Through leadership, academics and an unwavering commitment to the Orange community, annually two students earn one of the most distinguished honors of a Syracuse University undergraduate career, being named the Senior Class Marshals. For the Class of 2027, the Student Experience division is proud to announce William Lewandowski ’27and Alyssa Limjuco ’27 as the rising Senior Class Marshals.

Together they will guide their graduating class during Commencement, play a role in recommending the Commencement speaker and engage directly with senior University administrators to discuss student experiences and perspectives. Among other responsibilities, Lewandowski and Limjuco will represent their class at Universitywide events and build connections with alumni.

“From integrity, heart and academics, to a genuine passion for community, William and Alyssa embody everything we hope to cultivate in our students. As Class of 2027 Senior Class Marshals, they have earned this honor not just through achievement but through both big and small intentional daily actions that have culminated into what it means to truly have Orange pride,” says , associate vice president for the Student Experience division, dean of students and chair of the selection committee.

William Lewandowski

Originally from Lockport, New York, Lewandowski is preparing to enter his final year at Syracuse University more than 60 years after his grandfather, Dr. James Olson ’60, had his own student experience. Despite the distance, he says he has always found a piece of home within the Orange community.

Sharing an alma mater not only deepened Lewandowski’s bond with his grandfather but illuminated shared lifestyle philosophies that have ultimately built a foundation for being a Senior Class Marshal.

“Every time I would go back home from Syracuse University, I would talk to him and he loved hearing all my stories and what I was doing on campus,” says Lewandowski. “As a dentist for 50 years, he impacted so many people with his quality of care but also with his humility and willingness to accept payment in the form of homemade cookies or plants for his garden. He didn’t care who you were, he just wanted to make a positive impact on the lives of others. He taught me that true joy in life comes from people. It’s the people at this University that make it so great. I learned that very early on as a first-year student within the Whitman Living Learning Community.”

A Whitman Leadership Scholar and member of the dean’s list, Lewandowski is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in entrepreneurship and emerging enterprises in the . He has worked as a peer mentor and lead ambassador, showcasing the Whitman student experience for prospective and admitted students.

Throughout his undergraduate career his pursuit of experiential learning has propelled him into countless opportunities offered by Syracuse University. Weaving together hands on experience in venture capital, consulting, content marketing and private equity, Lewandowski’s internships have spanned Triangle Insights Group, 5Point Venture Partners and Blue Star Innovation Partners.

Helping student entrepreneurs and working to spark student interest in entrepreneurship, Lewandowski has spent much of his time immersed in the University’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Additional highlights include his participation in the , where he has served as an Entrepreneur-in-Residence and as an Entrepreneurship Fellow. Expanding into content creation, he has been published in Poets&Quants, “,” and Ecology Prime, “.”

“Syracuse University gave me a platform to be who I want to be,” says Lewandowski. During his undergraduate career Lewandowski has showcased where his academic rigor meets real-world impact. He has worked to help launch the new and has further harnessed his entrepreneurial spirit by starting two businesses. Clique Sports is a digital platform focusing on connecting college athletes with professional athletes regarding guidance and mentorship, and WM Media is focused on adding DJ and photography services to local events.

“To me, being Orange is about the people—making an impact on the lives of others to help them achieve their goals,” says Lewandowski. “Syracuse University is a place where new ideas are encouraged and innovation is supported. There are big changes approaching the University and as the Class of 2027 we can become agents of change and leave our mark, which is quite a special opportunity.”

Alyssa Limjuco

Alyssa Limjuco may have joined the Orange community from Silver Spring, Maryland, but she grew up in a military family, which meant moving between different places and school systems. These experiences quickly taught her how to adapt and understand different spaces and people, a skillset rooted in community building and empathy, that she has strengthened throughout each of her undergraduate experiences.

“I try to lead with empathy, stay open-minded and be someone who helps bridge gaps between groups,” says Limjuco. “Being selected as a Senior Class Marshal felt like recognition of a lifelong learning process. Not just the end result of my undergraduate experience but each time it has taken and will take, to get comfortable, to find my voice and to become someone who contributes meaningfully across different spaces while also fostering connections.”

As a student in the (VPA) and the , Limjuco is a dual major in film and sociology. Her dedication to academic excellence is quickly realized through multiple scholarships alongside membership in the Phi Kappa Phi Honors Society, being a Renée Crown University Honors Scholar and never missing a dean’s list placement.

As an Honors Academic Enhancement Awards recipient, studying abroad in Bologna, Italy, become possible. During this time she immersed herself in experiential learning weaving together classes that explored film history, visual strategy and preproduction planning, alongside Cinema Ritrovato, the world’s leading festival of restored cinema. Professional development highlights also include serving as the communications manager for the OrangeReels Film Festival and producing viral digital content as the Project FreeFall video editor.

“What Syracuse University gave me was permission to explore fully and commit deeply. Receiving honors and merit-based scholarships, including support to study abroad, affirmed that interdisciplinary work was not only possible here but valued,” says Limjuco.

Limjuco’s involvement spans widely as an active member of communities both on and off campus. On campus she has helped to connect veterans and military families with relevant support programs through the , she serves as the National Panhellenic Conference vice president of communications, as an active member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority, a VPA peer coach, a Shaw Center STEM literacy tutor, OTTOthon team captain and as president of the Boxing Club. Globally, she amplifies the mission of Habitat for Humanity International, as video production and editing intern and as a volunteer for Habitat’s Women Build, a program that builds stronger and safer communities.

