FIFTY-FOURTH CONVOCATION
May 20, 2025
PROGRAM
Master of Ceremonies
Eric Lamberg
Academic Procession
Faculty Marshals
Anu Andrews
Paul-Neil Czujko
Rasheed Davis
Karen Dechello
Lisa Komnik
Platform Party
Faculty
Baccalaureate Graduates
Master’s Graduates
Doctoral Graduates
| National Anthem | Erica Camilleri '25, Speech-Language Pathology |
| Welcome | Dr. William Wertheim, Executive Vice President, Stony Brook Medicine |
| Introduction of Speaker | Eric Lamberg, Associate Dean |
| Keynote Speaker | Dr. Chris Rosa, President & CEO, The Viscardi Center |
Presentation of Awards |
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| Awards for General Excellence | |
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Clinical Laboratory Sciences |
Afrinash Ahamad, Clinical Associate Professor |
| Respiratory Care | Lisa Johnson, Chair and Clinical Associate Professor |
| Applied Health Informatics | Rajiv Lajmi, Chair and Clinical Assistant Professor |
| Athletic Training | Xristos K. Gaglias, Chair and Clinical Assistant Professor |
| Medical Molecular Biology | Hana Fukuto, Clinical Associate Professor |
| Occupational Therapy | Hannah Mercier, Assistant Professor |
| Physician Assistant Education | Donna Ferrara, Chair and Clinical Associate Professor |
| Speech-Language Pathology | Renee Fabus, Chair and Associate Professor |
| Physical Therapy | James Pierre-Glaude, Clinical Assistant Professor |
| Edmund J. McTernan Honor Awards | Eric Lamberg, Associate Dean |
| Alumni Speaker | Nina DePaola '87, Physical Therapy |
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Stacy Jaffee Gropack, Dean |
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| Clinical Laboratory Sciences | Jeannie Guglielmo, Chair and Clinical Associate Professor |
| Respiratory Care | Lisa Johnson, Chair and Clinical Associate Professor |
| Applied Health Informatics | Rajiv Lajmi, Chair and Clinical Assistant Professor |
| Athletic Training | Xristos K. Gaglias, Chair and Clinical Assistant Professor |
| Medical Molecular Biology | Gloria Viboud, Program Director and Associate Professor |
| Occupational Therapy | Dale Coffin, Chair and Clinical Associate Professor |
| Physician Assistant Education | Donna Ferrara, Chair and Clinical Associate Professor |
| Speech-Language Pathology | Renee Fabus, Chair and Associate Professor |
| Physical Therapy | Daniel J. Lee, Chair and Clinical Associate Professor |
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Closing Remarks Stacy Jaffee Gropack, Dean Recessional Guests are asked to remain seated until the platform party, |
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Keynote Speaker: Dr. Chris Rosa, President & CEO, The Viscardi Center
Dr. Chris Rosa became President and CEO of The Viscardi Center, a network of non-profits that educate, employ and empower children and adults with disabilities, in January 2022. He is a staunch advocate for equity and economic justice for people with disabilities, being a wheelchair-user since age 12 who has Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy. A published disability studies scholar, he serves in national leadership roles for organizations that promote access and wellness for Americans with disabilities. He is also a sought-after orator. Before joining Viscardi, Dr. Rosa held numerous leadership positions at the City University of New York (CUNY), the nation’s largest urban public university system, the most recent as the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Inclusion Initiatives. In this role, Dr. Rosa designed and led programs that promote access, equity, and inclusion for over 35,000 students who have historically under-participated in higher education. Dr. Rosa earned his B.A. in Sociology and Philosophy from Queens College in 1989 and his Ph.D. in Sociology from the CUNY Graduate Center in 2001.
Alumni Speaker: Nina DePaola '87, Physical Therapy
Nina DePaola PT, MHA is a proud 1987 graduate of Stony Brook University, where she obtained a Bachelor of Science In Physical Therapy. She began her career at North Shore University Hospital, Manhasset and has been at Northwell Health for close to 38 years, working closely with and mentoring many Stony Brook PT graduates. Nina obtained a Master's Degree in Health Administration from CW Post / Long Island University in 1994 and has been Vice President and an executive leader in rehabilitation since 1997. She has expertise and passion for strategic business development, patient-focused clinical operations, building multidisciplinary teamwork, education, outreach while inspiring and motivating others.
Nina has pioneered and lead the expansion of multiple businesses for Northwell such as Sports Therapy And Rehab Services (STARS), Glen Cove Acute Rehab, Orthopedic Physician Institute, Northwell Health Rehab Network, Physiatry Physician Partners, Bioskills and Cadaveric Dissection Lab, Rehab At Home - and most recently oversees Business Development for all Northwell At Home. She has lead, developed and mentored thousands of therapists.
Additionally, Nina served as Medical Chairperson, Northwell - PGA Championship, Bethpage Black, 2019. She was honored as Woman In Motion by NY Arthritis Foundation. Nina serves as a Board member Hofstra University School of Health Sciences, Chairs the Hofstra DPT Advisory Board, where she is also Adjunct Faculty Professor for DPT Program. Nina is extremely grateful for the exceptional education at Stony Brook which has set the bar high, for all she seeks to accomplish.
AWARDS FOR GENERAL EXCELLENCE
The faculty of each program is asked to select the student who best typifies those qualities of professional competence and human concern in health care that this school seeks to develop.
