Nearly 400 receive degrees at Mount Saint Mary College Commencement ceremonies

Bachelor’s Degree Commencement speaker Donna M. Carroll, Ed.D., President of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities (ACCU), congratulated the Mount Saint Mary College graduates on a job well done.

 

Cheered on by their friends and loved ones, nearly 400 graduates received their diplomas at Mount Saint Mary College’s 63rd annual Commencement Ceremonies on Friday, May 15 and Saturday, May 16.

The Mount awarded more than 100 master’s degrees and about 280 bachelor’s degrees across the two ceremonies. The graduating students hailed from 10 states: Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Virginia.

For the fourth year in a row, longtime Psychology Professor Paul Schwartz led the procession of the undergraduates to their ceremony. He was joined by Jennifer Bready, Dean of the School of Arts, Sciences, and Education and Professor of Mathematics, who led the graduate procession. Schwartz is only the third person – and Bready the fourth – in nearly seven decades of Mount history to bear the college’s ceremonial mace at Commencement. They followed in the footsteps of seminal Mount English professors James Finn Cotter and James McEnery.

Evan Merkhofer, Vice President for Academic Affairs, served as Master of Ceremonies. The events were presided over by Lou Bach ‘82, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the college.

The invocation for Friday’s Master’s ceremony was given by Fr. Gregoire Fluet, Vice President for Mission and Ministry and Campus Chaplain. At Saturday’s undergraduate ceremony, the invocation was given by Sr. Patricia Magee ’88, OP, Prioress of the Dominican Sisters of Hope in Ossining, N.Y. and a Mount Trustee.

Both ceremonies began with “God Bless America,” sung on Friday by Rosemarie Horne, a 2020 alumna and Content Specialist with the college’s Marketing and Communications Department, and Saturday by Sgt. Maj. MaryKay Messenger ’88. 

Dr. Robert Gervasi, President of the Mount, reminded the graduating class that personal fulfillment and a compassionate spirit are what truly elevate an education: “Degrees are wonderful, but hearts make degrees meaningful. And I hope that you will always put your heart in whatever you do, and I wish you prosperity, love, and joy.”

The Graduate students heard from Commencement speaker Maxine E. Lindsay-Shillingford ’98 MSN ’23, Chief Nurse Manager within the Department of Veterans Affairs. Lindsay-Shillingford is a highly decorated U.S. Army Combat Veteran and an experienced nurse leader with nearly 30 years of service in civilian and military healthcare. As a two-time alumna of Mount Saint Mary College, she returns to her alma mater as a symbol of leadership and dedication to the nursing profession.

Lindsay-Shillingford oversees virtual primary care and mental health initiatives for transitioning service members. Her extensive resume includes roles as the Director of Nursing at the James J. Peters VA Medical Center and Chief Nursing Executive in the U.S. Army Reserves. Her distinguished military career includes deployments as Chief Nurse of a U.S. Military Hospital in the Middle East during Operations Inherent Resolve and Spartan Shield. 

An immigrant who first came to the Mount through the Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP), Lindsay-Shillingford recently earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from Duke University.

“This moment represents far more than the completion of a degree,” she said. “It reflects years of sacrifice, resilience, and unwavering belief in the power of humanity, discovery, and your ability to shape, strengthen, and transform our global community. This milestone is a testament to your hard work. You made it here not because of a sprint, but because of a marathon you refused to give up on.” 

Lindsay-Shillingford left the graduates with three “change‑to‑action principles,” noting that the graduates are “the change agents of today and tomorrow.”  The principles are:

• Lead Steadfastly: “Know what you stand for—and what you will not stand for.” 
• Own Your Professional Identity: “Be consistent. Be disciplined. Be intentional. Advocate fiercely without hesitation and without apology.”
• Lift Others as You Rise: “Mentor. Coach. Build community. Lead collaboratively and authentically as you shape the future of education, business, and healthcare.”

The Undergraduate students heard from Commencement speaker Donna M. Carroll, Ed.D., President of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities (ACCU). Dr. Carroll is a distinguished leader in Catholic higher education. In this national role, she focuses on advancing the mission of Catholic institutions and mentoring the next generation of lay leaders.

A vocal advocate for the rights of underserved students, Dr. Carroll has received numerous prestigious awards for her leadership and moral courage, including The Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh, CSC Award for outstanding contributions to Catholic higher education; The Strangers No Longer Award from the Archdiocese of Chicago; and The Moral Courage Award from Faith in Public Life.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Wellesley College, and earned both her master’s and doctoral degrees in higher education administration and counseling from the University of Cincinnati. She is also the recipient of honorary degrees from Fordham University, Edgewood College, and Albertus Magnus College.

Dr. Carroll reminded the students that the values instilled upon them by the Dominican Sisters will serve them well as they head out into the world.

“It is a complex and unpredictable time for new graduates, as I know that you know. The social upheaval is constant; the economics are volatile, and the pace of technological change is mind boggling,” she said. “This is exactly the environment that distinguishes and mobilizes all the elements of a Mount Saint Mary education. As Dominicans, you are committed to truth-seeking, not only in your chosen discipline, but also in how you navigate life. Your degrees have never been just about your own successes, though I wish you many. Rather, they are the vehicles through which you participate in the creation of a more just, humane and sustainable world.” 

She added, “As you walk across this stage today and begin the next stage of your life, reach for opportunity. Yes, you deserve it. But also… stay curious, welcome the unexpected, see hurdles as opportunities for personal growth, and recognize that the path to your true calling is rarely without difficulty and is sometimes a matter of ‘crazy, holy grace.’”

On Friday, MBA graduate Angelina Mainiero of Vineland, N.J. told her cohorts to use their degrees to make the world a better place. 

“Everyone has so many different talents, skills and perspectives to offer,” she said. “It’s these different experiences that really make the Mount’s program so much more valuable, and if we all had taken the same path to get here, we’d be missing out on that quality entirely. As we move forward into our future endeavors, I think it’s important that you do something that you value, do it well, and be grateful for the people who helped you get there.” 

On Saturday, Nicole Kreischer of Washingtonville, N.Y., Senior Class President, encouraged the Class of 2026 to build lives they can be proud of.

“If you want to make change, you have to take the steps in order to achieve it,” she said. “Nobody will push you and make the change that you want in your life but you… Don’t let anyone tell you that you don’t have experience. Internships, jobs, clinicals, and student teaching is all experience in your playbook. You’ve learned so much more than you know and you will succeed once you cross the stage.”

She added, “I am so happy with my choice to become part of The Mount community. This part of my life will stay with me forever.”

Two awards were given to Mount Saint Mary College faculty during the ceremony. Samantha O’Connell, Class of 2026 and president of the Mount’s Student Government Association (SGA), presented the SGA Excellence in Teaching Award to Thomas Powell, Professor of Practice, School of Nursing. The award recognizes a full-time professor that the students believe goes above and beyond in their role as a professor and in their commitment to student success.

In addition, Anne-Marie Uebbing, Associate Professor of Nursing, presented the Mount Saint Mary College Faculty Award for 2026 to Lynette DeBellis, associate professor of Nursing and Chair of the School of Nursing. Uebbing praised DeBellis for fostering a learning environment where “students are encouraged to explore their potential in both clinical and academic settings.”

Ranked a Top-Tier Regional University by U.S. News & World Report, Mount Saint Mary College offers strong career preparation in the health professions, education, business, psychology, social services, the liberal arts, and more.