“The legacy I hope to leave is one of connection, demonstrating that involvement across disciplines, identities and roles strengthens a campus rather than divides it. I hope to be remembered as someone who embraced the full breadth of Syracuse University, someone who led with intention, while believing and supporting through intentional actions, that the University is at its best when students are encouraged to bring all parts of themselves into the spaces they serve.”

Jeff Goldstein ’77, president of global theatrical distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures, will address graduates at the School of Education (SOE) on Saturday, May 9, at 4:30 p.m. in the John A. Lally Athletics Complex.

Goldstein oversees all aspects of Warner Bros. Pictures’ distribution activities worldwide, including filmmaker and exhibitor relations, release dating and patterns, business strategy, sales and administration, and specialty/premium formats.

Additionally, he manages Warner Bros. Pictures’ extensive international distribution network, which includes both affiliate offices and third-party partnerships. Goldstein also partners on marketing, and his team is responsible for distributing a diverse range of films each year, including titles from Warner Bros. Pictures, New Line Cinema, Warner Bros. Pictures Animation and DC Studios.

A highly respected leader in the distribution field, Goldstein previously served as president of domestic distribution at Warner Bros. Pictures. He began his career at the company as an intern in the Los Angeles office and quickly climbed the ranks, holding various roles across regional sales offices.

Over the years, his leadership and expertise have been instrumental in shaping the company’s distribution strategy and global success.

Goldstein’s work has been central to Warner Bros.’ recent global box office success. In 2025, the Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group surpassed $4 billion at the worldwide box office across 11 releases, delivering eight consecutive No. 1 openings (nine with “Wuthering Heights” in 2026) and seven straight debuts over $40 million.

Recent highlights include “A Minecraft Movie” approaching $1 billion worldwide following its record-setting $163 million domestic opening; “Sinners” becoming the highest-grossing original horror film domestically; “Final Destination: Bloodlines” earning the best opening and highest total gross in franchise history; “Weapons” achieving the largest August horror opening; and “The Conjuring: Last Rites” securing the biggest global horror opening ever.

Additionally, “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” became Tim Burton’s second highest-grossing domestic release, while “Barbie” crossed $1.4 billion worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing film in Warner Bros.’ 100-year history.

In a , Goldstein explains that the roots of his career “started in Syracuse,” soon after he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in special education: “I had an uncle who was in the entertainment business. He said, if you are interested, I can get you a summer job at Warner Bros.”

When asked what connects Syracuse University and his School of Education degree to his success as a movie executive, Goldstein says, “I got my entrepreneurial spirit by working jobs in the dining hall, as a residence advisor and in the business affairs office. While at Syracuse, I realized I had a bent for business, as well as the ability to teach others, mentor others, [and] be curious.”

Elle Key ’93, an award-winning film, television and commercial director, writer and producer, will deliver the 2026 convocation address to bachelor’s and master’s degree candidates of the at the college’s convocation ceremony on Saturday, May 9, at 7:30 p.m. in the JMA Wireless Dome.

Key earned a bachelor of fine arts degree in illustration from VPA and was a starting goalie for the Syracuse women’s lacrosse team. She was born in New York City and is the co-president and founder of Bigger Picture Media Group.

Key spent her early years working off-Broadway with theater companies such as Malaparte, Naked Angels and the Atlantic Theater Company. She then went into television and film production and has helmed numerous national commercial campaigns as well as several projects for the NFL, the Pro Bowl, NBC Sports, Fox Sports, The Peabody Awards and The Gotham Awards.

She was officially the first female head writer for “The NFL Honors” in 2017. She came back and served as segment director, producer and head writer for “The NFL Honors” in 2021 and 2024. She was an executive producer on “Brain Games” for Disney/Nat Geo and was an executive producer with James Corden for “Game On!” for CBS.

Key is currently in development as creator and show runner for a new scripted streaming comedy series. She has been writing and directing with, and for, her Emmy and Peabody Award-winner partner, Keegan-Michael Key, for over a decade.

In 2022, Key won the Webby Award for Best Podcast Writing for her original Audible series “The History of Sketch Comedy.” Key, and the series that she created, wrote and directed, was also nominated for an NAACP Image Award.

She then followed her award-winning podcast with the book “The History of Sketch Comedy,” which became a best-seller, garnered rave reviews and quickly reached the No. 1 spot on Amazon’s comedy book list. “The History of Sketch Comedy” made 2023’s Barnes and Noble’s Best Books of the Year list as well as Vulture’s Best Books of 2023.

Key is a member of the Creative Coalition and Women in Film, and she is on the Leadership Council for RFK Human Rights.

Mike Tirico ’88, acclaimed NBC Sports broadcaster and dedicated alumnus, will deliver Syracuse University’s address Sunday, May 10, in the JMA Wireless Dome. The ceremony begins at 9:30 a.m.

Tirico, who serves as vice chair of Syracuse University’s Board of Trustees, has built a career at the center of American sports broadcasting, calling play-by-play for “Sunday Night Football” and “NBA on NBC” and serving as the primetime host for NBCUniversal’s coverage of the Olympics.

In February 2026, he became the first U.S. broadcaster ever to call the Super Bowl and host a Winter Olympics in the same year—a milestone that capped more than three decades in the profession he first pursued in the studios of WAER-FM, Syracuse University’s public radio station.

