Commencement Speaker James Breheny told the Class of 2025, “This is the end of one chapter for you, but the dawn of a whole new life with infinite possibilities” Breheny is a renowned conservationist and Director of the Bronx Zoo, one of the largest and most respected zoological institutions in the world. He also serves as Executive Vice President of Zoos and Aquariums for the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), overseeing operations at all five WCS zoological parks in New York City, including the New York Aquarium. He spoke to graduates at the 71st Annual Dominican University New York Commencement at the Westchester County Center on May 18, 2025.

Breheny explained to the graduates how his journey started as a 14-year-old working at the Bronx Zoo and his passion for wildlife and animals has now taken him around the world to South America, Africa, and Asia. He has worked on reintroduction programs for species facing extinction – including American bison, the Roti Island snake-necked turtle, and the Kihansi spray toad. Breheny also collaborated with Animal Planet on the groundbreaking docuseries The Zoo, offering viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the work of Bronx Zoo staff.

Breheny told the Class of 2025 that the graduates should imagine what they could do. “As I look out on all of you today, I see me. You have the same opportunity for success. You can each write your own ticket,” he said. “To do that, just find something that you are passionate about, something that you love, something at which you excel. Set a goal and work towards it.”

During the Commencement ceremony, Dominican University confered upon Breheny an honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters in recognition of his transformative leadership in zoological management, his deep understanding of animal behavior, and his unwavering commitment to biodiversity.  

Manuel Martínez, Ph.D., President, Dominican University New York, also addressed the graduates and told them to define success on their own terms — not to base it on on their salary, their number of social media followers, or how quickly they are promoted. “Instead, let success be measured by the lives you touch, the injustices you challenge, how you carry yourself, and the effort and energy you put to achieve your goals,” he said. “Let success be measured in the way you listen to those who don’t have a voice. The way you lead with care and humility. The way you show up – even when there’s no applause.”

In addition to Breheny, other honorees at Commencement included:

• Raymond H. Hill, M.E.M. – Philanthropist and businessman Raymond Hill is an accomplished rower who as Chairman and CEO of COREvitas, a biotechnology firm focused on real-world data autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Hill led the company to a nine-fold revenue growth over eight years. His leadership culminated in the company’s acquisition by Thermo Fisher Scientific for nearly $1 billion. He continues to shape the future of healthcare as an Operating Partner at Arsenal Capital, advising on pharmaceutical and bioscience investments. Hill received an honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters. 
• Mardochee Julien-West M.S., RBT – As a student as Dominican, Mardochee Julien West excelled in the classroom as an English major and co-led Verbal Asylum, Dominican’s Poetry and open mic club where she helped cultivate a creative, inclusive space.  Her professional path recently brought her to the University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) where she now serves as both a Qualitative Research Analyst and Success Coach, while also pursuing a Doctor of Management degree focused on community college policy and administration. Julien-West received the 2025 Badami Outstanding Alumna Award. 
• Howard Goldin and Edward J. Frank – Vietnam veterans Howard Goldin and Edward Frank co- founded a nonprofit organization called S.T.E.P or Schools to End Poverty, which is sponsored by the Spring Valley Rotary.  Over the past 20 years, S.T.E.P. has built three schools in Vietnam, as well as schools in Jamaica, Honduras, and Ghana.  In addition, two orphanages have been constructed in Vietnam with a third orphanage planned. The orphanages house physically-challenged children and young people who were abused, abandoned, or both. Goldin and Frank were awarded the 2025 Veritas Medal.

A total of 371 students earned doctorate, master’s, bachelor’s, and associate degrees.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was awarded an honorary degree in absentia during the 68^th Dominican College Commencement Ceremony on Sunday, May 15.  Dominican College is among about 30 colleges and universities throughout the United States conferring on Zelenskyy an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters in recognition of his extraordinary leadership, courage, sense of justice, and his willingness to possibly lose his life in the effort to defend freedom. 

“President Zelenskyy has displayed such inspiring and courageous leadership in the face of unimaginable horror, as Russia launches a relentless and unprovoked attack against his country.  He has risen to the challenge and has been the right leader for this moment in history,” said Dominican College President Sr. Mary Eileen O’Brien, O.P., Ph.D. “Because of this, Dominican College is among the institutions of higher learning recognizing the exceptional dedication of President Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian people by awarding him an honorary degree.”

The Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate of Sloatsburg, who are members of a congregation founded in 1892 in Zhuzel, Ukraine, will also be honored at the Commencement.  Since the Russian attack on Ukraine, the Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate in the United States have been raising money and sending medical supplies to members of the congregation located in Ukraine and Poland to help the Ukrainian people.  Dominican College will recognize the admirable service of the Sisters of Mary Immaculate of Sloatsburg by awarding them the 2022 Veritas Medal.   

A United Nations official with a distinguished career of more than 30 years in international relations and diplomacy delivered the Commencement Address at Dominican College’s 68^th Commencement Ceremony on Sunday, May 15, at 12 noon.  Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee serves as Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN) for Africa in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations (DPPA-DPO).  This latest appointment follows impressive diplomatic posts in Moscow, Geneva, Tel Aviv, South Africa, New York, and Washington, D.C.

During the Commencement Ceremony at Clover Stadium in Pomona, NY,  Pobee received the honorary degree of  Doctor of Humanities in recognition of her extraordinary career in international relations and diplomacy, her steadfast dedication to furthering peace and security, her tireless advocacy for education and human rights, and her passionate support of women and youth,

Of her many posts, Pobee considers her appointment as Ghana’s first woman Permanent Representative to the United Nations from 2015 to 2020 to be the highlight of her career. In this position, she had various special assignments, including serving as Vice-President of the 71^st Session of the United Nations General Assembly, Co-Facilitator of the high-level meeting on Financing for Development 2019, Chair of the African Group of Ambassadors in New York, Chair of the New York Group of Friends of the African-Women Leaders Network, and Co-Chair of the Group of Friends on Gender Parity at the United Nations. 

Pobee’s interest in international relations and diplomacy was first sparked as a high school student in Cape Coast, Ghana, when she joined a school club called the Ghana United Nations Students Association (GUNSA).  The students discussed world issues and took part in mock UN General Assembly sessions and Security Council sessions.  It was then that she began to closely follow the anti-apartheid struggle of the late 1970s and early 1980s, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and human rights and economic development issues.  Pobee was also a member of the Red Cross Society and Sunday School Club in high school and spent many weekends providing first aid services and teaching bible studies to children in local communities. At that young age, she realized how fortunate she was to be attending one of the best schools in the country and decided to be mindful of the needs around her and to serve others. 

A graduate of the University of Ghana, Pobee also holds a master’s degree in Development Studies with a specialization in Women and Development from the Institute of Social Studies in The Hague. In addition, she has diplomas in Public Administration and Multilateral Diplomacy from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration and the Geneva Institute of International Studies.

Kathrin U. Jansen, Ph.D., Senior Vice President and Head of Vaccine Research and Development, Pfizer Inc., wished the Dominican College Class of 2021 “a lifetime of joyful learning and meaningful accomplishments” at the 67^th Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony on Sunday, June 27, 2021,  at the Palisades Credit Union Park in Pomona, NY.

During her Commencement Address, which was delivered virtually,  Jansen praised the graduates for persevering during an unprecedented time.  “You deserve recognition not only for having earned your degrees, but for having done so while contending with the extraordinary challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic,” she said.

Jansen then spoke about her experience with COVID-19 as a New York City resident who saw refrigerated trucks that served as temporary morgues lining a city block near her apartment.  “As chilling as the experience was for me, it was also a once in a lifetime opportunity to help save people’s lives,” she said. “As I walked back to my apartment the night I saw those refrigerated trucks, I decided that Pfizer would have to develop a vaccine to try to help end the pandemic.  What’s more – we’d have to do so faster than it had ever been done before.”

Under  Jansen’s leadership, Pfizer developed the first COVID-19 vaccine to receive emergency use authorization for use in individuals 16 years of age and older from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It was developed in record-breaking time and is currently the only vaccine also approved for emergency use in adolescents 12 to 15 years of age.  Jansen explained that the vaccine was developed quickly without taking shortcuts by using a radical approach of carrying out required steps simultaneously,  instead of sequentially.

The development of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine is just the latest success in Jansen’s impressive 32-year career. She has also developed vaccines to fight the HPV virus and pneumonia. At the Commencement, the honorary degree of Doctor of Science was conferred upon Jansen in recognition of her remarkable contributions to the development of life-saving vaccines, her unwavering determination to help end a pandemic that has claimed more than 600,000 U.S. lives, and her steadfast devotion to science and data.