THE EDMUND J. MCTERNAN UNDERGRADUATE HONOR AWARDS
The purpose of the Edmund J. McTernan Honor Award is to further the educational mission of the School of Health Professions and is named in memory of the founding Dean of the school, the late Edmund J. McTernan Sr. This year’s recipients were selected based on the criteria put forth by the fund, including academic achievement.
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Class of 2025 Candidates for Degree BACHELOR OF SCIENCE |
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Michael William Callison |
Alexandra Dana Jovic |
Sophie Alexandra Mercado |
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Respiratory Care |
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Chelsea Asiedu |
Samson Li3 |
Kayla Arden Malarkey3,4 |
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MASTER OF SCIENCE Applied Health Informatics |
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Adetayo Adekunle |
Equislaure Gabriel |
Prabhakar Pandey |
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Athletic Training |
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Morgan Catalanotto |
Richard Fulcher |
Harrison Bill Summers |
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Medical Molecular Biology |
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Josue Miguel Flores Acuna |
Ewa Karolczuk4 |
Annemarie Kleier |
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Occupational Therapy |
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Samar S Alam |
Nicole Ashley Droesch |
Andrada Ioana Onet |
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Physician Assistant |
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Jean Ghardher Ady |
Brendan Anthony Jarzyniecki |
Katherine O'Malley4 |
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Speech-Language Pathology |
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Erin Nicole Acevedo |
Drew Hahn |
Grace Marie Napolitano |
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Meylin G. Amador Rodriguez4 |
Amanda Mary Fassbender |
Zachary Joseph Lupo |
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1 Summa Cum Laude
2 Magna Cum Laude
3 Cum Laude
4 Alpha Eta
School of Health Professions criteria for Graduation with Honors for undergraduate degree candidates - at least 60 credits with an HSC cumulative grade point average as follows: Cum Laude 3.6; Magna Cum Laude 3.75; Summa Cum Laude 3.85. Please note: All honors are based on the current grade point average at the time of publication. The actual honor awarded may be different as it is based on the FINAL grade point average, determined after finals are completed. The actual honor will appear on the final transcript and diploma.
In 1982, the School of Health Professions established a chapter of Alpha Eta, the National Honor Society of the Allied Health Professions. Faculty review student records and nominate those students who have demonstrated high scholastic achievement (a grade point average of at least 3.5 for baccalaureate degree candidates and 3.8 for graduate degree candidates) and dedication to their chosen profession. This honor is extended to not more than twenty percent of any graduating class.
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General Excellence Awards Applied Health Informatics Athletic Training Clinical Laboratory Sciences Medical Molecular Biology Occupational Therapy Physical Therapy Physician Assistant Education Respiratory Care Speech-Language Pathology Edmund J. McTernan Honor Awards Applied Health Informatics Athletic Training Clinical Laboratory Sciences Occupational Therapy Physical Therapy Physician Assistant Education Respiratory Care Speech-Language Pathology
Program Awards Athletic Training Backbone Athletic Training Student Award Debbie Whittemore Memorial Award for Academic Excellence Stuart B. Cherney Outstanding Athletic Training Student Award Clinical Laboratory Sciences Carlos Vidal Memorial Scholarship Lori R. Brickman Scholarship Occupational Therapy Academic Achievement Community Service Award Excellence in Fieldwork Jacqueline Barrera Distinguished Student Award Vera Jean Clark-Brown Leadership Award Physical Therapy Community Service Award Distinguished Student Award Leadership Award Professional Service Award Respiratory Care Award for Excellence in Community/Professional Service Award for Excellence in Polysomnographic Specialty Option Nancy Cohen Respiratory Care Student Scholarship Speech-Language Pathology Clinical Excellence Award Transformative Program Growth Outstanding Capstone Award Students with 4.0 GPA
The Henry and Marsha Laufer Scholarship Applied Health Informatics Athletic Training Clinical Laboratory Sciences Occupational Therapy Physician Assistant Education Respiratory Care Speech-Language Pathology |
Honor Societies
| Iota Tau Alpha Athletic Training |
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| Morgan Catalanotto Richard Fulcher |
Sarabeth O'Hagan | Harrison Bill Summers Adriana Zieba Rosa |
| Lambda Beta Respiratory Care |
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| Kelly Guan | Maha Mahmood Kayla Arden Malarkey |
Jade L Pang |
| Lambda Tau Clinical Laboratory Sciences |
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| Kevin Chen Parteek Singh Dosanjh Yiying Huang |
Jaden Emily Hurley Wanqi Ke Jessica Liu Sophia Rose Vitalino |
Gavin James Wen Jade Yu Andy Zheng |
| Pi Alpha Physician Assistant |
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Jean Ghardher Ady |
Rochelle Gilder Brendan Anthony Jarzyniecki Megan Mary Klein Brooke Michele Mahoski |
Jared Andrew Mogul Elizabeth L Pekurovsky Sara Fabiola Veleno |
| Pi Theta Epsilon Occupational Therapy |
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| Samar S Alam Alaina Rose Cacace Gabriella Diane Corona |
Vanessa Marie DaCunha Gina Lee Edgeworth Meagan Kearney Colleen Reilly |
Emily Rushton Brittney Elizabeth Smith Julianna Williams |
Stony Brook University/SUNY is an affirmative action, equal opportunity educator and employer. This publication can be made available in an alternate format upon request. If you need a disability related accommodation, please call (631) 444-2400.
