From left, Keith Eldredge, associate vice president for student affairs and dean of student services; Michele Burris, vice president for student affairs; Liz Fanelli, Title IX coordinator; and Kevin Williams, assistant vice president and dean of students at Rose Hill. All photos by Helen Reynolds
Talk of Hoda Kotb’s from-the-heart commencement speech—and her grand exit to “New York, New York,” which she cranked up on stage and as she drove away—were in the air as faculty and staff flowed into McShane’s Great Hall for the commencement after-party on Saturday.
The annual event brings together employees from across the University to celebrate the close of the academic year. The chance to connect draws a large number of faculty and staff who attend and work commencement.
“It’s good to see colleagues from other departments and schools because we don’t have time to talk to each other during the year—we’re too busy,” said philosophy professor Sam Haddad, PhD.
We caught up with a few attendees as they raised a glass to the Class of 2026.
“I feel like the best of the University is on display on a day like today,” said Joan Cavanagh, senior director for spirituality and solidarity, who is retiring in June after 29 years at Fordham. Jeffrey Ng, director of counseling and psychological services, was celebrating his son’s graduation from Fordham. “It feels surreal, but also I have so much pride and gratitude for everything the community did to help him get there,” said Ng, here with his wife and mother-in-law.Communications and media professors Lewis Freeman and Jessica Baldwin-Philippi Gabelli School of Business faculty Ling Li (left) and Dongli Zhang Economics instructor and PhD student Gerard Del Giacco and Vanessa Rotondo, soon-to-be mission strategy officer From left: Rabbi Katja Vehlow, director of Jewish life and Jewish chaplain; John Gownley, director of Global Outreach; Adam Bermudez, assistant director for communications and project management, Center for Community Engaged Learning; and Tony Berry, Fordham Law studentPresident Tetlow with Graduate School of Education staff Stephanie Adomavicius, executive director of communications and events for Arts and Sciences, and Monika McDermott, associate dean for faculty affairs Military science professors Capt. Peter Kase (left) and Sgt. 1st Class Darian Gandy Chris Rodgers, associate vice president for strategy and operations in student affairs, and Mike Trerotola, vice president and chief of staff Sris Chatterjee, Gabelli Chair in Global Security Analysis, with Gabelli School professor Falguni Sen Philosophy professor Sam Haddad with colleagues