“Mike Tirico is the definition of an Orange success story,” says Chancellor Kent Syverud. “He began his career right here on campus, and has gone on to become one of the most respected voices in sports broadcasting. His deep and lasting commitment to Syracuse University reflects the same values of excellence we hope to inspire in every graduate. We are honored and proud to welcome him home for this milestone celebration.”

“There is no place that has meant more to me than Syracuse University,” says Tirico. “Personally and professionally so much of what has defined my life traces back to SU. It is an incredible honor to be asked to address the Class of 2026 and welcome them to our proud family of Orange alums. I can’t wait to share this special day with the next group that joins our Forever Orange family.”

Broadcast Start

Tirico earned a dual bachelor’s degree in 1988 in political science from the and the and in broadcast journalism from the . He launched his broadcasting career at WAER-FM before joining WTVH-TV in Syracuse as sports director and serving as the play-by-play voice for Syracuse University basketball, football, lacrosse and volleyball.

Tirico joined ESPN as a “SportsCenter” anchor in 1991, eventually becoming the voice of “Monday Night Football” from 2006-15, one of only four play-by-play announcers to call primetime NFL games for at least 10 seasons. Over 25 years at ESPN and ABC Sports, he called the NBA, college football, college basketball, golf’s Masters and The Open, the FIFA World Cup and tennis championships, the U.S. Open and Wimbledon. In July 2016, he joined NBC Sports.

At NBC, Tirico is the play-by-play voice of “Sunday Night Football,” primetime television’s most-watched show for an unprecedented 15 consecutive years, and has served as the network’s primetime host for the PyeongChang, Tokyo, Beijing, Paris and Milan Cortina Olympics. In February 2026, he called Super Bowl LX and then immediately shifted to host the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, an unmatched broadcasting double that drew widespread acclaim. He was named the 2010 Sportscaster of the Year by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association and has won five Sports Emmy Awards. In the summer of 2025, he was inducted into the National Sports Media Association Hall of Fame by a vote of his peers.

Dedication to the University

Tirico has remained closely connected to the University throughout his career. Elected to the Board of Trustees in 2016, he was elected vice chair in 2025 and serves on the board’s Executive, Advancement and External Affairs and Student Experience Committees. He has served on the board’s search committees, including for the dean of the Newhouse School, the athletics director and, most recently, the chancellor. His University service also includes membership on the Newhouse Advisory Board and the Advisory Board.

He has been recognized with the George Arents Award, the University’s highest alumni honor, in 2005; the Outstanding Young Alumni Award in 1996; and the Newhouse School’s Marty Glickman Award for Leadership in Sports Media in 2017. He and his wife, Deborah Gibaratz Tirico ’89 (Martin J. Whitman School of Management), established the Mike Tirico Scholarship Endowment and supported initiatives across the Maxwell, Newhouse and Whitman schools, WAER and Syracuse University Athletics.

The has announced that Jeannine Lostritto ’90, a Syracuse University Trustee and member of the School of Architecture Advisory Board, will address graduates at the 2026 Convocation ceremony on Saturday, May 9, at 10 a.m. in Hendricks Chapel.

Lostritto has parlayed her interest in architecture into her professional, personal and volunteer experiences, most recently through her engagement with the board of trustees of Friends Academy in Locust Valley, New York, an independent Quaker college-preparatory private school serving students from early childhood through 12th grade.

A former Friends Academy parent, Lostritto serves as a member of its Board of Trustees and on its Governance Committee, and helps oversee new building construction, campus maintenance and the stewardship of existing facilities.

After earning an undergraduate degree in architecture from the School of Architecture, Lostritto first took a job as an architectural consultant at Avis Rent-a-Car, working on commercial architecture projects. From 1995 to 1998, she was employed in the civil engineering division at Sear-Brown—an architecture, engineering, planning and construction services firm—where she worked on large highway and expressway projects, such as the renovation of the Queens Midtown Tunnel, as well as drainage and landscape architecture projects.

Lostritto is a former board member of her family’s real estate company, Steel Equities, and serves on the Board of Regents at NYU-Winthrop Hospital. She also helps to manage a food pantry and a faith formation program at St. Paul the Apostle Church in Brookville, New York, where she is a Eucharistic Minister.

Additionally, Jeannine and her husband, Glenn, actively support Syracuse University through contributions to such initiatives as the Lostritto Family Global Experience Scholarship, the Barnes Center at The Arch and the General Supported Scholarship Fund. The Lostrittos were the first donors to support The Syracuse Promise initiative, which aims to significantly expand scholarship support for high-achieving students.

“Jeannine Lostritto is among the school’s most engaged board members and supporters. She is also an active member on the Facilities Committee of the Board of Trustees and has contributed greatly to the positive transformation of our campus over the last several years,” says School of Architecture Dean Michael Speaks. “Perhaps most importantly, Jeannine is a strong advocate and financial supporter for Syracuse Architecture student scholarships, especially those studying abroad in our outstanding Florence program. We are all looking forward to welcoming her as our 2026 Convocation speaker.”

Lostritto lives in Old Brookville, New York, with her husband. They have three children, Domenica “Sunny” L’23, Glenn Jr., and Joseph.

Steven W. Barnes ’82, H’19, a devoted alumnus, University trustee and generous supporter of Syracuse University, will deliver the keynote address at the ‘s 2026 Convocation Ceremony. Barnes, who majored in accounting in the Whitman School, has maintained close ties to the University throughout a career spanning nearly four decades in private equity.

