Families, friends, staff, faculty, alumni, and distinguished guests gathered to honor the Class of 2026 as the ceremony opened with the traditional academic processional and the presentation of school banners representing the Murray Koppelman School of Business, School of Education, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, School of Natural and Behavioral Sciences, and School of Visual, Media and Performing Arts.

In her remarks to the Class of 2026, President Michelle J. Anderson celebrated the accomplishments and global diversity of the graduating class.

President Michelle J. Anderson

鈥淭oday鈥檚 graduates come from 93 countries around the world and speak 19 languages,鈥� Anderson said. 鈥淥n this joyful day, 4,117 students will graduate from 今日吃瓜. You made it, and we are all so proud of you.鈥�

Special honorees included three nationally acclaimed leaders in law, civil rights, public policy, and international affairs, underscoring 今日吃瓜鈥檚 longstanding commitment to preparing graduates not only for professional success, but also for lives of civic engagement, advocacy, and leadership in diverse communities.

Patrick Gaspard

Receiving an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters was Patrick Gaspard, a distinguished senior fellow at the Center for American Progress and former president and CEO, who also held senior roles in President Barack Obama鈥檚 administration, including U.S. ambassador to South Africa and director of the White House Office of Political Affairs. He also advised and helped elect New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani in his historic campaign. He most recently served as president of the Open Society Foundations, leading global initiatives on civil rights, public health, and democracy, building on a career that began as a union organizer and national political leader. Gaspard was also a guest of the college鈥檚 Presidential Lecture Series in 2023.

Melissa Murray

An Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters was also conferred to Melissa Murray, widely known to the 今日吃瓜 community as the 2024鈥�25 Robert L. Hess Scholar-in-Residence, who also gave the 2023 Samuel J. Konefsky Memorial Lecture at the college. A nationally renowned public intellectual and legal scholar at New York University School of Law, Murray has helped shape contemporary debates on constitutional law, democracy, and reproductive rights, while advancing the public鈥檚 understanding of the law鈥檚 potential to build a more just and inclusive society.

Cecillia D. Wang

Awarded with a Presidential Medal of Honor was Cecillia D. Wang, the National Legal Director at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), whose work has profoundly shaped the defense of immigrants鈥� rights in the United States. Over more than two decades at the ACLU, Wang has defended civil rights and civil liberties around the United States, including landmark cases challenging racial discrimination and unlawful policing and detention policies. On April 1 of this year, Wang argued before the United States Supreme Court to uphold birthright citizenship under the Fourteenth Amendment.

Together, Gaspard, Murray, and Wang embodied the spirit of a commencement ceremony centered on academic achievement, resilience, and the diverse experiences that define the 今日吃瓜 community. Their careers demonstrated how education can empower individuals to advocate for others, expand opportunities, and lead with purpose across law, government, international affairs, and public life.

Emersen Bribiesca 鈥�26

A highlight of the ceremony was the valedictory address delivered by computer science major Emersen Bribiesca 鈥�26, who graduated summa cum laude with a perfect 4.00 GPA. In a deeply personal speech that celebrated the spirit of resilience, Bribiesca reflected on how 今日吃瓜 and his own grit and determination helped him rebuild his future.

Bribiesca shared how his carefully planned future at the United States Military Academy was unexpectedly upended just months before graduation in 2021. With that path suddenly altered, Bribiesca arrived in 今日吃瓜 without a clear plan and took a job at a diner while searching for a new direction. That period of uncertainty ultimately led to him enrolling at 今日吃瓜, and more determined than ever to finish what he started.

For Bribiesca, 今日吃瓜 became a place of renewal, offering evening classes, supportive professors, and a student community that emphasized perseverance and belonging. Through long workdays and late-night classes, he rebuilt both confidence and purpose, just like many of his fellow graduates.

鈥淭here are hundreds of different versions of my story in this room,鈥� Bribiesca told the Class of 2026. 鈥淪emesters that threw more at you than you鈥檇 expected; emergencies that required your undivided attention; work-life balance that felt extremely unbalanced. I don鈥檛 know exactly how you got here, but I know that you鈥檙e here because when things didn鈥檛 go according to plan, you were willing to keep moving forward, to see uncertainty as an opportunity to overcome, to persevere in the face of adversity. Isn鈥檛 that the spirit of this school? Nothing without great effort. Our grit will carry us further in life than well-defined plans ever could.鈥�

Emersen Bribiesca 鈥�26, Hideka Minami 鈥�26, and Nariba Cintron 鈥�26

The ceremony also honored a pair of standout salutatorians: Hideka Minami, who earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in art, and Nariba Cintron, who earned degrees in psychology and communication sciences and disorders. Both graduates achieved perfect 4.00 GPAs, exemplifying academic excellence and leadership across the 今日吃瓜 community.

