Countdown to Commencement - May 13, 2026

COUNTDOWN TO COMMENCEMENT - MAY 13, 2026

BERKELEY COLLEGE CELEBRATES 95 YEARS
WHILE HONORING MORE THAN 1,300 STUDENTS AT 2026 CEREMONY

Learn about the Honorees, Speakers, and Additional Graduate Highlights

Photo Caption: Berkeley College will honor more than 1,300 graduates during its 2026 Commencement ceremony on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at Prudential Center in Newark, NJ.

Share the News: @BerkeleyCollege #BerkeleyGrad2026

Continuing a 95-year tradition of student success, Berkeley College will honor the next generation of business, healthcare, and community leaders during its 2026 Commencement ceremony on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. More than 1,300 graduates will be recognized during the ceremony.

DETAILS: 9 a.m. on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at Prudential Center in Newark, NJ

MEDIA CONTACTS:

To attend the Commencement ceremony or schedule an interview with an honoree or graduate, contact:

Kelly J. Depsee
Senior Director, Communications
[email protected]
973-200-1099

Cara Daniello
Marketing and Communications Associate
[email protected]
973-368-9780

HONOREES AND SPEAKERS

Honorary Degree Recipient - David Chong
Former White Plains Public Safety Commissioner

David Chong began his career with the New York City Police Department (NYPD), rising through the ranks over a distinguished 23-year tenure. He was serving as a Lieutenant in the Organized Crime Investigations Division during the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and was at Ground Zero that day, helping rescue survivors amid the devastation. He later developed 9/11-related cancer as a result of his service. After retiring from the NYPD, Chong continued his commitment to public safety as Public Safety Commissioner in White Plains, NY, for 16 years, leading the department through major crises including the COVID-19 pandemic. He has served as an adjunct professor at several colleges and universities, and he has helped place more than 40 Berkeley College students and graduates in law enforcement careers. Chong will receive an honorary Doctor of Laws degree.

Faculty Speaker - Julia Hutchinson
Chair, Graphic Design, Berkeley College School of Professional Studies

With more than two decades of experience, Julia Hutchinson is an accomplished graphic designer, instructional designer, and educator. She joined Berkeley College as a professor in 2014 and has served as Chair of Graphic Design since 2023. Hutchinson is known for blending traditional design principles with emerging technologies. Among her notable achievements is the creation of the Graphic Design Virtual Metaverse Gallery, an immersive platform that showcases student work across a range of media. The daughter of Jamaican immigrants, Hutchinson was raised in East Orange and currently lives in Bloomfield, NJ.

Alumnus of the Year - Lachanee Scott, Esq., Classes of 2016 and 2018
Attorney

Lachanee Scott, a proud Jamaican immigrant, describes herself as "first generation everything." She graduated from Berkeley College with an Associate's degree in Justice Studies - Criminal Justice in 2016 and a Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies in 2018. Scott worked as a commercial real estate paralegal before earning her Juris Doctor from New York Law School in 2025. She is an attorney focused on real estate finance in New York City. She is a resident of Secaucus, NJ.

Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award Recipient - Andre Krzyzanowski
Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing Communications

Andre Krzyzanowski emigrated from Brazil with his family in 2012 in pursuit of greater educational and professional opportunities. He overcame the challenges of adapting to a new culture, learning English and Spanish simultaneously. At Berkeley College he pursued an accelerated Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing Communications degree and competed as a student-athlete on the Men's Soccer team. An Honors Program scholar, he earned President's and Dean's List recognitions, athletic honors, and contributed to community service initiatives across New Jersey. After a season-ending injury in 2024, Krzyzanowski refocused on academics, leadership, and service, ultimately returning to the field in his final year as a team captain. He is a resident of Elizabeth, NJ.

Student Speaker - Ida Dale
Master of Business Administration - Management, Concentration in Financial Management

Ida Dale, a Norwegian-born student, holds a Bachelor's degree in International Management from BI Norwegian Business School and broadened her global perspective through an exchange year at the University of Technology Sydney. At Berkeley College, she served as a Student Aide to the Campus Operating Officer in New York City and an international student ambassador, supporting campus operations and helping students from around the world transition to life in the United States. Deeply committed to advancing financial literacy and empowering women, Dale engaged in grassroots policy advocacy through the Stand with Crypto program in Washington, D.C. As a SHEfi Scholar, she developed knowledge in blockchain, decentralized finance, and Web3. She is a resident of Brooklyn, NY.

NATIONAL NURSES WEEK (MAY 6-12, 2026)

Berkeley College Nursing graduates were recently honored during a nurse pinning ceremony, where students pledged to uphold the integrity of the nursing profession. Here are some of those standout graduates:

Maureen Anyango
Bachelor of Science in Nursing and DAISY Award Recipient

A resident of Barnegat, NJ, Maureen Anyango drove nearly two hours to attend classes at Berkeley College. She attributes her determination to giving her two children, ages 17 and 11, a better life. Originally a teacher from Kenya, Anyango began her career and life over when she came to the United States. She credits nursing as "bringing together everything I've always been - a caregiver, an educator, and someone who wants to serve the community." Anyango is a recipient of the DAISY Award, acknowledged within the nursing community among the highest symbols of nursing professionalism and dedication. She is employed by Rose Garden Nursing and Rehabilitation as a Licensed Practical Nurse and plans to advance her career upon graduation. She hopes to return to Berkeley College as a professor in the future.