Bain Capital LP is one of the world’s leading global private investment firms, managing more than $215 billion in assets under management across private equity, venture capital, public equity and leveraged debt. Barnes has been affiliated with Bain since 1988 and previously served as chairman of global private equity, head of North American private equity, co-head of European private equity, and founded and led the global portfolio group.

He also served in various leadership positions within Bain’s portfolio companies, including as CEO of Dade Behring, a global diagnostic company, president of Executone Business Solutions, a telecommunications company, and president of The Holson Burnes Group, a publicly traded consumer products company.

Barnes served as chairman of the University’s from 2015-19 and as chairman emeritus from 2019-23. He currently serves as vice chair of the board. Outside of Syracuse, Barnes serves on the board of directors of the Boston Celtics as a member of ownership, and is a board member of MV Youth, The Park of West Palm Beach and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County. He previously served on the boards of Boston Children’s Hospital, New Profit, the United Way of Massachusetts Bay, Boston City Year and was the former chairman of the board of The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

“We are thrilled to welcome Steve Barnes back to campus to speak to our graduates this year,” says Whitman Interim Dean . “Steve’s extraordinary career in private equity, combined with his lifelong commitment to this University and its students, make him an ideal voice for our Class of 2026. His story, from his time as a student at Whitman to the heights he has reached in business and in his service to Syracuse University, is one that will truly inspire our graduates as they take their next steps.”

Barnes’ connection to the Whitman School is long-standing and wide-ranging. He is a longtime member of the , a founding investor in the Orange Value Fund and served as the founding co-chair of the Advisory Board. He received the Whitman School’s Jonathan J. Holtz Alumnus of the Year Award in 2011.

The generosity of Barnes and his wife, Deborah, has had a transformative impact across campus, including:

• providing the lead gift for the , the University’s integrated health, wellness and recreation complex;
• endowing the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities and the Barnes Professorship in Entrepreneurship at the Whitman School and establishing the Barnes Award for Academic Excellence, a merit-based scholarship recognizing outstanding first-year Whitman students; and
• supporting Remembrance Scholars, Syracuse Athletics, the Office of Disability Services and other initiatives across the University.

Barnes was recognized with an honorary doctorate degree from Syracuse University in 2019 and he received the Dritz Trustee of the Year Award in 2014.

The Whitman School’s Convocation Ceremony will be held Saturday, May 9, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the JMA Wireless Dome.

Joanne “Joanie” Mahoney ’87, L’90, president of the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY ESF), will deliver the commencement address at the College of Law’s Class of 2026 Commencement on Friday, May 8 in the JMA Wireless Dome.

“I am pleased to welcome Joanne Mahoney back to the College of Law and am excited to stand with her as we welcome our most recent graduates into the powerful alumni network of Syracuse Law,”  College of Law Dean Terence Lau L’98 says.

Mahoney was appointed SUNY ESF president in November 2020. She previously served as Onondaga County executive for 11 years, during which she earned national recognition for her environmentally friendly stewardship. Before her elective office, she worked as an attorney both in private practice with the Harris Beach law firm and for five years as a criminal prosecutor in the Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office. Mahoney received a juris doctor from the College of Law in 1990 and her bachelor of science from the Whitman School of Management in 1987. She currently serves on the College of Law’s Board of Advisors.

As Onondaga County executive (2008-2018), the first woman elected to this position, Mahoney created the nationally acclaimed Save the Rain green infrastructure program, transforming stormwater management. Her leadership helped restore Onondaga Lake from one of America’s most polluted lakes to swimming-quality water. She helped the county maintain the highest bond ratings among all New York state counties while championing the Say Yes to Education partnership. Governing Magazine named her Public Official of the Year in 2011.

As SUNY ESF’s fifth president and first woman to lead the institution in its 110-year history (2020-present), Mahoney has elevated SUNY ESF nationally in Princeton Review’s “Most Environmentally Conscious” ranking. She serves as co-chair of SUNY’s system-wide Sustainability Advisory Council. Her concurrent service as chair of the New York State Thruway Authority (2015-2025), included overseeing completion of the $4 billion Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge, one of the nation’s largest infrastructure projects at the time.

Mahoney has sustained and strengthened the historic Syracuse University-SUNY ESF partnership, ensuring joint diplomas, shared opportunities for students and collaborative academic programs. A Syracuse native from a family of nine children, she has championed regional development including helping to secure the $500 million CNY Rising award from the state.

“I am honored to give the commencement address to my alma mater’s 2026 graduating class,” Mahoney says. “I look forward to providing this next generation of leaders with insights into what awaits them as they start their careers.”

The application process for the , two all-University representatives of the graduating class, has officially opened. Students who are currently juniors, graduating in May 2027, who are enrolled in undergraduate programs and will be on campus the entirety of their senior year are encouraged to apply.

“Serving as a senior class marshal is about leading with purpose and celebrating the shared experiences that connect students across Syracuse University. They are a reflection of Orange pride defined by involvement, and community, in addition to excellence inside and outside of the classroom,” says Sheriah N. Dixon, associate vice president for the student experience, dean of students and chair of the selection committee. “We invite juniors who are passionate about Syracuse University and the student experience to help shape the legacy of the Class of 2027 by applying for these prestigious roles.”

