CCNY Commencement 2022
CCNY Commencement 2022
CCNY Commencement 2022
Adham Morsy
Vice President of Public Affairs, Undergraduate Student Council
Jennifer Bowen
Executive Chair, Graduate Student Council
Ardie D. Walser
Associate Dean of Academic Affairs for Graduate & Undergraduate
Studies, The Grove School of Engineering
PhD Graduates
Andrew O. Rich
Richard J. Henley and Susan L. Davis Dean
Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership
Aneesah Saeed, Alyssa DeStefano, Danielle Evans, Teresa Mettela
and Abigail Raghunath
Renata K. Miller
Interim Dean, The Division of Humanities and the Arts
Tasneem Hoque and Claire Balani
Susan L. Perkins
Martin and Michele Cohen Dean of Science
The Division of Science
Oasheka Chowdhury and Aviad Susman
Marta Gutman
Dean, The Bernard and Anne Spitzer School of Architecture
Ahmed Helal and Deirdre Nolan
Kyle C. McDonald
Terry Elkes Professor
Director, Sustainability in the Urban Environment
Sarah Khan and Sabrina Tenteromano
Edwin M. Lamboy
Harold Kobliner Chair in Education
Dean, School of Education
Kemba Lodescar and Lilly Wong
Alexander Couzis
Daniel And Frances Berg Professor
Dean, The Grove School of Engineering
Kareem Ibrahim and Ana Radonjic
Academic Procession Faculty
President’s Message
Honorary Degrees
Mr. Stanley Nelson
Dr. Anthony S. Fauci
Doctoral Degrees
Masters Degrees
Baccalaureate Degrees
we will fight for the ideals and sacred things of the city
both alone and with many;
and thus, in all these ways, we will strive to transmit this city
and not only not less but greater, better, and more beautiful
than it was transmitted to us.
As an institution, we were made for this moment, a moment when the revival of so much that
we hold dear requires the energy, insight and creativity of the whole people. As graduates
of CCNY, you now shoulder the responsibility of advancing your vision of a strong and just
society, as so many before you have done.
You have struggled, sometimes mightily and against long odds, to reach this day, and we revel
with you in the pride of your accomplishment. You have contributed, in your questions and
your ideas, to our vision, and as an institution we have adjusted that vision to account for your
values and experiences. We have witnessed the flowering of your potential and expansion of
your capacity.
For all of these reasons, and with sadness and joy, we now bid you farewell in the full confidence
of what you will do with your gifts. Hold tight to the vision of our college, and carry it into
the world as you leave. Cherish and nurture a sense of yourself as especially equipped to
meet the demands of the day. Be confident in your voice, even as you venture into new and
different territory. You leave our campus equipped for your professional life, with academic
credentials and a full cache of skills. But you also carry a vision of a better day, and it needs
constantly to be nourished by your courage and commitment.
You are the light of our lives, the fulfillment of our hopes, and our best chance at a fair and
just society. I am honored to offer each and every one of you my most enthusiastic and
profound congratulations.
Vince Boudreau
President
When Ali Khalil landed at JFK six years ago determined to become
a doctor, the biggest challenge Khalil faced was language: the new
immigrant from lower Egypt could hardly speak English. So, he took
additional English classes in his junior year in high school. It’s paid
off remarkably in a few short years. The Astoria, Queens resident
is graduating with flying colors and accolades from mentors. “Ali
is the kind of smart, engaged student that makes teaching fun, and
his academic record is probably in the top 3% I have ever seen at
City College,” said David J. Lohman, associate professor of biology.
“He is intelligent, engaging, hard-working, and selfless. These
are qualities that embody the ideals of The City College of New
York.” Khalil’s academic honors include Dean’s Honors List, the
Ira & Cecille Weber Scholarship from the Division of Science, and
the S Jay Levy Fellowship. The latter is a year-long professional
development experience for academically accomplished and career-
focused students. It culminates in a summer internship or research
experience. Off campus, he volunteers at New York-Presbyterian
Ali Khalil Hospital Queens where he provides patients with emotional support
2022 Salutatorian prior to surgery and assists clinical staff with their general duties.
With an interest in both oncology and cardiology, Khalil’s main
goal once a medical practitioner will be “bridging the gap between
research and healthcare.”
You and your families are justifiably proud of your graduation accomplishment.
You may be the first college graduate in the family or continuing a tradition.
Whichever it is, your accomplishment is a source of personal and family pride.