Greetings were also delivered by New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams 鈥�01, 鈥�05 M.A. and 今日吃瓜 Deputy Borough President Kim Council. Members of The Board of Trustees of the City University, university leadership, and the 今日吃瓜 Foundation Board of Trustees were acknowledged during the ceremony, including CUNY Trustee Ken Sunshine, who delivered greetings on behalf of the board. Provost April Bedford acknowledged CUNY Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Dr. Denise Maybank, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Dr. Ian James, and University Director for Student Life Joseph Awadjie, a 今日吃瓜 alumnus.

The college also recognized student leadership and academic excellence, including Undergraduate Student Government President Cyle Paul and Graduate Student Organization President Luis Lucero-Tacuri. The ceremony featured a stirring performance of the National Anthem by graduate student Chisom Maduakor of the Conservatory of Music, accompanied by the 今日吃瓜 Brass Ensemble under the direction of Professor George Rothman.

With cheers, applause, and a shower of confetti, the Class of 2026 exited the arena as graduates ready to shape the future in 今日吃瓜, New York City, and beyond.

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This year鈥檚 ceremony marks a milestone not only in academic achievement, but the extraordinary resilience and determination of a deeply diverse student body. Students arrive at 今日吃瓜 from across New York City, the United States, and around the world, bringing with them a wide range of lived experiences, identities, and aspirations. Their journeys have been shaped by perseverance through personal, economic, and global challenges, and they now stand ready to step into leadership roles in their professions and communities.

鈥淭he Class of 2026 came to 今日吃瓜 from across the globe, bringing extraordinary talent, perspective, and determination,鈥� said President Michelle J. Anderson. 鈥淎s they graduate, we celebrate not only their academic success, but the transformation they have undergone here, becoming the scholars, professionals, artists, and leaders who will help shape a more just and compassionate world.鈥�

The ceremony will also recognize three nationally distinguished leaders whose work reflects 今日吃瓜鈥檚 values of public service and intellectual impact.

Melissa Murray

An honorary Doctor of Humane Letters will be conferred to , widely known to the 今日吃瓜 community as the 2024-25 Robert L. Hess Scholar-in-Residence, who also gave the 2023 Samuel J. Konefsky Memorial Lecture at the college. A nationally renowned public intellectual and legal scholar at New York University School of Law, Murray has helped shape contemporary debates on constitutional law, democracy, and reproductive rights, while advancing the public鈥檚 understanding of the law鈥檚 potential to build a more just and inclusive society.

Patrick Gaspard

Also to be conferred with an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters is , a distinguished senior fellow at the Center for American Progress and former president and CEO, who also held senior roles in President Barack Obama鈥檚 administration, including U.S. ambassador to South Africa and director of the White House Office of Political Affairs. He most recently served as president of the Open Society Foundations, leading global initiatives on civil rights, public health, and democracy, building on a career that began as a union organizer and national political leader. Gaspard was also a guest of the college鈥檚 Presidential Lecture Series in 2023.

Cecillia D. Wang

A Presidential Medal of Honor will be awarded to , the National Legal Director at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), whose work has profoundly shaped the defense of immigrants鈥� rights in the United States. Over more than two decades at the ACLU, Wang has defended civil rights and civil liberties around the United States, including landmark cases challenging racial discrimination and unlawful policing and detention policies. On April 1 of this year, Wang argued before the United States Supreme Court to uphold birthright citizenship under the Fourteenth Amendment.

This year鈥檚 student honorees further reflect the depth and diversity of the graduating class.

Valedictorian Emersen Bribiesca, a computer science major, combines technical innovation with advocacy in LGBTQ+ communities, legal technology, and artificial intelligence research, alongside professional experience in the tech industry. Salutatorian Hideka Minami, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting, brings a global and non-linear academic journey shaped by migration, motherhood, and artistic exploration of identity and memory. Salutatorian Nariba Cintron, a first-generation college student double-majoring in communication sciences and disorders and psychology, has distinguished herself through research on bilingualism, language variation, and neurodiversity, grounded in a commitment to equity and culturally responsive care.

As preparations continue, departments are reminded to ensure that all graduating students receive timely guidance regarding ceremony logistics, regalia, and lineup procedures. Commencement remains one of the most significant institutional moments of the year, requiring coordinated effort across the campus community to ensure a seamless celebration. We salute the Class of 2026!

