May 28, 2025 — On Friday, more than 400 students were honored during the graduate Commencement ceremony held in McCann Arena. Marist University’s graduate programs span a wide range of disciplines, including the MBA, MPA, MA in Integrated Marketing Communication, teacher education, physician assistant studies, Doctor of Physical Therapy, and more. 

President Kevin Weinman welcomed a crowd of proud family members and friends, offering words of encouragement and celebration for the graduate students—each of whom followed a unique path to reach this milestone.

“You’ve reached the finish line of a really impressive journey, and established the next starting line for the rest of your careers,” he said. “Many of you have juggled jobs, family responsibilities, civic obligations, community service, and other duties alongside your studies at Marist. For you, life hasn’t always been a straight line.

 

 

John Liporace '88, an accomplished business leader and dedicated philanthropist, delivered the commencement address. A recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Medal, he shared insights and inspiration with the graduating class.

“We need bold, committed people--people like you to step in where systems are failing, to build bridges where institutions are leaving gaps, to lift others not because there is a quota to meet, but because you can,” he said. “So, Class of 2025 let me be direct. Success without impact is empty. Ambition without purpose is hollow.”

In the Graduate Student Address, Basma Awadallah — a native of Egypt who moved to the United States at age 13 and earned her Master of Business Administration — reflected on the graduate student experience and the journey ahead.

“Today we don’t just mark the end of our academic journey; we also celebrate the many paths we’ve taken to reach this point—and the boundless opportunities that await us,” said Basma. “When I first set foot on the Marist campus, I could never have predicted how much this place would shape me—not just academically, but personally.”

A Special Honor for Physician Assistant and Doctor of Physical Therapy Students
For graduates of Marist’s Physician Assistant (PA) and Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) programs, Commencement marked both a proud achievement and the beginning of careers dedicated to serving others.

PA graduates at the departmental award ceremony. Photo by Carlo de Jesus/Marist University.

On Friday, PA students received awards and were inducted into the Pi Alpha Honor Society during their program ceremony, where they exchanged their short white coats for long ones and recited the Hippocratic Oath—symbolizing their transition to health professionals.

DPT graduates at their hooding ceremony and reception. Photo by Carlo de Jesus/Marist University.

DPT graduates were honored in a hooding ceremony and reception, signifying their shift from students to practitioners. Having completed their three-year program in December, most have already passed the National Physical Therapy Exam and are actively working in the field.