Commencement 2015
Scenes from Commencement
Commencement Coverage
Empire State Building Will Be Lit Fordham Maroon for the Class of 2024
New York’s iconic Empire State Building will glow Fordham maroon on May 18—a commencement-night tribute…
Fordham’s 2024 Commencement Speaker Is Joseph P. Kennedy III
Joseph Patrick Kennedy III, the U.S. Special Envoy to Northern Ireland for Economic Affairs, former…
‘We Have Pushed the Limits of Knowledge’: At GSAS Diploma Ceremony, Graduates Look to What’s Next
At a diploma ceremony on May 20, part of Fordham’s 178th commencement, the Graduate School…
At Ceremony Honoring Student Veterans, a Taste of Fordham’s Military History
On May 19, the day before commencement, Fordham honored its graduating student veterans and military-connected…
‘Honing the Tools We Carried’: Nontraditional Students Celebrate at PCS Diploma Ceremony
As it does every year, the School of Professional and Continuing Studies diploma ceremony—part of…
School of Education Grads Celebrate Flexibility and Community at Diploma Ceremony
“To teach is to become the ultimate force multiplier. Teaching means creating opportunity. Every day…
2023 Commencement Snapshots: Graduate Students Look to the Future
Students from Fordham’s graduate schools reflected on their time at the University on Commencement Day.…
Grad Students Propel Basketball Team to Stellar Season, Help Build Winning Program
Darius Quisenberry and Khalid Moore’s last shot at college glory brought Fordham one of the…
2023 Commencement Snapshots: Undergraduate Reflections
Students from Fordham College at Rose Hill, Fordham College at Lincoln Center, the Gabelli School…
The Power of ‘Positive Psychology’ and Celebration: Recognizing Awardees from Fordham College at Rose Hill
Recent college graduates have a mix of emotions—excitement, anxiety, uncertainty about what’s next. Fordham College…
At Commissioning Ceremonies, Cadets Urged to Inspire Others and Make the Hard Choices
In a May 19 commissioning ceremony, Fordham ROTC cadets began their careers as military officers,…
Gabelli School Awards Ceremony Honors ‘Exemplary Future Leaders’ in the Class of 2023
Graduating seniors in the Gabelli School of Business at Rose Hill were recognized for their…
At Fordham College at Lincoln Center Awards Ceremony, Students Urged to Celebrate Each Other
They might be too modest to celebrate themselves, but on May 20 at a ceremony…
Global Finance Students Honored at Gabelli School Awards Ceremony
With just hours left as Fordham students, seniors in the Gabelli School of Business at…
Stevie Wonder Performs for Class of 2023, Challenges Grads to ‘Be Activists’
Music legend Stevie Wonder performed two songs from the Fordham Commencement stage, but not before…
‘Take Risks and Keep Learning’: Fordham Alumni Offer Career, Life Advice to the Class of 2023
On Saturday, May 20, Fordham will confer bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees upon more than…
The Class of 2023: Fordham’s Newest Alumni
Congratulations, graduates! At Commencement, you’ll not only earn your Fordham diplomas, you’ll also instantly become…
How Many Grads? Commencement by the Numbers
Fordham is a big place with several colleges, schools, and programs. So how many students…
The Terrace of the Presidents
At commencement, honorary degree recipients are seated on the terrace of Keating Hall, known as…
From Côte d’Ivoire to South Korea: 10 Fordham Scholars Embark on Fulbrights
Eric Schneider, an aspiring diplomat, and Gabrielle Thurston, a language lover who wants to become…
Alice Grissom, GSAS ’23: Lessons from the Middle Ages
Alice Grissom learned a lot from a woman in a box. To earn a master’s…
The Rev. Mark Suriano, GRE ’23: A Deeper Sense of Self in the Church
For the Rev. Mark Suriano, pursuing a doctorate of ministry in Fordham’s Graduate School of…
First in Their Families to Graduate from College
More than 30 graduating seniors who will be the first in their families to graduate…
Mishal Ahmed, PCS ’23: Studying Health Informatics From London
