202043rdCommencement Exercises

Saturday, June 13th

Candidates of the Classes ofSummer 2019 | Fall 2019 | Spring 2020

thANNIVERSARY

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Processional “Pomp and Circumstance” - Sir Edward Elgar

Welcome Adrian Smith, Chief Information Officer

Greetings Charles Armstrong, Chair, Board of Trustees

Remarks Joanne Passaro, PhD, President

Keynote Speaker Rafael Salamanca, Jr., New York City Council Member

Reflections Humphrey Crookendale, JD, Vice President for Academic Affairs

Scott Hughes, School for Business Stacey Cohen, School for Public Affairs and Administration Viviana Gomez, Audrey Cohen School for Human Services and Education

Presentation of Candidate names by school Degree Candidates

Degree Conferral Joanne Passaro, PhD, President

Special Congratulations Office of Academic Affairs

Closing Adrian Smith, Chief Information Officer

Announcing Candidates Heide Hlawaty, EdD, Associate Professor

Order of Ceremony

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Congratulations, Graduates! Every member of the MCNY community — trustees, faculty and staff — salutes your important and life-changing achievements. We recognize the hard work and sacrifices that you and your loved ones have made to make this dream a reality. And we are proud that you chose to attend MCNY.

As you know, MCNY’s mission is unique in its explicit and unwavering commitment to social justice. One of the most important ways we measure our success is by the impact of your work on our communities after graduation.

This is your moment, graduates. In the aftermath of the death of George Floyd, calls for social justice have reverberated across the country, and they are making a difference. The knowledge and skills you brought to your MCNY education, combined with the power of Purpose-Centered Education, have prepared you to bring constructive change to our communities. Go out and make history, graduates. The MCNY community will stand proudly alongside you.

As our newest alumni, you have joined a powerful family of accomplished and dedicated women and men whose work has improved the lives of many thousands of people across New York City and beyond. We hope you will stay connected to your classmates, and to the College. Your success will continue to be a source of inspiration and renewal for all of us.

This is your time, graduates. Our city, and our nation, need your vision, your passion, and your talents. We know that you will continue to achieve great things, and that you will make the world a better place. We will be rooting for you every step of the way.

Thank you for the inspiration and hope that you bring to the MCNY community, and to our world.

Dr. Joanne PassaroPresident

A Message from the President

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Rafael Salamanca Jr. is the Council Member for the 17th District of the New York City Council, representing the South Bronx and serves as Chair of the Land Use Committee.

The son of first-generation Puerto Rican immigrants, Council Member Salamanca grew up in the Bronx understanding the value of hard work and the importance of giving back to the community.

Beginning his career working in healthcare to expand access for low-income and working families, Council Member Salamanca went on to serve as the District Manager for Bronx Community Board 2 for nearly six years. As former President of the 41st Precinct Council, he worked closely with the NYPD and other local leaders to help improve public safety in the community.

Since his special election in 2016, Council Member Salamanca has been a champion for affordable housing bringing thousands of affordable units to his district and focusing on ensuring residents of all incomes has access to new apartments. Driving more than $52 million in capital investments to his district, Council Member Salamanca has fought for job creation by requiring companies investing in the community to hire local residents, and has committed to providing children in the Bronx with access to a quality education.

Recently, the City Council approved historic legislation sponsored by Council Member Salamanca that would require housing developments receiving city financial assistance to set aside at least 15% of its rental units for homeless families and individuals.

Council Member Salamanca resides with his wife Jessenia, and sons Justin and Aidan in the Longwood neighborhood of the Bronx.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Rafael Salamanca, Jr.

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CandidatesAudrey Cohen School for Human Services and Education

AA-Human ServicesFranchesca Marie Capellan Jasmin Castro Samantha Cordero Linda Cotton Nicole Antionette Cowart ¤Lea Marianne Daher ¤Dianne Daley Kim DeLoatch Brittany Grant Icesha Grimes LeShawn J. Hodge Dymen Irving Shadana Johnson Jayana Jade Lawton Diana A. Luna ΦΘΚMichael Malcolm ΦΘΚJoyce Morcilio-Nater ¤Theodore Nicholson Angie Pascual Chloe Rodriguez Shaquanna Shakeia Slaughter ΦΘΚDuane Smith Jennifer L. Torres Genesis Yvette Velazquez

BPS-Human ServicesLakiema LaTee Alexander Sharna Natesha Bailey Kimberly D. Barker Lishaya Been Henrietta Bell Kerry-Ann Latoya Bell ΦΘΚTennille Belton Evelyn Betances M¤Yaridania Deidad Betancourt M¤Tyrone E. Bleary M¤ ✭

