ivelisse Cruz
Lucy Cuba
Victor Delvalle
Brianna Demorcy
Patrick Devaney
Cinthia Diaz
Rosemarie Distefano
Barbara Drew
Carlo Edra
Carolina Espin
Gonfalon Bearers
John Laski, D.B.A.
School of Business
Wei Zhang, Ph.D.
William J. Maxwell College of Arts & Sciences (CAS) and CAS/Education dualdegree recipients
Alex Falk
Kelly Francisco
Rafael Gajilan
Strawberry Gallagher
Elaine Gargiulo
Paul Gargiulo
Zoila Gonzalez
Kurt Grzyb
Theresa Guerriere
Ron Hurley
Joshua Iannuzzi
Manica Jacques
Vivianne Jimenez
Stacey Kanga
Franca Kirsch
Tracy Kurtiak
Francis Laing
Tom Lee
Ashley Lemon
Sabrina Lopes
Sabrina Magliulo
Ashley Martinez
Sarah McGough
Diana Mclean
Jennifer Nyeste
Patrick O'Neill
Evelyn Ortega
Farah Pelissier
Lydia R. Carter
Jennifer Rak
Aisha Rathore
Rose Mary Reilly
Jordan Robinson
Ryan Roche
Maria Roe
Daysi Romero
Ella Rue
Navin Saiboo
Anna Scanniello
Bernadette Schery
Erica Seitzman
Mike Sims
Dominique Smith
Darin Soliman
Pia Stevens-Haynes
Sohaib Talat
Harry Turner
Maria Christina Velez
Sergio Villamizar
Crystal Gail Villavert
Peter Vincent
Yufeng Wei
Mel Williams
Joseph Yeck
Jazmin Zegarra
Commencement Announcer
Ira Thor
Jean Georgiou, Ph.D.
Deborah Cannon Partridge Wolfe
College of Education
Samantha Amorino, M.C.J.
College of Professional Studies
The NJCU Ceremonial Mace
NJCU Ceremony
“The Mace represents the home of learning surrounded by the human quest for discovery. It is an androgynous figure stretching around ancient pillars towards a crystal sphere of knowledge slightly clouded with mystery and still to be discovered universal magic. The Mace is crowned with a neogothic cluster symbolizing the power of creative passions in the service of universal peace. It is a scepter of our urban mission: bringing people together to challenge their future.”
Artist’s statement by Herb Rosenberg, M.F.A., retired professor of art, who created the Mace in 1987
The National Anthem
The Star-Spangled Banner
Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn’s early light, What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight, O’er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
Francis Scott Key, 1814
Alma Mater
Green and Gold, we honor thee, Symbol of our aim. Lead us onward to thy goal Ever for thy fame. All our hearts will ever hold Memories that are dear; And you always will remain Our alma mater, dear.
Will Hayes ’36, Ph.D. Aubrey Kemper ’36
The University Colors
“Green and gold are our University’s colors. In 1933, a flower garden graced a wide expanse of lawn between Hepburn Hall and the Boulevard. Mr. Otto Cordes, director of the Maintenance Department, took special pride in the yellow jonquils he planted. Mathematics Professor Foster Grossnickle, himself an amateur flower gardener, shared a love of the gardens with Otto. One day, admiring the gardens in full bloom, Otto remarked about the breathtaking contrast of the yellow jonquils and the deep green lawn. ‘Green and gold,’ he said. Foster liked the sound of this...and so our University’s colors were born.”
This historical sketch was related to Dr. Will Hayes ’36, who was a close friend of Mr. Cordes and Dr. Grossnickle
Gonfalons
The history of the gonfalon can be traced back to the medieval republics of Italy. A gonfalon was a type of flag or banner emblazoned with the personal coat of arms of a nobleman and borne on a staff. Noblemen would hang their
family gonfalon from their horses as they rode into battle. In time, the gonfalon would hang from a crosspiece or frame as an ensign of state or high office. They were carried in medieval parades where the coats of arms of legion commanders were presented and used as rallying points in battle.
Gonfalons have been associated with pageantry for centuries. They are popular today at colleges and universities, where they are used at commencement and for many other institutional and ceremonial purposes. New Jersey City University’s four gonfalons, representing each of the University’s four schools and colleges, are used at every Commencement ceremony to lead degree candidates.
Academic Regalia
When universities were taking shape in the 12th and 13th centuries, they were under the jurisdiction of the Church. Most of those studying were clerics in Holy Orders, monks, or priests. They wore a habit or cloak attached to a cowl or hood. This could be pulled up over the head or thrown back according to the weather. Gowns were necessary for warmth in the unheated buildings, and hoods served to cover the tonsured head before using a skull cap.
Today, the academic costume of the cap, gown, and hood has taken on symbolic meaning. Colors and shapes conform to a generally accepted code and indicate the faculty conferring the degree and the kind of degree conferred. Gowns for the bachelor’s degree are worn closed and are distinguished by their long pointed sleeves. Master’s degree gowns are designed to be worn open. Consequently, they have very long sleeves, oblong in shape. Gowns for the doctoral degree, usually black, are also intended to be worn open and have velvet panels. Three velvet bars are stitched to the upper part of the full, bell-shaped sleeves. A fourth bar signifies the office of the presidency.
Academic hoods worn in the procession are trimmed with velvet of various colors to represent the following academic areas:
Arts, Letters, Humanities: White
Business Administration, Management: Light Brown
Education: Light Blue
Fine Arts: Dark Brown
Law: Purple
Library Science: Yellow
Medicine: Green
Musical Arts: Pink
Nursing: Peach
Philosophy: Dark Blue
Science: Golden Yellow
Social Work: Citron Yellow
Theology: Scarlet
The colored lining is the official color of the institution conferring the degree.