Your degree represents the aspirations, the dreams fulfilled, and validated the
many sacrifices of your parents and possibly other family members. It justifies
the faith they placed in you. It symbolizes your achievement and identifies you
as an example for others in your immediate and/or family to emulate.
However, your attendance at CCNY unfortunately coincided with the unwelcomed arrival of the coronavirus
pandemic in 2019, upending lives, spreading sickness, economic hardship, isolation, depression, and even
death.
Your graduation is even more noteworthy when the obstacles you encountered and overcame are considered:
the reduced personal interactions with fellow students and faculty, while you had to remain motivated as
the virtual environment was being developed.
Remember, as a CCNY graduate, you come from a long and distinguished tradition, dating back to 1853, when
the Alumni Association was established by the first graduating class. We are the oldest alumni association
connected to a public college in the U.S.
CCNY graduates have played a major role in shaping NYC, the state, and nation. Our alums include 10
Nobel Laureates, large numbers of corporate and government leaders, attorneys, architects, doctors,
engineers, educators, scientists, etc. As graduates of CCNY, we are among the second largest number of
alums nationwide that have moved into the middle class and beyond. Your place awaits you!!!
However, while professional and economic success is in your future there are other challenges that you must
confront and defeat, such as: the domestic threats to our democracy, the growing prominence of lies in the
public square including "the Big Lie" that the 2020 Presidential election was stolen and the January 6 assault
on Congress was a peaceful event, the shameful assaults on Asian citizens, the increase in anti-Semitism, the
disparate judicial treatment by race received by Black and Brown people, as well as the pending reversal of
Roe v. Wade.
Our democracy is not guaranteed. The strength of our representative democracy is a by-product of citizen
education and engagement. Besides pursuing your career, you need to become a continued guardian of this
democracy. You must consistently vote in local, state, and national elections and protect the vote of your
fellow citizens.
The baton is now being extended to the Class of 2022, for you to join your fellow alums in committing and
working to leave NYC, the state, and nation better than it was transmitted to you.
We also invite you to join the Alumni Association and some of our affiliates through our webpage, which
will increase your professional network and enable you to maintain a relationship with prior and current
graduates, while perpetuating the "1853 Tradition." Your first year is our gift in recognition of your graduation.
Learn more at www.ccnyalumni.org.
Gary Calnek
President, CCNY Alumni Association
June 2022
Kara E. Geller ** Abdullah Al Iman
Shannon M. Gilligan *** Aidah Al-Antri
Christopher Giordano Eliel S. Alba
Vicky Guidos * Muqsiteen Aleema
Jessica Renee Hernandez * Skye Alexander
Zainier Hogan The following is a list of candidates *** Amilcar L. Alfaro-Martell
Gabrielle James for graduation and not an official list Trent Alfred
Rodney Khan of graduates. ** Rabab Alhadae
Gi Eun Lee ** Marium Ali
Please note that College honors listed for * Mariam Ali
Junte Lin
candidates below with “*”, “**”, or “***” Zain Ali
Beatrice Love
is not the final calculation. Determination of Ahmed Ali-Kparah
Yesenia Martinez
these College honors is final when all work is *** Kathleen Alli
Terri-Ann R. Mattadeen
complete. *** Kristina Alli
Mark Angelo Mendoza Joeline P. Allsop
Yaribel Miguelina Mercedes Jayleen A. Almanzar
Andreea M. Nistor ** Michelle Almanzar
Kia Porter
BACHELOR OF ARCHITECTURE * Gavin Almonte
Carmen C. Ramos Kaleb Alston
Tuba A. Ahmed
Deonca C. Renee Noor U. Ain Brandon A. Alvarez
Maritza Rosario * Yaqub Aisaa Teresa T. Alvarez
Tracy Rubinstein * Carlos Almeida * Andrew Alvarez
Mary Scally *** Moriah Amesbury ** Guadalupe Ambrosio
Miosotis Schroeder * Fernando J. Aparicio *** Adouma Ali Amel-Hassane
Jenny Scott-Davis * Diana M. Barreto Stephanie A. Amoako
Lindsey Scott-Lu Nicole Bass Pamela G. Andral
Timothy Sutherlin * Evan Craig * Marie Medjine Antoine
Mariana Tchen Serkan Dogan * Anthony C. Arfine
Cecile L. Teape * Nada Elsayed * Jordrick Argudo
Alexa Vagelatos ** Trisha Nicole Estuye Brenda Carisa Arias