Briana Brown Antoinette Maria Carr Martha Darson Raquel De La Cruz Felicia N. Edwards Dadescar Michel Florvil Brooke Elaine Frazier-Brown Ana Franchesca Gomez ~Viviana Gomez M¤ ΦΘΚAlthea Gray ~Tameeka Transiha Gregg ~William Raymond Halstead Jessica R. Hernandez Kelvin Ortiz Howell, Jr.Juliet Irick Paulette Jarrett-Smith Laniece Sharine Jennings Paulette Johnson Angela Marie Jones Marie A. Jones ΔMΔWendy Monique Kingwood Kavi Sunil Maraj Grant Albert Martin M¤Debra McCrary Barbara Mercedes Paola A. Minda Jessica D. Moore Joyce Marie Moore Karena M. Nicholas Laura Cecilia Perez Shayla Proctor ΦΘΚSashaliz Rivas M¤ ΦΘΚAshley E. Rivera Rhoedesia Rodney Yolanda Saldana Daniel Shepard Nicole Small ¤Kai Sumpter Adreem M. Tindle Satuyee Toussaint Jose Roberto Veloso de Araujo M¤

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Atiya Watson Precious F. Wiggins Warren Keith Williams Vivian Young Jasmine Destiny Zurita ~

MSEd-Dual Childhood/ Special Education

Yolanda Valencia Bentinck Veronica Burgos Yangchen Dolkar Yajaira Gil Chyla Guevara Shakima Joseph-Francis Zachary Kimber Ebony Rae Lambright Samantha A. Lugo Dadinirt Minaya Martinez Amber Osasumwen Osayande Damarys Pacheco Miranda Linda Rios Samia L. Rucker Alejandra Suarez Daniella Suarez Stephanie Marie Whiteman Yiqi Yang ~

School for Business

AAS-Information TechnologyRobert Gooden Elise R. Paredes

AS-BusinessArnaud M. Ba Veronica Lopez Hector Maldonado Joseph La Martinez Lindon M. McKenzie Tkehya Marie Pippins Crystal Plump Earlene A. Taylor ΦΘΚAmina Joann White

BBA-BusinessLiliana A. Aguila Ardian Ahmetaj ΔMΔ M¤Denise Y. Ali Radhia Alokam Kaushal S. Amin Dacio Anderson ✭Emily F. Arzu Kara Badette ΦΘΚKetler Bastien ¤Todd Bristow ΔMΔ M¤ ΦΘΚCree Carney Marine Aldjia Fadila Chauveau Shelly N. Davidson M¤ ΦΘΚKyla Demas ~Rose Diagne ¤ ΔMΔ ΦΘΚIrelys Johara Diaz Ocasio Janelle Rose Eastman Guillaumence Marcus Adegnadjou Fagbemi

Ileana Funez Sherod Graham Tierra Brittney Graham ΦΘΚMonique Terrice Green

Candidates

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Virak Han ΦΘΚ M¤My-Linh Laurie Hoang ¤Theresa Renee Holder ΦΘΚJesse Van Phong Insdorf S¤Badeel K. Janjua S¤Tenesha Cheryl King Haiying Lin Melina Loveras Abdeladime Megzari M¤Mahmoud Mokhtar M¤Tamika R. Nyman Afolake Racheal Onijoko Jeffrey Jorge Padilla M¤ ΦΘΚNathalie Pierre Yahaira Pimentel Atiya Postell Amanda Kristina Pumarejo M¤ ΦΘΚIlan Xavier Rivera S¤ ✭Tawanna Rivera Thais Lashay Sanders Keith Smith Syira Sukhra ΦΘΚ ¤Xiao Sun Louie Terrazas ¤ ✭Odaine Anthony Tomlinson ✭Absa Toure Naiesha Van Duyne Wendy Villanueva M¤ ΔMΔWill Washington ✭Yaxin Yu Andrew Yun S¤

BBA-Healthcare Systems Management

Raven S. Addison Oluwakemi Adenekan Lakeisha Alives ¤Marleny Almonte Rachel Alvarado Fatoumata Barrie Salmana Barrie