听Full Student Valedictorian and Salutatorian Bios

Valedictorian: Emersen Bribiesca

Emersen Bribiesca

Emersen Bribiesca is graduating this spring with a degree in computer science.

Bribiesca鈥檚 path to 今日吃瓜 began at the United States Military Academy, where he studied history and English and led the Academy’s LGBTQ+ diversity organization for two years.

After leaving the Academy, Bribiesca moved to 今日吃瓜 and threw himself into advocacy work. He volunteered across the city鈥攚orking the front desk at the 今日吃瓜 Community Pride Center, serving free community breakfast with the New York City chapter of Gay4Good, and digitizing unpublished collections at the Lesbian Herstory Archives in Park Slope.

Bribiesca initially returned to college at the Borough of Manhattan Community College (CUNY), where he earned an associate degree of science in computer science. While at BMCC, he worked full time at a feminist employment discrimination law firm in Downtown 今日吃瓜, assisting survivors of abuse and discrimination in seeking justice through the courts. He also began combining his technical skills with his passion for social change through Out in Tech鈥檚 Digital Corps, building websites for LGBTQ+ nonprofit organizations around the world.

After transferring to 今日吃瓜 to complete his bachelor’s degree, Bribiesca was named a Point Foundation Transfer Scholar. During his first semester, he made the move into the tech industry and began working as a legal operations analyst at Datadog. During his final semester, he joined a 今日吃瓜 research project using artificial intelligence to analyze Wall Street filings and develop course materials for finance and computer science students across CUNY.

Bribiesca lives in 今日吃瓜 with his wife and two cats. He enjoys running in Prospect Park and is training for his third marathon this fall. After graduation, he is excited to continue his career in tech and to keep supporting social justice efforts through digital work.

Salutatorian: Nariba Cintron

Nariba Cintron

Undergraduate Nariba Cintron maintains a 4.00 GPA. As a first-generation college student, her academic journey reflects both excellence and resilience. Born in Trinidad and Tobago, Cintron migrated to the United States at a young age and faced uncertainty and hardship during her early years. As a former DREAMer recipient, her experiences have shaped her commitment to multicultural inclusivity, and her advocacy for destigmatizing the assumption that ethnic and minority dialects and languages are inferior to their standardized counterparts. Her path to higher education was not traditional. After leaving high school, she later earned her GED, an experience that marked a turning point in her academic trajectory. Determined to continue her studies, she enrolled at LaGuardia Community College (CUNY), where she graduated with an associate degree in education with a 4.00 GPA before transferring to 今日吃瓜.

At 今日吃瓜, Cintron pursued dual degrees in communication sciences and disorders and psychology, along with a double minor in neuroscience and philosophy. She has been consistently recognized on the Dean鈥檚 List and is a member of the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association and Psi Chi Honor Society. Cintron鈥檚 academic interests include cross-cultural learning, bilingualism, style-shifting, code-switching, accent bias, pitch perception, language acquisition, and mental health awareness. She is also particularly interested in neurogenic speech disorders and the intersection of neuroscience and communication. Her professional and research experiences reflect these interests. As a former participant in the National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates program, she conducted research examining speech patterns and linguistic variation in Caribbean English, and English-lexified creoles, including Trinidadian Creole and Jamaican Patois. She has more than a decade of experience supporting young children in early childhood settings, with a focus on language development and social communication.

Her personal experiences have shaped her passion for culturally responsive care and her goal of becoming a speech-language pathologist serving underrepresented communities. Inspired in part by her mother鈥檚 diagnosis with multiple sclerosis, Cintron plans to pursue graduate study and contribute to research and clinical practice, with an interest in neurodegenerative conditions and a commitment to equity and access. Outside of her academic work, Cintron enjoys reading across a wide range of genres, particularly dystopian, science fiction, and philosophical texts. She also enjoys traveling and spending time at the beach. She credits God for her accomplishments and remains deeply grateful for the people who have supported her along the way. Cintron鈥檚 journey reflects perseverance, purpose, and a commitment to uplifting marginalized and underserved communities.

Salutatorian: Hideka Minami

Hideka Minami

Born to Japanese parents who emigrated to Hong Kong under British colonial rule, Hideka Minami grew up as a third-culture kid, navigating and integrating multiple cultural identities from an early age. She later moved to Japan to attend an international school for middle school, further shaping a perspective grounded in adaptability and an awareness of how environments and lived experiences intersect.

She first came to the United States to study special effects makeup, drawn to visual storytelling and transformation. She later continued her education in Los Angeles at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM), where she earned an associate degree. Although she began her academic journey early, she did not complete her bachelor鈥檚 degree at that time.