* Samiya Fagun * Florina Arifaj
** Hames A. Gabr ** Lohana D. Arozarena
PUBLISHING CERTIFICATE * Chantal Garrido * Chelsea Arthur
Liam Brophy ** Tiffany S. Gonzalez *** Katelyn Asciutto
*** Violet N. Greenberg ** Mohamed Asran
Ame Hayashi
** Robin Harrison Richard B. Aucacama
Anayae Holmes
*** Ahmed Helal * Shantel Audain
Veronica Vaccaro
* Krystal N. Hernandez Job Auguste
Yunyi Zhang
*** Caroline Ho ** Shanley Augustin
Yesenia Avelino
Juan D. Isaza Uribe
** Moonjung Jang * Pearl Ayamba
CUNY BA FOR UNIQUE & ** Leopold M. Azucena
* Christine Jurado
INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES Alfonso Libron ** Anne Babalola
(BACHELOR OF ARTS) Shabana Bachu
Patrick Machado
** Alexander Huaylinos * Rodrigo A. Montano Guaman January Mae L. Bacus
* Jana Lausevic ** Angie C. Montenegro *** Djenabou Bah
* Saray Vazquez * Julie C. Morgado Jisury Balbuena
* Aaron Morgado ** Francini Balbuena
Rolande Namegabe * Vanessa Balkaran
CUNY BA FOR UNIQUE & ** Melanie Nunez Gianmarco Barletta
INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES Victor S. Ortiz * Brian Barona
(BACHELOR OF SCIENCE) ** Anthonio R. Roye * Diego Barrenechea
* Erika Diaz * Luis Salinas Mariama Barry
Matthew Perez *** Judy Sanchez Vesly Beato
** Luis Vargas * Robert Kevin Beauregard
** Tiffany G. Velin *** Noshin Begum
DUAL DEGREES ** Tatiana Voitovich ** Shyan Bell
(BACHELOR OF ARTS/MASTER OF ARTS) * Sebastian P. Wisniewski * Sabrina Benbader
** Alain Brou Yanelkys M. Bernard
** Shreesika Bisht
*** Maricarmen Canales Moreno
*** Ran Liu BACHELOR OF ARTS *** Colleen A. Bixler
* Alexa Nicole Abbatiello * Daniel J. Bland
* Larissa P. Nagrowski
** Nurriddeenah B. Abdullah *** Isabel Mary Blas
Philip Zeese
*** Kyle Abrahams *** Jacqueline Sarah Blyudoy
Janiel Abreu *** Sharon K. Boateng
Akosua O. Abrokwah Zachary M. Boccio
** Raheel Adil * Evelly Boiguene
Daawwii Aga ** Dante Bombardiere
** Lisseth Aguilar Iman A. Bootan
** Nushrath Ahmed Johanny M. Breton
* Movee Akter Irin Bristy
2022
candidates for Essay in Social Justice
graduation are Hawa Diallo
listed.
Wilfred Chaney Award for Academic
Excellence in Literary and Creative
Excellence
Kiersten Lewis
2022 VALEDICTORIAN
Marshariki Chaney Award for
Rose Mary Biju
Community Service
Kevin Brown
The Rukin Award for Academic and DFI Stanley Merjan Scholarship
Professional Perseverance in Biomedical Nicholas Gorton Electrical Engineering
Engineering by a Graduate Student Ming Sum Leung
Niovi Dollas Peter Metias Electrical Engineering Achievement Award
Pratyusha Ghosh Xiaoxiao Zhang Andrey Kulyna
Kaustubh Sapru Md Rahman
Professor John J. Eschemuller Brooklyn Tech
Harold Shames Award for Graduate Academic CCNY Scholarship
Excellence by a PhD Student Yuhao Chen
Zeinab Esmaeilpour Ruben Martinez
Mechanical Engineering
Jack & Shelly Feinstein Scholarship
Harold Shames Award for Undergraduate Bernard Haber Civil Engineering Scholarship
Andrew Damas
Academic Excellence Nicholas Gorton
Jared Phair
Alexandria Hoang Ming Sum Leung
Ricky Ng
Peter L. Tea Award for Undergraduate
Chaudhry Saleem
Research
Chemical Engineering Shirazum Munira Shachi
Brennen Cordero
Xiaoxiao Zhang
Luisanny Marinez
Patell Prize For Excellence in Chemical
Engineering for Graduating Seniors Federal Highway Administration Eisenhower
Jorin Dawidowicz Fellowship Award
Rene Diaz-Rocha Shirazum Munira Shachi SCHOOL OF EDUCATION
Lisa Feder Huan Ying Zhang
The Patricia Black Educational
Eralda Memia
James Lammie Endowed Scholarship Leadership Award
Malesa Devi Sammy
Chaudhry Saleem Nakia Smith
Tahsin Suba
Agata Turula Huan Ying Zhang
The Frances Blumenthal Memorial Award
Daniel Vasquez
Frederick McLaughlin Scholarship Jennifer Negron
Yaraslau Yajak
Jose Wu Hung Fung
Alisa Neljkovic The Peter and Joan Goodman Stipend
Anisha Figueroa
This year The City College of New York The City College of New York, originally
celebrates the 175th anniversary of its limited to undergraduate programs in classical
founding. The need for an institution like and practical courses of study, has continually
The City College was recognized as early as enlarged both the breadth and the depth of
1847, when the State Legislature authorized its offerings. Today it offers more than sixty
a local referendum to determine whether a undergraduate programs and majors and
public college should be established in the more than forty graduate programs, including
City of New York; at the time, the city had a PhD programs in six disciplines.