Senior Class Marshal Highlights

In this role, senior class marshals:

• lead their graduating class during Commencement;
• help to recommend the Commencement speaker;
• participate in alumni networking; and
• offer insights and suggestions about their student experience during a meeting with a senior University administrator; and
• represent their class at Universitywide functions and more.

Please visit the for more information about the role, qualifications, to apply or to recommend a student. The deadline to apply is Wednesday, Feb. 18.

For questions, contact Tracy Pierce at tmstark@syr.edu or call 315.443.3514.

University Scholar Jonathan Collard de Beaufort ’25 looked back on all that the Class of 2025 has accomplished and acknowledged what it took to get to Commencement.

“I’m here as one of 12 University Scholars, yet I know every single person in this stadium can tell their own stories of hard work, late nights and figuring it out along the way,” said Collard de Beaufort, May 11 in the JMA Wireless Dome.

“As a class, we have produced 3D printed tissues, built machine-learning algorithms, worked in architecture firms on four continents and researched court decisions on free speech. We have competed as Division 1 athletes and Academic All-Americans,” said Collard de Beaufort, a biochemistry major in the College of Arts and Sciences and member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program. “We each had our own version of figuring it out. Mine involved texting neurosurgeons until one of them replied, which led me into research and device development in neurosurgery.”

The University has been a launchpad for dreamers and doers, he said.

“Our inquiring and collaborative nature has taken us far together. We’ve set records in this dome for student attendance,” Collard de Beaufort said. “We volunteered in our community and raised record-breaking funds for OttoTHON, our yearly fundraiser dance marathon. We’ve built beds for local children needing a safe place to sleep, proving that Orange is the color of compassion.”

Throughout their time at the University, graduates have risen to the challenge as they have created, invented and explored.

“We’ve been bold. We took risks. We crossed borders. We found answers,” Collard de Beaufort said.

He also recognized that many people are involved in each graduate’s success.

“We thank our professors, the administration and staff, and our families who have been with us throughout,” Collard de Beaufort said. “And we thank our classmates who helped us along the way, who stayed up late with us, told us we could do it and reminded us who we were when we forgot.”

Collard de Beaufort encouraged graduates to carry that spirit of support and togetherness as they go out into the world.

“Congratulations, Class of 2025. We made it,” he said. “Let’s go be brilliant, be Orange.”

Syracuse University Chancellor Kent Syverud to remember those who have supported them during the University’s 2025 Commencement ceremony in the JMA Wireless Dome on May 11.

“You did not do this alone. Each of you got here because of so many who have faith in you. Some of the people who have faith in you, your faculty, the staff, are sitting in front of you and working all around this dome and all around this campus,” the Chancellor said. “Some of the people who support you and have faith in you, your family, your friends, your classmates are right behind you and next to you now, where once again, as always, they will have your back.”

The Chancellor conferred 6,930 degrees during the ceremony.

Congratulations graduates! The accomplishments of the Class of 2025 were celebrated by students, faculty, staff and families as the University held its annual Commencement ceremony in the JMA Wireless Dome on Sunday, May 11. The photos below capture some of the pomp and circumstance of this special day.

For more Commencement coverage, check out the keynote address by 10-Time NBA All-Star Carmelo Anthony, Chancellor Kent Syverud’s remarks and student speaker and University Scholar Jonathan Collard de Beaufort ’25 addressing his fellow classmates.

As he took the stage at the JMA Wireless Dome Sunday to , Carmelo Anthony described to graduates how it was a “full-circle moment.”

“Standing here in this Dome, this place, where I once played, sweat, dreamt, won and grew is very surreal for myself,” Anthony said. “This building was my launchpad for my life.”

The Dome, where he played a standout season with the Orange men’s basketball program, leading to the national championship in 2003, propelled him into his successful career as a professional basketball player, entrepreneur, philanthropist and media personality.

“Twenty-two years later, to return here, not in a jersey but on the stage speaking to you, the class of 2025, it feels like life has come all the way around,” Anthony said.

On the same stage where Anthony starred as a Syracuse University student-athlete, Anthony urged the Class of 2025 to follow in the footsteps of previous graduates and make their own mark on the world as thinkers, doers, leaders and changemakers.

“Take that Orange spirit into the world. Be bold. Be kind. Be relentless. Live with a purpose. Give back. Honor your roots. Chase your dreams. And don’t be afraid to rewrite the script as you go,” Anthony told the approximately 6,900 graduating students.

“This is your time,” he said. “This is your launch pad.”

Anthony is one of the University’s most prolific former student-athletes and one of the greatest scorers in the history of the National Basketball Association. A member of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team, Anthony played 19 seasons in the NBA after his one season with the Orange. He was a 10-time NBA All-Star, won three Olympic gold medals with the U.S. men’s national basketball team, and was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame’s Class of 2025 earlier this spring.

But despite his impressive resume, Anthony emphasized to the graduating class that he dealt with his fair share of hardships. When faced with adversity, Anthony overcame his obstacles, and he encouraged the Class of 2025 to pick themselves up when they fail, and to never give up in the pursuit of their passions.

“Your path won’t be a straight line, and that’s okay,” said Anthony, who in 2017 received the Chancellor’s Medal for Philanthropy in honor of his extraordinary contributions to the University and the community.

“You can evolve again and again, as long as you keep chasing what sets your soul on fire,” Anthony said. “But as you chase your dreams, don’t forget where you came from and don’t forget the people who helped get you there.”