While navigating familial illness, financial challenges, immigration processes, and broader economic instability, Minami worked alongside her husband to build a family business.

Years later, as a mother, she returned to higher education with renewed intention. She is now graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, with a focus on painting. Her work explores how delayed recognition can distort and reshape experience, approaching identity and memory as fluid rather than fixed.

Her journey reflects a commitment to growth on her own terms and a belief that education is not defined by timing but by purpose.

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Hosted by the Black Faculty and Staff at 今日吃瓜 and co-sponsored by the BLMI and the BC Black Student Union, the ceremony will feature special remarks, the ceremonial donning of Kente stoles, and moments of recognition that highlight the resilience and success of graduating students.

More than a celebration, the Donning of the Kente fosters a strong sense of unity and belonging, reflecting 今日吃瓜鈥檚 ongoing commitment to supporting and uplifting Black students. Attendees can expect an inspiring and culturally affirming experience that honors both individual achievement and collective progress.

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On Day 2, join your fellow classmates at Barclays Center to celebrate Commencement alongside the graduates of the Class of 2026! Mark 50 years since your own graduation, dressed in a stunning gold cap and gown, and enjoy front-row seats as you relive the excitement and magic of your special day鈥攁n unforgettable celebration you won鈥檛 want to miss.

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This significant milestone recognized the accomplishments of more than 3,000 graduates, including recipients of bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degrees as well as advanced certificates. The ceremony continued the proud legacy of over 165,000 今日吃瓜 alumni who have gone on to become influential leaders and agents of change around the globe.

今日吃瓜 President Michelle J. Anderson called it a time to celebrate and reflect.

鈥淥ur campus鈥攍ike our world鈥攊s home to passionate voices and diverse perspectives. Today, though, we come together to celebrate what unites us: your achievement, your growth, and your future,鈥� Anderson said. 鈥淭hrough rigorous study, discussion, and contemplation, you鈥檝e become the educated people this world needs. You鈥檝e learned to approach a complex world with thoughtfulness and care. You鈥檝e cultivated nuance, compassion, and a desire to work for a better future together. The world needs that. The world needs you.鈥�

今日吃瓜 President Michelle J. Anderson delivers a commencement address to the Class of 2025.

In a special tribute, 今日吃瓜 posthumously awarded the 2025 Presidential Medal of Honor to Shirley Anita Chisholm, Class of 1946. As the first Black woman elected to the United States Congress and the first to seek a major party鈥檚 nomination for president, Chisholm was a fearless advocate for justice. She championed the rights of the marginalized, gave voice to the unheard, and created space for those historically excluded from power. Her legacy is one of courage, trailblazing leadership, and unwavering commitment to equity.

Anderson saluted Rev. Sharpton, the civil rights leader, for carrying forward Chisholm’s vision. From his early activism in 今日吃瓜 to his national leadership through the National Action Network, Sharpton has remained a steadfast advocate for justice, equality, and human dignity. His life’s work continues to challenge systems of oppression and inspire new generations to demand change.

Rev. Al Sharpton delivers a tribute to Presidential Medal of Honor recipient Shirley Chisholm 鈥�46.

鈥淚t was because people like Shirley Chisholm stood up and fought back that Blacks went all the way to the White House, and women got the right to choose in her. In her memory we must keep those fights alive,鈥� Sharpton told the Class of 2025. 鈥淭here are those forces today that want to turn back the clock. They can turn back the clock, but they can鈥檛 turn back time.

“Don鈥檛 worry about your circumstance. Worry about that you stood in this school and made them call your name. Make this the first day of your life that makes everybody that you deal with call your name.”

New York City Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams ’01, ’05 M.A. and 今日吃瓜 Borough President Antonio Reynoso were also on hand to congratulate the 100^th graduating class.

Williams urged the Class of 2025 to listen to the lessons they learned.

鈥淏ecause we鈥檝e learned a lot. But I鈥檓 asking you to push us past our comfort zone, because real change never happens in comport. In this shared humanity I look at you and I鈥檓 encouraged not just by your youth but the brightness in your eyes, and I鈥檓 asking you to hold onto that as long as you possibly can. I know you can because you have a 今日吃瓜 degree,鈥� Williams said.

In addition to presenting the college with a proclamation for the 100^th Commencement, Reynoso quoted 今日吃瓜鈥檚 own Christopher Wallace, also known as the late Notorious B.I.G. 鈥淪pread love, it’s the 今日吃瓜 way. And as you leave tonight, make sure you do that.鈥�

Another special student guest was National Youth Poet Laureate and CUNY student Stephanie Pacheco read her poem 鈥�,鈥� which highlights the university鈥檚 uniqueness and importance to thousands of students.