population of a half-million people and two
private colleges, which had high tuition and The City College moved to its present
only 247 pupils. The vote was overwhelmingly location in 1907, and now occupies a thirty-
in favor of the proposition, and the Free five acre Neo-Gothic and modern campus
Academy was established in a new building at on historic St. Nicholas Heights. It is really a
Lexington Avenue and 23rd Street. The doors small university, with a College of Liberal Arts
to its first entering class opened in January, and Science and four professional schools—
1849, and a class of seventeen young men the Bernard and Anne Spitzer School of
graduated in 1853; with friends and family Architecture, the Grove School of Engineering,
members, that first commencement was too School of Education, and the CUNY School of
large for the chapel at the Free Academy, so it Medicine (formerly the Sophie Davis School
was celebrated in Biblo’s beer garden. of Biomedical Education).
In 1866 the name of the Free Academy was The City College is the nation’s flagship
changed by legislative act to The College of institution of public higher education,
the City of New York. Since then, it has been predating the midwestern state and land-
called CCNY—an unofficial designation the grant colleges by two decades. It is the number
College retained even after its name was again 2 college in the nation with the greatest
changed in 1929 to The City College. Students, success of ensuring the social mobility of
alumni and friends call the College, simply, our students. For more than 170 years it has
“City.” The college colors, lavender and black, been a primary avenue of advancement for
were chosen by the student body in 1866. The generations of New Yorkers who might not
beaver, symbol of intelligence, industry and have had the chance to attend college. Today
determination, was voted to be the College’s it continues to fulfill the aim of its founder,
official athletics’ mascot by a student-wide Townsend Harris, who said: “Open the doors
poll in 1934. to all—Let the children of the rich and the
poor take their seats together and know of no
The governing body of the College, originally distinction save that of industry, good conduct
the Board of Education, was replaced in 1900 and intellect.”
by a separate Board of Trustees appointed
by the Mayor. In 1926, the Board of Higher
Education was established to govern both
City and Hunter College (founded in 1870), ABOUT COMMENCEMENT
and subsequently the entire City University The City College of New York, originally
system, established in 1961. After primary called The Free Academy, held its first
responsibility for funding the University Commence ment in 1853 with a graduating
became that of New York State rather than class of 17.This year, we will celebrate the
New York City, an enlarged Board of Trustees, 169th graduating class, which corrects for how
appointed by the Governor and the Mayor, the College previously counted the number
assumed control in 1980. of graduations since 1847.
Marshals*
Janet Steele, Chief Marshal Dominic Stellini, Deputy Chief Marshal Henry T. Wong, Deputy Chief Marshal
Joyce Conoly-Simmons, Chief Honorary Degree Marshal Debra Kennedy, Honorary Degree Marshal
Rosa Prado, Stage Manager Rob Barron, Master of Ceremonies
Jacqueline C. Brooks ’80, ’83MFA Doris H. Field ’56B Diniece Mendes ’12CE
(Historian) Lawrence S. Greengrass ’73 Xinpei Qu ’87 (3rd Vice President)
Randy Brozen ’01MFA (1st Vice President) Thomasine Vaughan ’76E, ’84MSE
Shawn Chin-Chance ’05 (Secretary) Edward Jackson ’71 (Treasurer) Richard von Zerneck, EdD ’66 & ’68
Dr. Joyce R. Coppin ’58E
(2nd Vice President)
W W W.CC N Y.C U N Y. E D U
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