Later this fall, Anthony’s son, Kiyan Anthony, will follow in his father’s footsteps as a member of the Orange men’s basketball program.

The opportunity to watch Kiyan walk the same halls on campus, wear the same Orange and play basketball in the same Dome is “one of the proudest moments of my life,” Anthony said. “But it’s not just about following in my footsteps, it’s about watching him create his own story.”

When it came to their own stories, Anthony told the graduates that “the seeds you plant today can grow far beyond what you imagined,” while reminding the Class of 2025 to use their degrees to better their communities.

“What’s the point of success if you’re not using it to lift others?” Anthony said. “Carry the Orange with you because the Orange spirit is real. It’s grit. It’s passion. It’s pride. It’s knowing how to rise when things get hard. It’s loyalty and it’s heart.”

It’s time to celebrate, Syracuse University Class of 2025! Bring your family and friends and join in all the excitement and pomp and circumstance during .

The University’s Commencement exercises will be held in the JMA Wireless Dome Sunday, May 11, beginning with the degree candidates’ procession at 9:30 a.m.

Carmelo Anthony, the 10-Time NBA All-Star who guided the men’s basketball team to the 2003 NCAA Championship, will deliver the Commencement address.

School and college convocations and Commencement will also be livestreamed. Visit the May 8-11 to view the ceremonies online.

At Sunday’s Commencement, around 6,900 students are expected to graduate.

Syracuse University Chancellor and President Kent Syverud will address the graduates and confer degrees. Interim Vice Chancellor, Provost and Chief Academic Officer Lois Agnew will give the welcome.

The University will recognize three honorary degree recipients:

• Robert “Bob” Mankoff ’66, influential cartoonist with a decades-long career as cartoon contributor and editor at The New Yorker;
• Ali Meders-Knight, executive director of California Open Lands and Mechoopda tribal member; and
• Judith Greenberg Seinfeld ’56, Syracuse University life trustee and president of Heritage Management Co.

Bea González G’04, former vice president for community engagement, special assistant to the chancellor and dean of University College, will serve as mace bearer.

Tadodaho Sidney Hill, of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, will give the ceremonial opening. The Rev. Dr. Brian E. Konkol, vice president and dean of Hendricks Chapel, will give the invocation. Peter A. Gianesini Jr. ’94, president of the Syracuse University Alumni Association, will welcome the newest alumni.

Student Marshals and Scholars

Representing the Class of 2025, Mark Nzasi and Yifan “Ivan” Shen are the senior class marshals and will lead graduates during the ceremony.

Along with the all-University marshals, 23 student marshals represent the 13 schools and colleges at the University. The marshals will lead the degree candidates of their respective schools or colleges.

Twelve seniors have been designated as Syracuse University Scholars. This is the highest undergraduate honor the University bestows. University Scholar Jonathan Collard de Beaufort, College of Arts and Sciences, was selected as the student speaker on behalf of the Class of 2025.

Retiring faculty members who have been recommended to receive the title of emeritus by the University Senate to the Syracuse University Board of Trustees will be recognized by Jamie L. Winders, vice provost for faculty affairs.

The University Marshal is Kira Reed, associate professor of management, Whitman School of Management. Associate University Marshal is Tula Goenka G’86, professor and graduate program director, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications.

Also during the ceremonies, Army and Air Force ROTC cadets will present the colors.

The Syracuse University Wind Ensemble will perform under the direction of conductor Timothy W. Diem.

The national anthem will be sung by Olivia Scanzera ’25, College of Visual and Performing Arts, and Enzo Cupani ’25, College of Visual and Performing Arts, will sing the alma mater.

Security and Other Important Information

To ensure a safe and enjoyable event, all guests and degree candidates will go through , including metal detection, prior to entering all Convocation and Commencement venues. The University has a , which will be in effect for Commencement weekend. Bags larger than 10″ x 10″ will not be allowed into Convocations or Commencement.

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A celebrated cartoonist, author and editor; an indomitable environmental steward and educator; and a visionary philanthropist and innovative businessperson will receive honorary degrees during Syracuse University’s exercises on Sunday, May 11, at the JMA Wireless Dome.

Robert “Bob” Mankoff ’66, influential cartoonist with a decades-long career as cartoon contributor and editor at The New Yorker; Ali Meders-Knight, executive director of California Open Lands and Mechoopda tribal member; and Judith Greenberg Seinfeld ’56, Syracuse University life trustee and president of Heritage Management Co., will be honored for their outstanding achievements in their professional careers and the contributions they have made to society in significant and meaningful ways.

Robert Mankoff ’66
Doctor of Letters

Mankoff is a distinguished cartoonist whose sketches reveal a deep, insightful knowledge of the human experience and societal issues, all played with a satirical wit. Through his expansive body of work, he has explored cultural trends to craft cartoons that are thought-provoking and have brought smiles and laughter to generations. Along with his decades-long career as contributor and editor with The New Yorker, his published works have been featured in prominent publications, including The New York Times, Harvard Business Review and The Wall Street Journal.

Born and raised in Queens, New York, Mankoff attended the prestigious Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music and Art before choosing Syracuse University, where he earned a psychology degree in 1966 from the College of Arts and Sciences. He briefly pursued doctoral studies before focusing on cartooning.