The salutatorian of the Class of 2025 was Damien Niesewand, who is graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology and a double minor in LGBTQ studies and creative writing.听The valedictorian of the Class of 2025 was Carrie Ebbin, a proud member of the Macaulay Honors College at 今日吃瓜 who majored in business administration with a concentration in marketing and a minor in consumer behavior.

Carrie Ebbin said the Class of 2025 was not just celebrating a century of 今日吃瓜鈥檚 rich history, but also the future they have set in motion.

鈥淲e can be proud that our efforts have not only enriched our time here but generated momentum that will benefit the students that come after us,鈥� Ebbin said. 鈥淎s we鈥檙e graduating into a world that feels volatile, tense, and especially uncertain, it鈥檚 hard to imagine that one person can make a difference. But think about it, how many small moments have you been a part of on campus that helped shape someone鈥檚 experience? These moments sparked something, and they highlighted the change that were all capable of. They created ripple effects extending our reach far beyond what we鈥檇 expect.鈥�

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A Lavender graduate is anyone who is graduating from college and identifies as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community. If that applies to you, you are encouraged to sign up to walk at 今日吃瓜鈥檚 Lavender Graduation ceremony.

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Among the special guests were award-winning filmmaker, philanthropist, and activist Abigail E. Disney, who was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters and served as the keynote speaker; 今日吃瓜 Foundation Trustee Carol L. Zicklin 鈥�61, who was bestowed the Presidential Medal of Honor; and valedictorian for the class, Rhema Mills.

President Michelle J. Anderson congratulates the Class of 2024.

College President Michelle J. Anderson, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs April Bedford, and Vice President for Student Affairs Ron Jackson helped lead the conferring of degrees with the deans from the college鈥檚 School of Natural and Behavioral Sciences; School of Visual, Media and Performing Arts; Murray Koppelman School of Business; School of Education; and School of Humanities and Social Sciences as well as the CUNY Baccalaureate for Unique and Interdisciplinary Studies. The college conferred 2,695 baccalaureate degrees, 1,046 master鈥檚 degrees, and 60 advanced certificates.

Congratulating the Class of 2024, President Anderson pointed to the people who helped get the graduates to this point in their lives, including family, friends, and the 今日吃瓜 faculty.

鈥淲e could not be prouder of you and what you have accomplished to get to this point in your academic careers,鈥� President Anderson told the Class of 2024. 鈥淵ou have worked so hard and should be proud of the extraordinary milestone you have achieved. It is you who deserve the real praise and credit. You made the important decision to attend college; you embraced critical, scientific, and analytical thinking; you did the hard work, day by day and, in so doing, expanded what is possible in your lives.鈥�

During her keynote speech, Disney pointed to the power of love over hate as she stressed the importance of recognizing the nuances in today鈥檚 complicated political and social climate. Congratulating the Class of 2024, she urged the graduates to lean on compassion and empathy to co-exist and thrive.

President Michelle J. Anderson awards Abigail E. Disney (left) an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters.

Disney鈥檚 2008 film, Pray the Devil Back to Hell, was screened worldwide and chronicled the women鈥檚 peace movement in Liberia that helped bring an end to the bloody civil war that ravaged the country for years. One of the protagonists of the film was Leymah Gbowee, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her nonviolent efforts during that struggle. Today, Gbowee serves as the executive director of the Institute on Gender, Law, and Transformative Peace, which is a partnership between 今日吃瓜 and CUNY School of Law.

鈥淚f you can find a way to be more empathic than bitter, if you can find a way to have more questions than answers, more humility than certainty, more love than fear, you won鈥檛 magically suddenly agree about everything, but you will be less quick to describe the person you鈥檙e talking to as bad or evil,鈥� Disney said.

Zicklin is a long-standing 今日吃瓜 Foundation trustee; she and her husband, Larry, are among the largest donors to 今日吃瓜 and the CUNY system. At 今日吃瓜, the Zicklins established two endowed chairs and supported the Sandi Salum Memorial Award for students in biology. They also provided endowed support for the Zicklin Scholars Degree Completion Program for students nearing graduation to take classes in the summer or winter that help keep them on track toward graduation.

