May 16, 2022
Queens, NY (May 16, 2022)–St. John’s University Vice Provost and Interim Chief Diversity Officer André McKenzie, Ed.D., will serve as the distinguished speaker and honoree at St. John’s University’s undergraduate Commencement Exercises on Sunday, May 22, at 10 a.m.
Dr. McKenzie, affectionately known as “Doc,” will be honored with the President’s Medal and will address the Class of 2022. Dr. McKenzie, a long-serving member of the St. John’s administration, is a highly sought-after speaker and author on issues related to diversity, education, equity, and inclusion. His publications, professional activities, mentoring, and grant writing have advanced St. John’s and the students served at the Catholic and Vincentian institution celebrating its 152nd academic year.
The Commencement ceremony will take place on the Great Lawn at the Queens, NY campus. The St. John’s Class of 2022 includes 2,343 undergraduates. The youngest undergraduate earning a degree is 19 and the oldest is 64. The Class includes students from across the city and the country and international students from as far as Australia and Zimbabwe. This group of Johnnies persevered through the COVID-19 pandemic that defined almost half of their four-year college experience.
The University also will bestow a pair of honorary doctoral degrees. Margaret La Rosa D’Angelo ’70Ed, a member of the University’s Board of Trustees, and Sr. Caroline Tweedy, R.S.M., Executive Director of the St. John’s Bread and Life outreach organization in Brooklyn, NY, will both receive Doctor of Humane Letters degrees.
The undergraduate Commencement is one of seven the University will host beginning on Monday, May 16. Details of those ceremonies and invited speakers are as follows:
Undergraduate-Level Commencement Exercises
Sunday, May 22
10 a.m., Great Lawn, Queens, NY, Campus
PRESIDENT’S MEDAL RECIPIENT AND COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER: André McKenzie, Ed.D., Vice Provost and Interim Chief Diversity Officer, Office of the Provost, St. John’s University
HONORARY DEGREE RECIPIENTS:
- Margaret La Rosa D’Angelo ’70Ed, Member, Board of Trustees, St. John’s University, Doctor of Humane Letters
- Sr. Caroline Tweedy, R.S.M., Executive Director, St. John’s Bread and Life, Brooklyn, NY, Doctor of Humane Letters
College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Graduate-Level Commencement Exercises
Monday, May 16
6 p.m., Carnesecca Arena, Queens Campus
SPEAKER: Robert T. Blenderman, M.B.A. ’01P
Chief Operating Officer, NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, and member, Dean’s Advisory Board, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Graduate-Level Commencement Exercises
Tuesday, May 17
6 p.m., Carnesecca Arena, Queens Campus
SPEAKER: Fino M. Celano ’09Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools, Herricks Public Schools, Long Island, NY
St. John’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Graduate-Level Commencement Exercises
Wednesday, May 18
6 p.m., Carnesecca Arena, Queens Campus
SPEAKER: Arthur A. Gianelli, F.A.C.H.E. ’91C
Chief Transformation Officer, Mount Sinai Health System, and President, Mount Sinai Morningside
The Peter J. Tobin College of Business
Graduate-Level Commencement Exercises
Thursday, May 19
6 p.m., Carnesecca Arena, Queens Campus
SPEAKER: Charlene M. Prounis ’89MBA
Cofounder and Chief Executive Officer, Flashpoint Medica (now DDB Health, an Omnicom Agency); member, Board of Advisors, Real Chemistry; and member, Board of Advisors, Tobin College of Business
The Lesley H. and William L. Collins College of Professional Studies
Graduate-Level Commencement Exercises
Friday, May 20
6 p.m., Carnesecca Arena, Queens Campus
SPEAKER: Yenniry “Jenny” Alonzo ’87SVC
Media Executive and Independent Producer; Member, Advisory Board, Collins College of Professional Studies; and member, Board of Governors, St. John’s University
Commencement Exercises
Sunday, May 22
4 p.m., Carnesecca Arena, Queens Campus
SPEAKER: David C. Banks ‘93L
Chancellor, New York City Department of Educatio
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