Quenet Bennett Angelica Nathalie Bernabel Jacqueline Bonilla Shakema Annique Britt Caritza Libaneza Bueno Almonte Essence Buffong Nicole S. Buhel Marsela Caushaj ~Ceie Anthony Celestin ΔMΔ M¤ ΦΘΚYolani C. Clotter ✭Shawanna Davona Coyne ΔMΔ ~Shondell Gregory Crocker Laurie A. Cunningham Yahaira Delgado ΦΘΚ ΔMΔ ¤Raymond Georges Yasiris Paola Gomez Nyeisha Krishaun Hunter Javier A. Izaguirre Anariba ¤Esther Jean Bart Pascale Jeanbaptiste Geraldine Jeanty ✭Patrice Johnnie Winnie Johnson Fatoumata Kaba Jane M. Kafwimbi Mariam Kouakou Cassiana Laventure Sybille Esperanta Leopol Diana Elizabeth Marsh Jenesia F. McCall Nicole McNeill Lorna Modeste-Thomas Lorraine Cassandra Moore Kristal Morris Anca Peckerman M¤Lennette Philip M¤ ΦΘΚJessica Maria Polanco Sanllery Rachel Rodriguez Beberly Solorzano Ortiz Fabiola St. Felix Kiyvana Straker ~

Candidates

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Shantale Janet Tartt S¤ ΦΘΚNafisha K. Thyme Diana Valdez Mya Leilani Vazquez ΦΘΚJessica Karina Vintimilla M¤ ΦΘΚAmarra Vital-Richards Kia Waring ΔMΔTiffany Nicole Webster Nikia C. Williams Djeneba Yaressi

BBA-Information TechnologyJerrel Basley ΔMΔ S¤ ΦΘΚJianchao Chen M¤Angelica Lydia Diaz Clifford Francois ΔMΔWai Bo Lam ΔMΔ M¤ ΦΘΚGutsy Ong ΦΘΚ M¤Zaved Palak Narelin Yulissa Sabio

MBA-Media ManagementOlalekan Abiola Ajalaagbo Sharelle Cherise Douglas Alice Farhat Carlyshia Entoinette Hurdle Anne-Priscille Isaac Sarah Melendez Roger Millette Bertha Animwaa Osafo Jamie Pfeiffer Brenda Gabrielle Singleton ΔMΔMichelle Velez ΔMΔ ~Maria Esperanza Fabrero Villaflor

ΔMΔ

MBA-General ManagementNakia L. Alford-Saunders Kelly Saamah Ankonah Julius Duane Atkinson Trishanna Jodiann Barnhardt ✭

Eva Benton Kiffa Somalia Brathwaite Santina J. Brown-Payton Tenesha Bryant Rasheed Bullard ✭Walter Jhonatan Calderon ✭Christian C. Casibang ✭Marie D. D'haiti Shiborn Davis Nancy Durenay StarrAnn Ferguson Thelma I. Gomez Garrisha Monique Goodman ~Melonie Hall Schneiqua Nicole Henry Yehern Julia Hutchinson Jonathon Arnold Johnson Shamea L. Johnson Ismayil Jumshudov Peter Marius Mangwa Erica Mena Ricardo Daniel Moreno ΔMΔKarolina Musialska Lashanda Shenell Myers Davita B. Newell Gerald Chimezie Obiora Amalia Ortiz Stefany Oviedo Elton Chiemele Parry-Nweye ΔMΔMaritza Samuel ~Vanessa L. Simon ΔMΔDan Strader Rakshit Toke Emmanuel Kojo Trenoo ✭Johanne Vaval Simone Vidale Baronica White Shanice C. Wilson

Candidates

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MBA-Financial ServicesAdjogan Yolande Akodenyon ΔMΔ ~Naing Tun Aung Mohammad Hijazi Scott Hughes ✭Kester William McLeod Dewane Mutunga ΔMΔGaukhar Satbayeva Tessa Smith ΔMΔZanvenena West-Duprey Bruce Boateng Yeboah ΔMΔ

MBA-Healthcare Systems Management

Kolawole Abideen Adeyemo ΔMΔHugensia Albert Valrie E. Alexander Johancarina Bonilla Mayra J. Bonilla Madia Brewer ~Cathy Briggs Harris Nicole Lynn Cebrian ΔMΔRossy Escalante ΔMΔJosephine A. Fleming Euda Lynn Gary Latoya V. Grant Javonna Jean Naomy Laguerre Virginia Maldonado Lilly Glory Male Shavel Mulrain Christine PerezJonathan Perez ~Stephanie Ramirez Barbara Randolph-Duke ΔMΔJennifer Rodriguez ✭Joe Trezil Yan Qing Wu Prince Yates ΔMΔ