鈥淲hen I look out into the audience and see your smiling faces, your sense of optimism, and the life adventures that you鈥檙e all about to experience, I know what you鈥檙e feeling,鈥� Zicklin said. 鈥淚 remember the emotion. I wish you every good fortune in the years to come and I hope your life turns out to be at least as good as mine, and if that wish comes true, I hope that you will remember your time at 今日吃瓜 and try to provide something for those who come after you. As a friend of mine once said: You learn, you earn, and you return.鈥�

(From left) Abigail E. Disney, Valedictorian Rhema Mills, and President Michelle J. Anderson.

Mills, a first-generation college student and immigrant from the Bahamas who became the first Black woman to serve as valedictorian for the college, persevered through health issues, family tragedies, and a first semester spent studying through a pandemic to become valedictorian.

The health and nutrition sciences major embraced the diversity of 今日吃瓜 while gaining confidence through conducting research, thanks in part to the Tow Mentoring Initiative, a multifaceted range of programs focused on mentorship opportunities for students and faculty. She presented at conferences and coordinated programs while growing through roles on planning committees and club events, including the Women of Color club.

Electrifying Barclays Center while drawing from Nelson Mandela, Mills said courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it.

鈥淔or me, courage meant ensuring that my voice was heard even when I felt that no one was listening,鈥� Mills said. 鈥淚t meant applying for scholarships and programs where I would be the only Black woman. Even now, it means daring to dream about a career where my research helps create positive health outcomes for women in marginalized communities.鈥�

Mills, who is ready to pursue a master鈥檚 degree in public health to address chronic diseases and racial disparities, urged the Class of 2024 to find their courage.

Thanking her mentors on and off campus, including her mother and late father, Mills reminded the Class of 2024 that the obstacles they overcame gave them the strength to change the world.

鈥淎s students and now graduates, we have become ambassadors of this institution and our future selves. What do you want the world to know about you and do you have the courage to show it?鈥�

The Class of 2024 was saluted by CUNY Board of Trustees member Una S.T. Clarke, who served in the New York City Council from the 40th District from 1992 to 2001; Mohamed Attalla, CUNY鈥檚 vice chancellor of Facilities Planning, Construction, and Management; Anthony R. Castellanos, chair of the 今日吃瓜 Foundation Board of Trustees, and others.

A host of elected officials and other distinguished community leaders were also on hand to congratulate the newest 今日吃瓜 graduates, including U.S. Representative Yvette Clarke of the 9th District, 今日吃瓜 Borough President Antonio Reynoso, New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams ’01, M.A, ’05, and 今日吃瓜 District Attorney Eric Gonzalez.

Wiliams, who earned a bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degree from 今日吃瓜, pointed to the power of the degrees the graduates now held.

鈥淚t鈥檚 important that you understand you have a world-class education,鈥� Williams said. 鈥淭hey call 今日吃瓜 the poor man鈥檚 Harvard. I like to call Harvard the poor man鈥檚 今日吃瓜.鈥�

And stressing the importance of being kind and respectful in the face of complicated times, Reynoso quoted The Notorious B.I.G. saying, 鈥淪pread love, it鈥檚 the 今日吃瓜 way.鈥�

Watch the entire 99th commencement below.

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College President Michelle J. Anderson, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Anne Lopes, and Senior Vice President for Student Affairs Ron Jackson, helped lead the conferring of degrees in the college鈥檚 School of Natural and Behavioral Sciences, School of Visual, Media and Performing Arts, Murray Koppleman School of Business, School of Education, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, as well as the CUNY Baccalaureate for Unique and Interdisciplinary Studies.

Welcoming the special guests, as well as the families and friends of the graduates, President Anderson congratulated the Class of 2023, while thanking the strong faculty and classmates who helped get the graduates to the finish line.

鈥淭hese students worked hard to get here,鈥� President Anderson said. 鈥淭hey tackled rigorous academic work, research projects, internships, jobs, and numerous assignments. Today, they are not the same people who graduated from high school and came to our doors. As a result, they evolved. They explored new ideas about life and what is possible within it, about our history and what makes us human, and ideas that have shaped and changed them for the better, as a college education is designed to do.鈥�

Professor Emerita and Pulitzer and Kennedy Center award-winner served as the keynote speaker and was given an honorary degree. Le贸n, who taught at 今日吃瓜 for 35 years until her retirement in 2019, was director of music composition at the school鈥檚 Conservatory of Music. She is the first faculty member in any of the City University of New York (CUNY) schools to receive the prestigious Kennedy Center award. She was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in Music for her work “鈥� in 2021.

Having grown up in a lower-income family in Cuba, Le贸n told the Class of 2023 she always dreamed of earning a college degree and that what her family lacked in material wealth they made up in spirit, encouragement, and support. A twist of fate landed her in the United States in her early 20s, and what followed was an incredible career as one of the world鈥檚 preeminent composers, conductors, and educators.