Stephanie Velasquez
Practical Nurse Certificate and DAISY Award Recipient

A resident of Lodi, NJ, Stephanie Velasquez works at Hackensack University Medical Center as a Certified Medical Assistant. She pursued a Practical Nurse Certificate to advance her career in healthcare and ultimately wants to become a Registered Nurse. Velasquez is a recipient of the DAISY Award, acknowledged within the nursing community among the highest symbols of nursing professionalism and dedication. She said she was motivated to go into the nursing field as a bilingual Latina to advocate better for patients who do not speak English as a first language.

ADDITIONAL GRADUATE HIGHLIGHTS

Janhã Banks and Jatina Wells
Associate in Applied Science in Health Sciences - Patient Care Technician

Janhã Banks and Jatina Wells, residents of Newark, NJ, are a dynamic mother-daughter duo who will graduate together. Wells, who endured a childhood in foster care and later faced PTSD, made the decision to return to school in pursuit of a better future. After enrolling, she encouraged her daughter to do the same. Banks answered that call as a new mother, determined to build a different path for her now 2-year-old son. Together, they balanced the demands of school, parenting, and everyday life - leaning on each other not only as family, but as classmates and study partners. Their shared message: "Don't let anybody tell you that you can't." Both women are continuing their education at Berkeley College and are on track to graduate side-by-side again in 2027 with Bachelor of Business Administration degrees in Health Services Management.

Matheus Fadanelli Cruz
Bachelor of Science in Justice Studies - Criminal Justice

Matheus Fadanelli Cruz, a resident of Woodbridge, NJ, is passionate about law enforcement and making sure people in the community are safe. After experiencing a robbery as a young adult in his home country of Brazil, Cruz became determined to prevent others from facing similar circumstances. Cruz holds a Security Officer Registration Act (SORA) license and was an active member of the Justice League Club for students pursuing careers in legal and justice fields. He completed an internship with the Woodbridge Police Department, and his long-term goal is to become a police officer.

Loreena Dos Santos
Associate in Applied Science in Marketing

A resident of Edison, NJ, Loreena Dos Santos is an online student who works full-time as a Marketing and Brand Strategist for a New Jersey-based construction company. She is grateful that her Associate's degree will help to advance her career and credits Berkeley College with strengthening her real-world skills through hands-on projects and working alongside other motivated students. Dos Santos aims to "build a brand that is recognized globally" while creating passive income streams that provide flexibility and long-term stability. She suggests that incoming students should not "just focus on getting through assignments - focus on how it connects to your future."

Keiara Lewis
Associate in Applied Science in Fashion Merchandising and Management

A resident of Paterson, NJ, Keiara Lewis held several jobs and internships while also participating in the Fashion Club at Berkeley College in Woodland Park. She was a finalist in the African Fashion Pavilion NYC Student Designer Showcase curated by former Berkeley College designer-in-residence Chuks Collins. "Everyone has a gift, and your best gift is becoming the best version of yourself," Lewis said.

Illiana Maistri
Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies

Illiana Maistri completed a Paralegal Certificate through the Continuing Education program at Berkeley College and was able to apply credits to continue her academic journey in pursuit of a Bachelor's degree. She will be the first person in her immediate family to graduate from college with a Bachelor's degree and plans to attend law school in the future. Maistri is a resident of Orange, NJ, and is employed as a paralegal at Foster & Mazzie LLC in Totowa, NJ. While at Berkeley College, she was the treasurer of the Justice League Club and participated in volunteer opportunities at The Hoboken Shelter. She was inducted into the Alpha Sigma Lambda National Honor Society, honoring high-achieving adult and non-traditional students, and Lambda Epsilon Chi for excellence in legal studies.

Shannia Nuñez
Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing

Shannia Nuñez, a resident of Forest Hills in Queens, NY, made significant contributions to Berkeley College through her work with the Student Government Association, where she advocated for student clubs and worked to foster a strong sense of community. While five of her siblings earned their degrees in her home country of Colombia, Nuñez was inspired to pursue higher education in the United States and credits Berkeley College for giving her purpose, knowledge, goals, and a future to embrace. She recently received the Rising Star in Business Award from iHeartMedia. Nuñez plans to pursue a Master of Business Administration and hopes to work in global marketing.

Carl Walden
Associate in Applied Science in Business Administration - Management

Carl Walden, a resident of Newark, NJ, founded the Next Level Select Equal Opportunity Alliance Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to helping empower at-risk youth through athletics and entrepreneurship. Despite personal setbacks - including housing insecurity following a house fire in January 2026 - Walden remained resilient and will continue his education in pursuit of a Bachelor's degree, expected in 2027. Walden lives by the mantra, "It's not where you start, it's where you end up," and is proud to demonstrate his resilience for his children and the community. To Walden, Berkeley College has been "life-changing."

About Berkeley College

Berkeley College, founded in 1931, is a career-focused institution accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education that offers students Master's, Bachelor's, and Associate's degree and Certificate programs in more than 20 career fields. The College also offers Continuing Education programs to enhance career credentials.

Berkeley College has campuses in New York City and in Newark, Woodbridge, and Woodland Park, NJ, with more than 4,000 students enrolled. In addition, Berkeley College Online® serves a global population. U.S. News & World Report has named Berkeley College among the Best Colleges for Online Bachelor's Programs and among the Best Online Bachelor's Programs for Veterans for 13 consecutive years. Berkeley College is also ranked among the Best Regional Colleges/Universities in the North in the 2026 edition of the U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges survey. The website address is https://BerkeleyCollege.edu.

The mission of Berkeley College is to empower each student to achieve lifelong success.