School for Public Affairs and Administration

BA-Emergency Management and Business Continuity

Tifani-Rae Allen ~Christin Auriemma ✭Craig Auriemma ✭Stoyann E. Awolowo Natasha Marie Blue Ambriorix P. Canela Robert M. Cataletto S¤Rudy Cuthrell ¤ ΦΘΚ ✭Aileen S. David Joseph Andrew Digiacomo ¤ ✭Patrick T. Gordon ¤Jerome Green ΦΘΚJames Thomas Pateres ¤ ΦΘΚBryan Michael Paulino M¤Nyeema Pierce Harry Lewis Roberts S¤ ✭Leanne Nicole Ruiz David Torres ✭Herman Tyson Hector Luis Valentin ✭Joao Manuel Vazquez ✭Kenisha Renee Watson ¤ ΦΘΚDonald John Wemer, Jr. M¤ ✭Yannieka Wilson ✭

MPA-Emergency and Disaster Management

Malgorzata Brzakalska Winford Frederick Cropper πAAYolanda C. David John Dubovici πAAAntonio Gary πAABrittany Kristine Giles-Jones πAAFlor-Maria Grant ~Ndieme Hane

Candidates

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Cheyenne Marisol Hernandez πAALuke Hill πAAMikhai Andrell Joseph Scott A. Kiernan πAADavid King πAA ✭Ishmael Kwawununu πAAOjike Lewis πAAFrancette Midy Celso Miranda Santos πAAJohn Alvin Morris πAA ✭Joseph Neault Jr. ~Kesley Paige Outram Carmen Quinones ~Felix Rios πAA ✭Jose Javier Rolon πAA ✭Alcide Salce ✭Ayo Oum Shanti πAATracey Stallworth πAANathanael Smith Tapsoba Irie Mellonie Thompson Caterina Vazquez πAA

MPA-Public Affairs and Administration

Syed Ahmed Richard Ajiboye πAAMagdalen Arnheiter ~Stephanie Nyagi Arnold Ezequiel Balbuena Nadege M. Barosy πAABrenda Butler Rosalba Caines πAAKasha Lizzie Calhoun Thaddeus Canty πAAEugenai Clyde πAAStacey Echo Cohen πAAGwendolyn C. Cummings Nakisha Cushnie πAAEugene Naomi David πAATiffany Douglas Melissa Edwards-LaSanta ~

Antonia Francois Letisha Dosha Genyard Asia S. Graham Carlos A. Grimes πAADarryl Hancock Lanesha Hart πAADonald Jones Steve Jones πAATaina Jones πAATrevor Jones Cara Justin πAAMelanie B. Laborde Jovanna Marc Victoria McCain Michelle Mensah Tiffany A. Mensah πAAKim Merritt Ivan Mompoint πAA ✭Gary Keith Morton Yaa Akyaa Nsafoah Donna M. Ortiz Luisa Patrone Gilda Pena Rafael Antonio Pena πAADana Ponomarenko Antwana T. Powell-Anderson Miosha Randolph-Johnson πAAMichelle Rodriguez πAAWillie Edward Sellers Tarsha N. Sewell πAAShenika Candice Sharpe Charmille Akia Small Alicia R. Smith Karisa N. Taylor Genell Thomas Gissell Tineo πAARoselyn Tineo πAAErica Turner Chastity Takera Tutein Anthony Rogers Vauss πAA Sharraine Wallace

Candidates

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CandidatesTarita Walton Clarette Williams Constance Marie Wilson ~Unique Shamir Wilson

Legend ¤ cum laude M¤ magna cum laude S¤ summa cum laude ΔMΔ delta mu delta πAA pi alpha alpha EΦΦ epsilon pi phi ΦΘΚ phi theta kappa

✭ Veteran~ Class of Summer 2020

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Trustees and AdministrationBoard of Trustees

Charles Armstrong Chair

Wendy Cohen, JD Vice Chair

John S. Rodgers Treasurer

Frances Walton Secretary

Joanne Passaro, PhD President

Al Cafaro

Greg Conklin

Andrew Davidson

Warachal Eileen Faison, MD, CMD

Louise H. Feroe, PhD

Charles Gray, DSW Faculty Trustee

Gary P. Jenkins, MPA '06

Jonathan Reiss

Constance Robinson, MPA '00

Grace G. Roosevelt, PhD

Melanie Schnoll Begun, JD

Ninfa Segarra, JD

Thomas L. Webber, PhD

AdministrationJoanne Passaro, PhD

PresidentIsabel Cabrera

Executive Assistant to the President

Humphrey Crookendale, JD Vice President for Academic Affairs

Amy Greenstein Vice President of Enrollment Management & Student Services

Michelle Blankenship Chief Financial Officer

Mary B. Martel Chief Development Officer

Adrian Smith Chief Information Officer

Joanne Ardovini, PhD Dean, Audrey Cohen School for Human Services and Education

Clotilde Ibarra Dean of Students

Kate Adler Director of Library Services

Douane Campbell Director of Financial Aid

John Edwards Executive Director for the Bronx Campus and College-Wide Career Development Office