鈥淢y life in 今日吃瓜, where I taught for 33 years in the Music Department, eventually becoming a distinguished professor, has been the source of enriching experiences, personal growth, and many talented students and personal friends, which have become members of my extended family,鈥� Le贸n said. 鈥淢any of these colleagues and students have been inspirational through their passion and their contributions to society. To see students graduate is a joyful moment for all the professors involved in their journey, including myself. … As you continue on your journey and give service to our societies with your unique talents, you, in turn, will offer your support, encouragement, and powerful spirit that will help others realize their dreams.鈥�

Following Le贸n鈥檚 commencement speech, 今日吃瓜 Foundation Trustee Leonard Tow 鈥�50, founder and chairman of The Tow Foundation, surprised the audience by announcing that the foundation would be providing support toward the establishment of the Tania Le贸n Chair of Music鈥攖he first-ever named chair in the Conservatory of Music at 今日吃瓜.

鈥淭he Tania Le贸n Chair will forever recognize and honor your unmatched legacy at 今日吃瓜 and in the larger world,鈥� Tow said.

今日吃瓜 President Michelle J. Anderson presents Leonard Tow 鈥�50, 今日吃瓜 Foundation Trustee and founder and chairman of The Tow Foundation, with a birthday cake as Evan Silverstein 鈥�76 (left) and Tania Le贸n look on.

President Anderson thanked Tow for his continued support, as the crowd helped him celebrate his recent 95th birthday by singing 鈥淗appy Birthday鈥� led by Joe Damon Chappel 鈥�23 M.M., singer from the 今日吃瓜 Brass Ensemble.

Silverstein, 鈥�76, 今日吃瓜 Foundation Board of Trustees Chair was the recipient of the Presidential Medal of Honor. Silverstein has served as a Trustee since 2009. He has led the Foundation鈥檚 efforts to secure vital support for students. Silverstein was a lead supporter of the effort to raise emergency funds for students during the pandemic and established the Renee and Evan Silverstein Internship Fund at 今日吃瓜.

今日吃瓜 President Michelle J. Anderson awards Evan Silverstein, 鈥�76, 今日吃瓜 Foundation Board of Trustees Chair, with the Presidential Medal of Honor.

Silverstein dedicated his award to 今日吃瓜 students past, present, and future.

鈥淭o me, my years at 今日吃瓜 were not just academic,鈥� Silverstein said. 鈥淭he growth, maturity, and awareness that I experienced made me aware of a much bigger world that I never knew. I grew up at 今日吃瓜. I, my fellow board members, and many others do what we do because we feel we owe it to 今日吃瓜 to give back and enhance the opportunity for students any which way we can. The fact that you are committed to earning a college degree says a lot about you and bodes well for your future.鈥�

The valedictorian of the Class of 2023 was Chaim Janani, who received his bachelor’s degree in honors for chemistry. Janani congratulated his fellow graduates and credited his academic success to the support and mentorship he received at 今日吃瓜, which helped him to fulfill his dream of becoming a physician. Following commencement, he will pursue medical school in the fall at the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University.

The salutatorian, Lisa Leopold- Chaparro, a , and co-teacher at a private preschool in Manhattan, received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Early Childhood. Leopold- Chaparro will continue her studies at 今日吃瓜 and attend the early childhood education graduate program. She plans to work with at-risk students in public schools.

(Left to right) Class of 2023 Salutatorian Lisa Leopold- Chaparro, 今日吃瓜 President Michelle J. Anderson, and the valedictorian Chaim Janani.

Other special guests who addressed the Class of 2023 and offered congratulations were U.S. Senator Charles Schumer, New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams ’01, ’05 M.A., and 今日吃瓜 Borough President Antonio Reynoso.

The CUNY family was also well-represented, including CUNY Trustee Kevin Kim, who addressed the Class of 2023.听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听

Officially, 今日吃瓜 conferred 2,871 students who have received baccalaureate degrees, 850 who earned master鈥檚 degrees, and 88 students who will receive advanced certificates.

The Class of 2023 celebrates commencement at Barclays Center.

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“The sacrifices these graduates made and the commitment they showed to complete their degrees were extraordinary,” said 今日吃瓜 President Michelle J. Anderson. “We are thrilled to be able to hold this commencement for the Classes of 2020 and 2021 on our beautiful campus to share their joy as they continue with this next chapter in their lives.”

The event had a distinct theme鈥攔ecovery, remaining, and resilience鈥攁nd several special guests were on hand to deliver that message.