Jansen ended her address by sharing with the graduates what she has learned since graduating. Her advice was: don’t waste time worrying; always trust your gut; value your alliances; express your gratitude to your valued partners; embrace opportunities and learn from detours and failures; and cultivate resilience. “It is abundantly clear to me that the Dominican Class of 2021 already has the quality of resilience in abundance,” she said.  “You survived a most difficult year and you are here with your friends and family to celebrate it – to celebrate you.”

In addition to the undergraduate ceremony, graduate hooding and commencement ceremonies for Dominican College students earning advanced degrees took place on the Orangeburg, NY, campus throughout June.  A total of 525 students received degrees – 74 doctoral degrees, 109 master’s degrees, 340 bachelor’s degrees, and two associate degrees.

The Dominican College Class of 2020 was honored during a Virtual Commencement on Sunday, May 17, 2020.  The  Commencement premiered on the Dominican College website and Facebook at 12 noon, with graduates, family, friends, administrators, and faculty remotely watching “together” as they reacted and commented on social media.

Alumnus Brandon Hasbrouck, ’08, Assistant Professor of Law at Washington and Lee University School of Law in Lexington, VA, delivered an impassioned Commencement Address to the graduates.  He challenged the graduates to “do justice” in whatever career path they choose. “A kind of justice that smashes hierarchies, privileges, and entitlement.  A kind of justice that requires courage – courage demonstrated by you throughout your time here at Dominican College – that even when you take a loss, and you will, you get up every single time and persist,” he said. “There is no path to justice that is only comfortable and convenient.  We will not achieve or create justice until we’re willing to sometimes position ourselves in uncomfortable places and be a witness.  Justice is hard work.  It is unending work.  It is our life’s work.  You are all ready!”

Dominican College awarded Hasbrouck with the honorary degree of Doctor of Law, in recognition of his accomplishments in the practice of law and of his dedication to criminal justice reform.

More than 560 students received degrees during the Virtual Commencement – 101 doctorate degrees,  130 master’s degrees, 328 bachelor’s degrees and four associate’s degrees.  The Commencement was held virtually because of the COVID-19 outbreak and subsequent stay-at-home orders.  Dominican College will be holding in-person graduation ceremonies for the Class of 2020 on campus, when it is safe to do so.

You can watch the entire Dominican College 2020 Virtual Commencement here.

College President Sr. Mary Eileen O’Brien has announced that the Class of 2020 will be taking part in graduation ceremonies on campus, when it is safe to do so.

“At that time, probably in early fall, the graduates will wear their caps and gowns and be recognized in the presence of friends and family.  Since we are unsure exactly when and how we will be able to gather in person, we decided to also hold a virtual Commencement on May 17, 2020,” said O’Brien in a letter to graduating students. “This virtual Commencement is in addition to – not in place of — the in-person exercises that will take place with students, faculty, administrators, and invited guests.”

Due to the coronavirus outbreak, and the subsequent social distancing guidelines, students have been studying online since spring break.  Under the circumstances, the College decided that holding both virtual and in-person celebrations is the best solution to commemorate the wonderful accomplishments of the Dominican College graduates.

On the eve of Commencement, a new stainless steel arts sculpture that represents a  flame and rotates with the wind was unveiled.  The sculpture was a gift from the Class of 2018.   It is located on a brick pedestal outside of the entrance to the new fitness center.

The new sculpture represents a flame because when St. Dominic’s mother was pregnant, she dreamed of a dog that held a torch in its mouth.  The dream is believed to symbolize St. Dominic spreading God’s light around the world.

The Senior Class Gift has become an annual tradition at Dominican College and is a way for graduating seniors to show their appreciation to the College. “We want each senior class to leave a legacy at the College,” said Sal Pennino, Sr. Advancement Officer, who advised the eight student members of the Senior Gift Committee. “This is also the first opportunity for these students to give back to the College.  That’s important because we rely on our alumni to support the College.”

Past senior gifts include the Charlie the Charger statue, the Hennessy Center flag pole, the Alumni Book of Remembrance, and the Student Life Wall Mural in the Granito Center.

The student members of the 2018 Senior Gift Committee were Amanda Corriere, Amanda Magnotta, John Ameen, Hannah Ameen, Miriam Taylor, Joe Piccini, Patricia Simmons, and Stefani Reyes.