NYU School of Professional Studies to Celebrate the Accomplishments of 1,765 Class of 2022 Graduates and Recognize Members of the Classes of 2020 and 2021 During In-Person Convocation Ceremonies on May 19 and May 20

Three exceptional leaders from diverse backgrounds in higher education, commercial real estate, and publishing, who are passionate about building community, fostering inclusivity, and inspiring future leaders, will address graduates, providing inspiration and anecdotes from their lives and professional experiences

NEW YORK, May 10, 2022—The NYU School of Professional Studies will celebrate the accomplishments of 1,765 Class of 2022 graduates during Convocation ceremonies on May 19 and 20, in addition to acknowledging members of the combined Classes of 2020 and 2021, whose celebrations were held virtually during the pandemic. All of those individuals who are currently graduating, as well as those from 2020/2021 will be recognized at the NYU Commencement ceremonies to be held at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday, May 18.

“After two years of virtual celebrations, we are absolutely thrilled to be able to hold NYU SPS Convocation ceremonies in person, and to provide our graduating students with the recognition they deserve,” said Angie Kamath, NYU SPS Harvey J. Stedman Dean. “In addition to the outstanding speakers we have engaged, NYU SPS has the youngest undergraduate student graduating this year from NYU—Evelyn Hsin-I Tsai, BS in Real Estate, Schack Institute of Real Estate, as well as two families whose members will walk across the stage to receive their degrees, spanning multiple generations of learners, and illustrating the incredibly powerful NYU SPS value proposition of lifelong learning.”

The NYU SPS Graduate Convocation ceremony will take place on Thursday, May 19, at 4:30 p.m. at Radio City Music Hall. Scott Rechler ’90, chairman and chief executive officer of RXR, one of the largest owners, managers, and developers of real estate and infrastructure in the New York metropolitan region, will address the graduates. Rechler currently serves as chair of the Regional Plan Association and is a trustee and vice chair of the National September 11 Memorial and Museum. He also is a member of the Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY), and a member of the NYU Schack Institute of Real Estate Advisory Committee. Clara Falxa, who will earn an MS in Integrated Marketing from the NYU SPS Division of Programs in Business, is the Graduate Student Speaker. A native of France who grew up in Gabon, Indonesia, China, and Scotland, Falxa serves as president of the Integrated Marketing Association at SPS.

The School’s Undergraduate Convocation ceremony will take place on Friday, May 20, at 10:30 a.m. at the Manhattan Center, Hammerstein Ballroom. Award-winning poet and essayist Crystal Williams ’98, who is president of the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), will deliver remarks to the graduates. She assumed the presidency of RISD, on April 1, 2022, with the goal of helping create a more equitable society. Maya Kwok, who will graduate with a BS in Hotel and Tourism Management from the NYU SPS Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality, is the Undergraduate Student Speaker. She serves as president of the NYU SPS Undergraduate Student Council, planning and executing SPS marquee events such as “Spirit Week” and “Global Village.”

The Convocation ceremony for the 2020/2021 graduates will take place on Friday, May 20, at 3:30 p.m. at the Manhattan Center, Hammerstein Ballroom. Simone Oliver, global editor-in-chief of Refinery29, a creative global platform for young people focused on style, well-being, and social issues, will speak at the special ceremony. She is tasked with reinvigorating the brand, now owned by the Vice Media Group, and growing around pivotal issues that impact young women and underrepresented people—reproductive rights, pay equity, wellness, social justice, and evolving styles of self-expression. Roksolana Sheverack, who earned an MS in Management and Systems (MASY) from the NYU SPS Division of Programs in Business in 2021, will serve as the alumni speaker who will represent the 2020/2021 graduates. A Ukrainian native, she has volunteered with the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America (UNWLA) in their efforts to help Ukrainian refugees displaced by the war in Ukraine. She is currently compiling a US database of resources that may be utilized by them to locate available housing and find helpful Ukrainian organizations.

In addition to the NYU SPS Convocation ceremonies, NYU will hold two All-University Commencement ceremonies on Wednesday, May 18, at Yankee Stadium. The Commencement for the Class of 2022 will take place at 11:00 a.m. Singer, songwriter, producer, and director Taylor Swift will deliver remarks and receive a Doctor of Fine Arts, honoris causa. An 11-time Grammy winner, Swift is one of the most prolific and celebrated artists of her generation. She is the only female artist in history to win the music industry’s highest honor, the Grammy Award for Album of the Year, three times.

The All-University Commencement for the Class of 2020 and the Class of 2021 will take place at 6:00 p.m., with disability rights activist Judith Heumann as the speaker. She will receive a Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa, and will deliver remarks on behalf of the honorary degree recipients. Heumann has been instrumental in developing and implementing groundbreaking legislation supporting people with disabilities, including Section 504, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Rehabilitation Act, and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. She served in both the Clinton and Obama administrations.

For media inquiries, please contact Alka Gupta at aag13@nyu.edu or Michael DeMeo at michael.demeo@nyu.edu.

The NYU School of Professional Studies – Celebrating More Than 87 Years of Excellence in Applied Professional Education
For more than 87 years, the NYU School of Professional Studies (NYU SPS) has been a deeply respected institution of higher education that is grounded in applied learning. From its early years, training returning World War II veterans to fulfill the nation’s urgent need for skilled technical workers, it has evolved into a professional education powerhouse that offers 22 graduate degrees, 14 bachelor’s degrees for traditional and post-traditional students, four associate’s degrees, and a plethora of continuing education courses and credentials.

NYU SPS is a thought leader, and serves as an incubator for new ideas in industries that are constantly changing, including real estate, real estate development, and construction management; hospitality, tourism, travel, and event management; financial planning; global affairs and global security, conflict, and cybercrime; global sport and sports business; publishing; marketing; public relations; project management; executive coaching and organizational consulting, human resource management and development, and human capital analytics and technology; management and systems; translation; and professional writing. It is focused on building skills that open doors to opportunities in emerging fields and global markets. NYU SPS faculty members are leading experts in their areas of discipline, with a hands-on approach that encourages students to push beyond their limits and to break new ground.

Home to some of the largest and most prestigious industry conferences in the world, including the Schack Institute of Real Estate’s Capital Markets Conference, REIT Symposium, and National Symposium of Women in Real Estate; and the Jonathan M. Tisch Center’s International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference, the School’s invaluable connections to industry leaders is a truly distinguishing factor in the education that it provides. Through career development services and resources provided by the NYU Wasserman Center for Career Development at NYU SPS, guest lecturers, site visits, participation in numerous conferences and events, and Global Field Intensives, students benefit from an NYU education that will set them apart. In addition, they have the opportunity to learn from and network with more than 39,000 NYU SPS alumni who live, work, and contribute to innovation in industry around the world. To learn more about NYU SPS visit: sps.nyu.edu.