At the annual University Convocation ceremony on Sunday, March 9, President Tania Tetlow reminded the audience what the world looked like when this year’s honorees—a staggering 69 faculty and staff members—first joined Fordham in 2005: Students traded in their pay phone usage for flip phones, Netflix movies still arrived by mail, and Red Bull was all the rage.
“But amidst all of this change over the past decades,” said Tetlow, “what has remained constant is all of you.”
The event is held each spring to show appreciation for Fordham employees’ longstanding service of 20, 40, and 60 years. In recognition of their unique contributions, faculty receive the Bene Merenti award, administrators receive the Archbishop Hughes award, and staff receive the 1841 award. All but one awardee honored on Sunday—recent retiree and 40-year honoree Charlotte Labbe, the former Head of Interlibrary Loan—celebrated two decades of work at Fordham. President Tetlow bestowed a medal to each in attendance as their colleagues, partners, friends, and families applauded them.
“You have shaped this University, not just through your work, but through your presence,” said Tetlow, enumerating the many gifts the honorees bring to Fordham. “We recognize all your years of dedication and the profound impact you’ve had on generations of students, colleagues, and the Fordham community at large.”
Verenika Lasku, who received an 1841 medal for her 20 years of service, emigrated from Kosovo to the U.S. in 1995 with her husband. She waited until their youngest child entered kindergarten to join Fordham as a temporary cleaner and later became the first female foreperson for Fordham’s Campus Operations.
“Twenty years at Fordham University has been an incredible journey of growth and learning,” said Lasku, who was surrounded by the three Rams in her family: Her daughters Valentina and Gabriella earned master’s degrees in education from Fordham after receiving their bachelor’s degrees here, and her son Robert, currently a sophomore, is studying public accounting. “I am so appreciative of the support and opportunities I’ve been given, and I’m excited to continue contributing to our community.”
Deborah Russelli, who began as an operations assistant and is now assistant vice president for administration, earned her bachelor’s degree and her M.B.A. at Fordham. Her son Andrew also earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Fordham, both in the sciences. And her team was there to cheer her on.
“I love Fordham,” she said. “Our whole division is like a family; everyone showed up, so this is more than just a place to work. This really is my heart.”
Sertan Kabadayi, Ph.D., the Joseph Keating, S.J., Distinguished Professor in Business at the Gabelli School, expressed the same sense of connection. “I never thought that I would stay in the same place for 20 years, but I think when it’s Fordham, it’s been easy. Since the first day, I felt valued, I felt recognized, so it’s great to be part of this big family.”
2025 University Convocation Honorees and Slideshow
Click the right arrow to scroll through the images.
“Convocation is such a profound expression of who we are as a community,” said President Tetlow. 
Twenty-year honoree Iris Mapson, senior executive secretary in University Marketing and Communications, with Justin Bell, vice president for marketing and communications 
Alisa Ali, radio host at WFUV and Fordham alumna, received the Archbishop Hughes Medal for her 20 years at the station. 
Susanna Barsella (left), professor of Italian, and Angela Alaimo O’Donnell, associate director of the Curran Center for American Catholic Studies, were both honored for 20 years of service. 
Yan “Emma” Peng (in red), associate professor of accounting and taxation, received the Bene Merenti Medal for 20 years of service. 
Catherine Henson (left), faculty center coordinator in the Gabelli School of Business, received the 1841 Award for 20 years of service. 
Below are the names of faculty and staff who were honored. Congratulations to all!
Bene Merenti Medal | 20 Years
Jose Aleman, Susanna Barsella, Kirk Bingaman, Edward Cahill, Gregory Farmer, Bradford Hinze, Karina Hogan, Robert Hume, Sertan Kabadayi, Rachelle Kammer, Youngjae Lee, Todd Melnick, Sophie Mitra, Daniel Ott, Yan Peng, John Pfaff, Giorgio Pini, Erick Rengifo Minaya, Thierry Rigogne, Lise Schreier, Asif Siddiqi, Blanca Urizar, Yuewu Xu, Suzanne Yeager, and Tiffany Yip.
Archbishop Hughes Medal | 40 Years
Charlotte Labbe
Archbishop Hughes Medal | 20 Years
Deborah Adwokat, Alisa Ali, Stephen Brunetti, Adika Christian, Xiomara de Leon, Nicolee Feliz, Pooja Grewal, Aisha Harpe, Jeffrey Haynes, Jack Lugo, Angela O’Donnell, Irving P. O’Neal, Anastasia Pappas, Anibal J. Pella-Woo, Luisa Porretta, John Puglisi, Jeanne Renner, Deborah Russelli, Gulay Siouzios, Jeremy Slatken, John Stadler, and Anne Treantafeles.
1841 Award | 20 Years
Yaniris Baez, Ana Brito, Moises Burgos, Tomas Cepin, Erik Cuascut, Carmen Demiroski, Arnold Dorismond, Frederick Grey, Catherine Henson, Juliana Krammer, Verenika Lasku, Viliam Litavec, Kerri Maguire, Iris Mapson, Palina Markic, Kevin Mavrich, Angela Michalski, Ines Montero, Linda Negron, Kathleen Sweeney Parmiter, and Virginia Ungaro.