Tina Georgiou Director of Communications and Alumni Relations

Taurean Kennedy Bursar

Michael Molina Director of Student Services

Lincoln Roney Associate Vice President for Fiscal Analysis and Compliance

Judith Santiago Director of Human Resources

Nathan Schiller Director of Academic Support

Shawana Singletary Director of Applications Process-ing and Admissions Systems

Noreen Smith Registrar

Steebo Varghese Interim Director of Admissions

Anthony Williams Director of Institutional Research and Assessment

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FacultyFull-Time Members of the Faculty

MCNY Commencement CommitteeKate AdlerJoanna BostonTina GeorgiouAmy GreensteinDavid HahnVirak (Romeo) Han

Elysia HinesClotilde IbarraRadhika JhaMike MolinaJudith SantiagoNate Schiller

Lakhbir SinghNoreen SmithAdrian SmithSunay Tamashev

Solomon Appel, MBAJoanne Ardovini, PhDLessie Branch, PhDHumphrey Crookendale, JDEric Fuchs, PhDCharles Gray, DSWHeide Hlawaty, EdDPatrick Ianniello, PhD

Radhika Jha, MARalph A. Leal, MS

(Dean Emeritus of the School for Business)

Sophie Jiseon Lee, PhDRuth E. Lugo, PhDFrances Meyer, EdDPhilip Nufrio, PhD

Pamela Ransom, PhDDavid Rosner, PhDLouis Tietje, PhDDoru Tsaganea, PhDVanda Wark, EdDAdele Weiner, PhDRachel Yager, PhD

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The Traditions of Academic AttireThe origins of academic dress date back to the 12th century when universities were taking form. The typical dress of the scholar, whether student or teacher, was the dress of the cleric. The assignment of colors to signify academic subjects was standardized in 1895, when an intercollegiate commission in the United States adopted a code of academic dress.

According to the academic costume code, the gown for the Bachelor’s degree has pointed sleeves and is designed to be worn closed. The gown for the Master’s degree has oblong-shaped sleeves and can be worn open or closed. The gown for the Doctor’s degree has bell-shaped sleeves with velvet bands on the sleeves and down the front.

The hoods which are worn hanging down the back signify the school and nature of study. At MCNY, the hoods are black, white and red and the trim represents the degree. For Bachelor of Arts candidates in the Audrey Cohen School for Human Services and Education, the color of the hood trim is white; for Bachelor of Professional Studies candidates, the color of the hood trim is yellow; and for Master of Science in Education candidates, light blue. For those in the Master of Public Administration programs in the School for Public Affairs and Administration, the hood trim is peacock blue. All candidates in the business programs in the School for Business wear the hood trim color taupe. For associate degree candidates, the colors of the hood trim are red and white.

A Unique Institution…MCNYDriven by a holistic vision of a better world, Audrey Cohen created a succession of organizations to address the dual issues of economic development and social improvement. Through her lifelong commitment to the interconnected ideals of social justice, educational excellence, and economic opportunity, Ms. Cohen continues to be esteemed as one of the most innovative and respected education reformers in the world.

Her enduring commitment, to create employment and educational opportunities for all, stemmed from her activism during the civil rights and women’s movements in the 1950s and 60s. It was also rooted in her conviction that education must empower individuals to take charge of their own lives and to make positive change in organizations and communities.

In 1964 Audrey Cohen founded the Women’s Talent Corps which a few short years later emerged as The College for Human Services. Prior to her passing in 1996, it was named Audrey Cohen College, and in 2002 the name was changed to Metropolitan College of New York.

Metropolitan College of New York continues to realize our founder’s vision of developing innovative academic programs that prepare students to become critical thinkers and effective communicators so that they can contribute to their organizations and communities.

Bronx Campus

463 East 149th StreetBronx, NY 10455

718-665-7787

Manhattan Campus

60 West StreetNew York, NY 10006

212-343-1234 ext.5001

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