His creativity and persistence paid off after submitting about 2,000 cartoons to The New Yorker. He then embarked on a long career with the magazine, contributing nearly 1,000 cartoons. His most famous (and the best-selling New Yorker cartoon of all time) was of a harried businessman at his desk on the phone, telling the person on the line: “No, Thursday’s out. How about never—is never good for you?” He later went on to serve as The New Yorker’s cartoon editor for 20 years, editing thousands of cartoons and nurturing emerging talent and fostering a new generation of cartoonists.

His innovative work at The New Yorker also included new features, such as the cartoon caption contest, and the integration of digital media to the magazine’s cartooning landscape. He pioneered the archival digitalization of single panel cartoon art both at The New Yorker Cartoon Bank and as co-founder and president of Cartoon Collections/Cartoonstock.com, which archives and licenses the work of cartoon artists. He continues to innovate in the time of artificial intelligence, and his masterful approach to humor and creativity has been part of his time lecturing, on TED Talks and through articles, including a piece for The Atlantic, “A Bot Walks Into A Bar.”

Following his time at The New Yorker, Mankoff was cartoon editor at Esquire and is currently the cartoon editor at the online newsletter Air Mail. He co-runs Botnik Studios, a network of writers, artists and programmers who create software that augments human creativity with big data analytics, and has authored several books, including his New York Times bestselling memoir “How About Never—Is Never Good For You?: My Life in Cartoons.”

Mankoff will also deliver the alumni keynote address at the 2025 College of Arts and Sciences | Maxwell School undergraduate convocation on Saturday, May 10.

Ali Meders-Knight
Doctor of Humane Letters

Meders-Knight, a Mechoopda tribal member, is committed to healing the land and restoring its ecosystems through traditional Indigenous knowledge in collaboration with community, government and organizations—to sustain thriving communities.

As the executive director of California Open Lands, she works to form partnerships for federal forest stewardship contracting and tribal restoration programs on public lands. California Open Lands seeks to enhance and preserve natural resources in the conservation of Northern California’s flora and fauna, including the restoration and cultivation of California native plants using Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge, and to foster ways people can connect with the natural resources and open lands.

A Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) practitioner for 20-plus years, Meders-Knight has collaborated on environmental education and land restoration projects with, among others, California State University, Chico; the City of Chico, California; and Tehama County Resource Conservation District. Her work to improve social and environmental welfare through education has also included working closely with faculty, students and community partners at Syracuse University, Oberlin College and Conservatory, and other land management and conservation organizations, including the Traditional Center for Indigenous Knowledge and Healing in Ithaca, New York.

In 2023, she developed a partnership with Haudenosaunee leaders and environmentalists in New York through her contribution to the University’s annual Ray Smith Symposium in the Humanities, “Indigenous Resilience, Climate Change and the Environmental Humanities.” Her symposium discussion with local Indigenous leaders highlighted the relevancy of her initiatives to the ancestral Haudenosaunee homelands where the University stands.

Meders-Knight serves on the Tribal Relations Strategic Planning and Implementation committee for the U.S. Forest Service in Region 5. In March 2022 she testified to the U.S. House of Representatives Environmental Oversight Subcommittee on the merits of TEK and tribally led workforce development to restore California forest resilience and address the problem of catastrophic wildfires. In 2009, she helped plan and establish Verbena Fields, a unique 17-acre interactive food forest and interpretive park in North Chico, to educate about the rich ecological heritage of the Mechoopda people.

In 2019, she was named Environmentalist of the Year by the Butte Environmental Council for her advocacy and initiatives for wildfire recovery and Indigenous land stewardship after the Camp Fire destroyed Paradise, California, and several other communities within Mechoopda Territory. She was also a tribal instructor who taught TEK-based seed sovereignty strategies as part of the Intertribal Agriculture Council’s inaugural Intertribal Nursery Training program in partnership with University of California, Davis.

An artist and craftsperson immersed in the cultural traditions of her heritage, Meders-Knight is also a traditional basketweaver.

Judith Greenberg Seinfeld ’56
Doctor of Humane Letters

A leader in business and in service to others, Seinfeld has made extraordinary contributions to social causes, communities and the arts and has had a transformative impact on the University through her tireless commitment to education and improving the world.

Seinfeld is the fourth-generation head of Heritage Management Company LLC, a long-standing real estate investment, development and management company based in Ridgewood, New Jersey. She has been involved with the purchase, sale, land-use planning and financing of office and industrial properties throughout the country since 1989.

Before joining Heritage, Seinfeld, a talented photographer and jewelry designer, was the founder and president of Judith Greenberg Gallery, a jewelry design and manufacturing company. Her creations were displayed and sold at galleries throughout the U.S. from 1983-96. She was also an executive vice president at Balenciaga Perfumes International.

A longtime patron of the arts and veteran of the stage, she is the co-founder of the Nantucket Comedy Festival and the producer of several plays, including “The Ferryman,” winner of the 2019 Tony Award for Best Play, and “Leopoldstadt,” winner of the 2023 Tony for Best Play.

Seinfeld earned a bachelor’s degree from the School of Education in 1956, and a master’s degree in administration from Teachers College, Columbia University, in 1957. She was elected to the Syracuse University Board of Trustees in 2002. In addition to her current role as a life trustee participant on the Academic Affairs and Facilities committees, Seinfeld’s service to the University includes previous positions on the boards of the School of Education and the School of Architecture.