From her home in London, Fordham student Mishal Ahmed was able to develop an electronic…
Michelle Kogolo, GABELLI ’23: Marketing on Her Mind
Michelle Kogolo, GABELLI ’23, got her first taste of marketing when she was working in…
AAPI, Black, Latine, and LGBTQ+ Students Celebrate Graduation
Graduating seniors celebrated their heritage and culture at four diversity graduation ceremonies held from May…
Will Lanier, LAW ’23: Advocate for Change
Will Lanier is committed to becoming a lawyer who helps the underserved. Thanks to his…
Miguel Sutedjo, FCRH ’23: Using Music to Tell Global Stories
Combining creativity with intellectual pursuits has always been a goal for Miguel Sutedjo. That’s why…
Amy Syper, GSE ’23: Combining Movement and Psychology to Help People Heal
Growing up, Amy Syper struggled with the transition to high school, her parent’s divorce, and…
Lois van Weringh, GABELLI ’23: A Finance Graduate from Amsterdam
Lois van Weringh got her first job at 12 when she started her own babysitting…
Salif Zongo, GSS ’23: ‘School for me is like a vessel of knowledge’
Education—and the mental and physical doors it opens—have always inspired Fordham social work student Salif…
Afsana Asha, FCLC ’23: On a Path to Healing
The Bronx is Afsana Asha’s home, but when it came time to choose a college,…
A Graduate Who Overcame a Car Accident That Changed His Life
Davis Bigelow was one year away from graduating from Fordham when he became paralyzed in…
Grads Reflect on Memorable Fordham Moments
College years are full of new experiences, and the last few have certainly brought their…
Professors Reflect on the Resilience of Class of 2022
In the fall of 2018, the Class of 2022 reported to campus for in-person instruction.…
Graduate School of Social Service Sends Grads off to Heal a Broken World
On a blustery and bright day at Fordham’s Rose Hill campus, nearly 500 students from…
Gabelli School of Business Celebrates Master’s and Doctoral Graduates’ Perseverance in Uncertain Times
Addressing 720 new master’s and doctoral graduates of the Gabelli School of Business on May…
Commencement Stories from the Class of 2022
Fordham News spoke to many 2022 grads about their favorite Fordham memories, what they’ll be…
Fordham College at Rose Hill Closes the School Year with Pomp and Humor
With all the pomp and circumstance expected of a 181-year-old college, Fordham College at Rose…
Rose Hill Gabelli School Students Celebrate at Awards Ceremony
This year at the Gabelli School of Business award ceremony for Rose Hill students, held…
Awards Ceremony Fêtes Lincoln Center Undergraduates
In a ceremony in the McNally Amphitheatre on May 20, Fordham College at Lincoln Center…
‘You Are Ready’: After Four Years of ROTC, Cadets Become Military Officers
At a May 20 commissioning ceremony at the University Church on the Rose Hill campus,…
At Diploma Ceremony, Fordham Celebrates Educators as Leaders in Creating a More Just Society
On a warm, sunny spring afternoon in the Bronx, Fordham conferred master’s and doctoral degrees…
PCS Students Celebrate Diplomas That Changed Their Lives
When students arrive at Fordham’s School of Professional and Continuing Studies, they often feel doubtful…
Gabelli Students Honored at Lincoln Center Awards Ceremony
With less than 24 hours left before they officially graduated, seniors in the Gabelli School…
With a Victory Bell Ring and Rousing Remarks, Student Veterans Celebrate Graduation
On May 20, the day before its University-wide commencement ceremony, Fordham celebrated its student-veteran graduates—as…
‘You Are Tomorrow’: Fordham Class of 2022 Invited to Transform, Lead the World
“No one is an island. No one stands alone. Each one’s joy is joy to…
Students and Alumni Win Prestigious Awards at Home and Abroad
Many fellowship programs postponed participation or developed remote options during the pandemic. But this year,…
From Ethiopia to the Bronx to Mississippi, Students Work Within Their Communities
