Albertus Magnus College’s 102nd Commencement Ceremony: Class of 2025; Legacy Class
May 18 Event: Last Class of First Century of Excellence
New Haven, Conn., May 1, 2025 – When Albertus Magnus College holds its Commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 18, 2025 at 11:00 a.m., this will be the last class — the Legacy Class — of the College’s First Century of Excellence. As part of this enduring stretch of time and tradition, the celebration begins with an impressive procession down Prospect Street in New Haven, leading to the iconic Rosary Hall where the annual pomp and circumstance will take place. Here are just a few of our Senior Success Stories:
Justice Washington ’25, Master of Science in Management and Organizational Leadership:
“[At Albertus] They care about what you got going on — stuff that [doesn’t] seem important, but it gives you the sense that people care. People want to know about your life.”
Shannon Visco ’25, Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Mathematics:
“Relationships and friendships with other students, faculty, [and] staff has been amazing…There is always such a kindness from everyone you encounter.”
Sharaya Keele ’25, Bachelor of Science in Sport Management:
“I just don't know that I would've grown like this somewhere else. I feel like this community has given me the opportunity to grow the way I did.”
Stephanie Santiago ’25, Bachelor of Science in Finance and Accounting:
“I'll always associate Albertus as a home away from home. This has been the best experience of my life. I know they say college really changes you, and I'm a living testament of that.”
Another Albertus Commencement tradition is the awarding of honorary degrees to distinguished individuals whose life and work embody the College’s mission. They will be recognized for their inspiring, values-based leadership.
Donna M Carroll, Ed.D., President of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities (ACCU), will receive the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters honoris causa and deliver the Commencement Address to the Legacy Class of Albertus Magnus College.
Sean P. O’Connell, Ph.D., who faithfully served Albertus Magnus College since 1987 as a faculty member, mentor, and administrator — becoming the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty in 2013, also will receive the Degree of Doctor of Humane Letters honoris causa.
In addition to bestowing honorary degrees, this year’s Albertus Commencement ceremony will mark the sixth presentation of the St. Dominic Medal, an honor that recognizes an individual or organization whose mission, values, and practices, signify the College’s Four Dominican Pillars: Study, Prayer, Community, and Service. For 2025, there are two recipients:
The Centro San Jose Family Center in New Haven, Conn., is part of Catholic Charities Archdiocese of Hartford, a nonprofit agency serving people of all faiths, backgrounds, and ages, and dedicated to providing essential services and support to individuals and families in need. It will receive the St. Dominic Medal. Accepting on behalf of the organization is Sylvia Velez, Director of the Centro San Jose Family Center.
Leadership, Education, and Athletics in Partnership, Inc. (LEAP), a New Haven-based nonprofit dedicated to empowering underserved youth by fostering leadership potential, is the other St. Dominic medal awardee. Accepting on behalf of the organization is Executive Director Henry Fernandez.
About Albertus Magnus College
About Albertus Magnus College: Founded in 1925, Albertus is a coeducational Catholic College in the Dominican tradition. Albertus' values- and liberal arts-based education is recognized by external rankings such as US News & World Report, Money, and The New York Times, and has been named a Top 10 Military Friendly School. For nine consecutive years, at least 95% of Albertus graduates have attained employment or gone on to graduate studies within six months of completing their degrees. The College has an enrollment of approximately 1,300 students across its traditional undergraduate, accelerated adult undergraduate, and graduate program levels. Proud to enroll a student body where nearly half of its undergraduate students receive Federal Pell Grants and are first-generation college goers, Albertus is known for its innovative curricular offerings, recently launching new Bachelor's degree programs in Nursing, including BSN and Connecticut's first LPN-to-BSN; General Health Sciences; Interdisciplinary Studies; and Public Health. Among its graduate offerings is the State of Connecticut's only Master of Arts in Art Therapy and Counseling program, and it is just one of three schools to offer a Master of Science in Human Services. In 2025-26, Albertus is celebrating its historic 100th Anniversary and completing implementation of the Albertus 2025: Lighting the Way to a Second Century strategic plan, with a bold vision to "be a destination liberal arts-based college, distinguished in its interdisciplinary and experiential approach to education, rooted in Dominican values, that prepares students for lifelong civic engagement and success." To learn more, please visit albertus.edu.