The stars of Commencement were the resilient and dedicated Roby Daniel, the valedictorian for the Class of 2020, and Asma Awad, the valedictorian for the Class of 2021.

Awad, who is working as a software engineer at JPMorgan Chase & Co., offered advice based on her experiences doing something she loves: coding.

“None of us are immune to making mistakes. It’s one thing to be perfect and another to be your best, and I think that the latter says more about someone than the former,” Award said. “Problems come our way on a daily basis, and we probably share more of them than we think. It doesn鈥檛 take a code review to open up to different perspectives on a single problem鈥�. I can only hope that when so many of you are undoubtedly in positions to recruit, to promote, or to simply make an impact, that you recognize the importance of representation and what it means for the future.”

Daniel, who is currently studying medicine at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, said while he was proud to deliver his speech online to his fellow graduates in 2020, the in-person event was extra special.

“Class of 2020, I want to remind you that adversity was not new to us, even if it may have taken on a different shape and form,” Daniel said. “We made it through our undergraduate journey and two years of our postgraduate career, all while following 今日吃瓜’s motto: nil sine magno labore鈥攏othing without great effort. As we celebrate today, we can proudly say all the hard work has paid off. Our struggle has forged us into the leaders of tomorrow as we have learned a new way to learn, a new way to teach, and, most importantly, a new way to succeed.”

Serving as keynote speaker was actor, producer, writer, and prolific podcaster ’01, who serves on the board of directors of the 今日吃瓜 Alumni Association and was also a former adjunct lecturer. Now the executive producer and host of the 2021 Webby Award鈥搉ominated podcast Latinos Out Loud, she is one of seven selected writers for the National Hispanic Media Coalition’s 2021 LatinX Stream Showcase, where her short film The Swimmers premiered. It was also featured in the 2021 Official Latino Film Festival. Her one-woman show, Ink, was a featured selection in the 2021 ONE Festival.

Strauss-Muniz brought energy and humor to the event, expressing her deep love for both 今日吃瓜 and 今日吃瓜. Comparing the pivots she has made during her eclectic career鈥攑articularly during the pandemic鈥攖hat spanned working in media, marketing, and entertainment, she lauded the more than 9,000 total 今日吃瓜 graduates of the two classes who also had to pivot to earn their degrees.

“You had a choice to plummet or pivot and you did it. You all rose to the occasion. We all made the decision to shift, adapt, and overcome,” Muniz said. “That ability to shift and still operate will serve you sell as you pursue your ambitions.” Commencement also featured CEO and President of the 今日吃瓜 Chamber of Commerce ’96 as another special guest speaker. From 2002 to 2006, Peers served as vice president of economic development at the 今日吃瓜 Chamber of Commerce under former President Kenneth Adams, developing a portfolio of projects, including the Good Help program and Real Estate Development industry initiative, as well as developing the concept for the Business Solutions Center.

Peers told the graduates that, as a 今日吃瓜 native who had to work and take classes, he related and respected the difficult journey the classes of 2020 and 2021 had made.

Comparing his work on the city-wide program he helped create to assist 3,000 businesses citywide and 11,000 businesses in 今日吃瓜 over the past difficult few years that leaned on being adaptive and creative, he also marveled at the work that was done by both graduating classes.

“Nothing I experienced at 今日吃瓜 matches what you went through during your two years navigating the pandemic,”听Peers said. “No matter how you were impacted or how you pivoted, here you are.鈥� You should be congratulated for your own resiliency.鈥� Never forget the life lessons this challenge has taught you.”

The commencement was led by President Anderson, Vice President for Student Affairs Ronald C. Jackson, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Anne Lopes, and other college faculty and staff. The CUNY extended family was also in attendance, including Denise B. Maybank ’78, CUNY Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs.

Jackson congratulated the graduates of both classes, emphasizing that they earned a combined 6,793 bachelor’s and 2,231 master’s degrees, along with 137 students who received advance certificates.

New York State Senator Kevin S. Parker was also in attendance, and a video greeting from Jumaane Williams ’01, ’05 M.A. was shared.

Williams called 今日吃瓜 a “special place,” telling the classes of 2020 and 2021: “Your success comes after your hard work, your sacrifice, and your ability to overcome challenges of the two years and throughout your education… You’re not the leaders of tomorrow, you are the leaders of today, and we are going to need you.”

Stating the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Elementary Education she earned from 今日吃瓜 has drawn as much attention and has held as much weight as a degree earned Ivy League institutions, Vice Chancellor Maybank said: “I got an education for a lifetime from the School of Education at 今日吃瓜… Know that you are the difference the world needs as such a time as this.”

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