Two graduating students have made community-engaged learning their priority in the Bronx and beyond: Ellie…
Sydni Britton, FCRH ’22: An Aspiring Doctor Ready to Challenge Systemic Racism
On her arrival at Fordham College at Rose Hill, Sydni Britton made a beeline to…
Marthe Guirand, GSS ’22: ‘All I Ever Wanted to Do’
When a 7.0 magnitude earthquake devastated Haiti in January 2010, Marthe Guirand was just 11,…
Joshua Holloman, GSE ’22: An Army Captain Embraces New Perspectives
To become a better military leader, Joshua Holloman has taken a cue from the civilian…
Chuba Ohams, FCRH ’21, GABELLI ’22: ‘The Biggest Comeback’
It was January 5, 2020, and Chuba Ohams was warming up with his Fordham teammates…
Conner Chang, GABELLI ’22: A Dream Internship with the New York Giants
Even though Conner Chang grew up in the suburbs of Washington, D.C., he’s always been…
Alice Lloyd, GRE ’22: From Reporter to Pastoral Mental Health Counselor
Alice Lloyd came to the Graduate School of Religion and Religious Education quite familiar with…
Cathleen Freedman, FCLC ’22: An Emerging Playwright with International Success
Cathleen Freedman knew before she set foot in college that her future involved playwriting. She’d…
James Dougherty, GABELLI ’22: Jumpstarting Accounting Career With Two Degrees in Four Years
When James Dougherty was a sophomore in the Gabelli School and unsure of what he…
Charlie Garcia, PCS ’22: A Marine Staff Sergeant from Brooklyn
When Charlie Garcia started college, he aspired to become a professional baseball player. But he…
Meg Stapleton Smith, GSAS ’22: Queer Theologian and Aspiring Episcopal Priest
When Meg Stapleton Smith felt a calling to the priesthood, she faced a major obstacle—the…
Chehak Gogia, LAW ’22: A First-Generation Student and Litigator
Chehak Gogia felt imposter syndrome in her first days as a law student. No one…
At Commencement, Celebrating a Five-Generation Fordham Legacy
When Mary “Molly” McCarthy graduated from Fordham last month, she joined her sister Samantha, a…
The ‘Visionary Dodransbicentennial Class of 2020’ Returns Home
The Class of 2020 reunited at the Rose Hill campus on June 5 and 6…
At Gabelli School Diploma Ceremony, Celebrating Purpose-Driven Business
Addressing new master’s and doctor-level graduates of the Gabelli School of Business on May 25,…
Class of 2021 Commencement Snapshots
Fordham News spoke to many 2021 grads about their favorite Fordham memories, what they’ll be…
In the Footsteps of Ignatius: PCS Celebrates Class of 2021
At a May 23 diploma ceremony for students graduating from the School of Professional and…
GSE Graduates: Ready to Serve Schools in Crisis
After a year-plus in which schools have faced immense challenges—and in which the need for…
A Long-Cherished Fordham Ring Finds a New Home on Graduation Day
Soon after Caroline Mooney walked across Keating steps during the Fordham College at Rose Hill…
Commencement Ceremonies Celebrate Resilience and ‘Small Acts of Courage’
With a week of sunny diploma ceremonies on the Rose Hill campus and a University-wide…
Graduates Come Together in Prayer at Baccalaureate Mass
At the 2021 Baccalaureate Mass in the University Church on May 16, students celebrated the…
Grads and Families Celebrate at Diploma Ceremonies
The first diploma ceremonies of Commencement 2021 shared many traditions with previous ceremonies. Academic robes…
Fordham Students and Alumni Earn Prestigious National and International Awards
Fordham students and alumni earned many prestigious awards and fellowships this year, despite program changes…
Jasmine Gurreri, PCS ’21: From Fordham Road to Manhattan Real Estate and Beyond
Jasmine Gurreri grew up near the Rose Hill campus and went to Roosevelt High School…
Darius Johnson, LAW ’21: A Passion for Movement Law
By the time Darius Johnson enrolled as a Stein Scholar at Fordham’s School of Law…
Daniel Hernandez-Cartaya, GABELLI ’21: Focusing on Purpose at His Nonprofit
Growing up near the Lincoln Center campus, Daniel Hernandez-Cartaya always wanted to attend Fordham. So…