Her leadership and financial support of Syracuse University has created lasting opportunities for countless students and faculty members. She has provided lead gifts for the establishment of the Seinfeld Housing Initiative, the Judith Greenberg Seinfeld Scholar Awards, the Judith Greenberg Seinfeld Prize for Creative Teaching Endowment and the Judith Seinfeld Ambassador Scholar Program in the College of Professional Studies (CPS). She has supported other initiatives in CPS, the School of Architecture (including a book series on modern American housing), the School of Education, the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, the College of Visual and Performing Arts, University Lecture Series and alumni engagement programs.

She has served as president of the Women’s Division of the Federation of Northern New Jersey; served as a board member of Human Rights Watch–Children’s Division; was trustee of Nantucket Cottage Hospital; and served as a trustee of the Atheneum Library and the Nantucket AIDS Network.

While Hannah Kang ’25 was growing up in Houston, Texas—by way of South Korea, where she was born—pursuing a degree at Syracuse University was never on her radar.

Then, a high school internship course found her shadowing renowned architect Jesse Hager of CONTENT Architecture, known for designing some of the most iconic cultural and institutional buildings in the Houston metropolitan region. An interest in the field was ignited, inspired by her mom’s study of architecture in college, and before long she found herself Googling “top-10 architecture schools”—the results led her to the high-ranking and NAAB-accredited Syracuse University .

“I realized that architecture was my calling because it really combined the aspects of STEM I liked best (mathematics, physics) with the arts, allowing me to work through creative challenges and utilize both the left side and right side of my brain,” Kang says.

Before she walks the stage with a bachelor of architecture (B.Arch) degree at Commencement as a member of the Class of 2025 on Sunday, Kang reflects on five years at Syracuse and the many makings of her uniquely Orange experience.

Army ROTC + Architecture = A Rare and Disciplined Path

When considering how to fund her education at a private, out-of-state university, Kang didn’t have to look further than her own father’s story for encouragement.

Back in South Korea, her dad completed his two years of mandatory military service and ultimately parlayed his military experience into an engineering degree. “He encouraged me to look into the Army ROTC [Reserve Officers’ Training Corps] pathway to fund my education, and I found out in short order how well-resourced and supportive Syracuse is of its military community,” Kang says. Connecting with the University’s and helped her navigate the scholarship process and getting contracted into the Army ROTC program.

“It is not a common path to enroll in the ROTC while also pursuing architecture here, just because both programs are so rigorous and time-intensive,” Kang says, noting that she may be one of the only undergraduate architecture students in the school’s history to do both programs simultaneously.

“There was an adjustment period for sure—life in the architecture program and life in ROTC are two very different things,” Kang says, recalling the juxtaposition of late nights spent in Slocum Hall, home to the School of Architecture, doing design work and her early-morning ROTC workouts.

But the payoff was worth it and helped fuel her success at Syracuse. Her participation in Army ROTC taught Kang the importance of both resilience and time management, while lifting the financial burden and allowing her to participate in such memorable Syracuse offerings as study abroad without a second thought.

Broadening Perspectives With Study Abroad/Study Away and Internships

While Kang spent a majority of her undergraduate career within the four walls of Slocum, she also felt drawn to explore her passion for architecture off campus, leveraging study abroad and study away opportunities to immerse herself in the architectural gems of London, England, and New York City.

In spring 2023 she spent the semester studying at Faraday House, the University’s London home base, and spent her free time taking walking tours of the city and making use of easy travel throughout Europe to further expand her horizons.

Kang spent fall 2023 at the Fisher Center in New York City, an immersive semester that includes guest lectures, professional development and experiential learning opportunities in addition to course and studio work. She also had the specific goal of securing an internship based on her time in New York.

“I knew New York was the hub for architecture and design, and I also wanted to network during my time in the city,” says Kang, who landed a store design internship with URBN, a portfolio of global consumer brands that includes Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie and Free People.

Before that, she also interned with Whole Foods Market as a store design and development intern in summer 2023, sourced with support from the Career Services team within the School of Architecture.

Kang says her internship experiences working with high-profile global and national brands have been invaluable to determining her future path within the architecture profession. “I learned that while I enjoy store development and planning on the commercial side of things, I’d like to do it in a more holistic manner and across various brands, so that I’m not quite as confined to these specific brand identities,” she says as she prepares to enter the job market.

The Future Is Bright

As she seeks to secure a full-time position with an architecture or design firm, Kang is tapping into connections made through the co-ed professional fraternity she joined through the School of Architecture, Alpha Rho Chi, which has boosted the number of Syracuse Architecture alumni in her professional network.

“Rushing Alpha Rho Chi and tapping into the network of Orange alumni has made a huge difference because I actually know them—they’re not just connections on LinkedIn,” Kang says. “I’ve been able to go to my brothers for career advice and while seeking internship opportunities through the years. They give it to you straight because you are their friend or mentee, and they are eager to help the next generation of architects.”

She intends to return to school for a master’s degree at some point once she has a few years of professional experience, and will enter the ROTC Alumni Association and commission into the New York National Guard as a finance officer, continuing to provide service to her nation.

When asked about a uniquely Syracuse moment that stands out, Kang’s memory travels to the JMA Wireless Dome on a game day.

“As ROTC, we do the big flag at the [JMA Wireless] Dome for the football and basketball games and I love getting to be on the field and looking up to see all of the students in the student section and then all of the fans and alumni in the stands,” Kang says. “A big part of what drew me to Syracuse was the school spirit and seeing that in person in the Dome just gives me intangible pride—proud to be a cadet on campus and proud to be part of an institution like Syracuse University.”