Yong Yong Chen, GABELLI ’21: From China to Brooklyn to the Global World of Books
Growing up in South Brooklyn, Yong Yong Chen was no stranger to the world of…
Arthur Gooden Jr., FCRH ’21: An Anchor of Support, On and Off the Track
Arthur Gooden Jr. never planned to run track; his first sport in middle school was…
Fordham Prepares to Celebrate the Class of 2021
True to the way they have lived much of the past year, the Class of…
Danielle Wright, GSS ’21: Living to Serve
On a recent cold and wet spring morning in Bushwick, Brooklyn, Danielle Wright was beaming…
Class of 2021 Diversity Graduation Celebrations
Members of the Class of 2021 celebrated their heritage and culture at four Diversity Graduation…
Giulia Crisanti, GSAS ’21: Examining the Role of ‘Glocalization’
Giulia Crisanti, a Ph.D. candidate for history in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences,…
Owen Roche, FCLC ’21: Writer and Digital Artist With an Eye on the Bottom Line
Owen Roche was about 11 months nearing the end of his term as editor-in-chief of…
Alexander Hendra Dwi Asmara, GRE ’21: A Jesuit Educator in Indonesia
Alexander Hendra Dwi Asmara, S.J., lives in Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country. But…
Chantal Chevalier, GSE ’21: Bronx Native Teaching Close to Home
Chantal Chevalier, a Bronx native and first-generation Latina college student at Fordham, will become an…
Rachel Daso, FCRH ’21: Researcher in Regenerative Medicine and Co-Valedictorian
Rachel Daso dreamed of becoming a doctor after seeing her mother, a pediatrician, make a…
Fordham Celebrates First-Generation Graduates
Students who are the first in their families to attend college face their own set…
Michael Singer, FCLC ’20: Science Steeped in Theology
When Michael Singer arrived at Fordham, he was full of certainty. He knew he wanted…
Celebrating Fordham’s 175th Commencement: Together in Spirit
While Edwards Parade wasn’t filled with thousands of graduates and their families on Saturday, Joseph…
Brodie Enoch, GSS ’20: Reluctant Scholar, Committed Activist
Google the name Brodie Enoch and you pretty quickly get a sense of where the…
Camden Ador, PCS ’20: Finding Faith in Photography
Navy veteran and photographer Camden Ador took a more circuitous life path than most. After…
Class of 2020 Memories
For Fordham’s 175th Commencement, students from across the University share their favorite memories.
Students and Alumni Win National and International Awards
Despite the unprecedented global health crisis scholars are facing this year, the Fordham community has…
María Caballero Jaime, GRE ’20: From Consulate to Counseling
At 50 years old, María Caballero Jaime is making a career change. Caballero Jaime is…
Yancheng Li, GABELLI ‘20: Inspiration to Work Hard—and Sing a Little—Pays Off
Determination, networking, hard work, and a good smile. That was how Yancheng Li, who goes…
Volleyball Record Setter Morgan Williams: Earning Her Spot and Then Some
Head volleyball coach Ian Choi might have been troubled if another starter came to him…
Ashley Rodríguez, GSE ’20: A Ph.D. Grad from East Harlem
The Lincoln Center campus where Ashley Rodríguez earned her doctorate isn’t far from her home…
Lura Chamberlain, LAW ’20: A Fierce Defender of Human Rights
Growing up on the outskirts of Boston, Lura Chamberlain got a glimpse of the subtleties…
Greg Ferraro, GSAS ’20: Using Economics Training to Help Others Abroad
When Greg Ferraro graduated from the University of Maryland in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree…
Swarna Swathi Badekila, GABELLI ’20: Accounting Grad Finds Confidence, Community, and Success
Earning a master’s degree in accounting was not in Swarna Swathi Badekila’s original plan when…
Maria Krisch, FCRH ’20: Bone Carpenter in Training
Maria Krisch’s childhood was unusual. In third grade, she studied her cheek cells under a…
Commencement 2019 Slideshow
Nearly 15,000 members of the Fordham community congregated on Edwards Parade on May 18 to…