Commencement 2026 Program

May 16, 2026

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Dear Members of the SUNY Geneseo Class of 2026,

Congratulations on reaching this extraordinary milestone. Today, we celebrate not only your academic accomplishments, but the determination, curiosity, and character that have brought you to this moment. Each of you has contributed to the vibrancy and excellence of SUNY Geneseo, and it is with immense pride that we recognize your achievements today.

During your time here, you demonstrated initiative, creativity, and a profound commitment to learning and to personal growth. You embraced the challenges before you and shaped them into opportunities for growth. Whether through scholarship, research, the arts, service, leadership, or athletic achievement, you have enriched our community and strengthened the traditions that define this institution.

As you prepare to embark on new paths, you carry with you the gifts of a liberal arts honors education: the ability to think critically, communicate effectively, solve complex problems, and approach the world with empathy and purpose. These qualities will serve you well, no matter where your journey leads. You join a distinguished network of Geneseo alumni—leaders, innovators, educators, creators, and public servants—whose impact spans generations and communities across the globe.

Remember that Geneseo will always be part of your story. The friendships you have built, the mentors who have guided you, and the experiences that have shaped you will remain long after today’s celebration. I hope you stay connected to this remarkable community, return often, and carry forward the values that have grounded your time here. Geneseo will always be your home.

It has been an honor to serve as your president during your final year here in Geneseo. It has been my privilege to witness the talent, heart, and promise you bring to our world. As you step into the future, know that you do so with the confidence and support of the entire Geneseo family.

Congratulations once again on your graduation. We will miss you and watch your successful journey with pride.

Sincerely,

Melinda Treadwell

President, SUNY Geneseo

Rebecca Wilson Bresee ’93 has had a 30-year career as an animator with the Walt Disney Animation Studios, helping to create everything from puppies to princesses and working on several of the highest grossing films of all time.

Earning her first credit on the movie Dinosaur, Bresee has since worked on a host of feature films, including Treasure Planet, Chicken Little, Meet the Robinsons, Bolt, Tangled, Wreck-It Ralph, Big Hero 6, Zootopia, Moana, Raya and the Last Dragon, Encanto, Moana 2, and Zootopia 2. She served as the animation supervisor of Anna on the film Frozen. Bresee then went on to work as one of the heads of animation on Frozen Fever, Frozen 2, the Disney+ original short film Once Upon a Snowman, and Disney Animation’s 100 year film Wish. She’s currently working as animation supervisor for Anna on Frozen 3.

Bresee received a Bachelor of Arts degree in studio art from SUNY Geneseo in 1993 and attended Sheridan College to specialize in animation. She’ll receive an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree for her professional and artistic achievements.

Jeff Clarke ’83, MBA has a 40+-year career as a business executive, serving leading technology companies such as Eastman Kodak, Digital Equipment Corporation, Compaq Computer, Hewlett-Packard, CA Software, Travelport, FTD, and Insurity. He led the IPO of Orbitz Worldwide in 2007 and has served on the boards of directors for technology companies such as Autodesk, Compuware, Doxim, Generate Life Sciences, Red Hat, and UTStarcom.

Appointed as CEO of Kodak in 2015, Clarke led its emergence from bankruptcy, rebuilding the company by expanding its printing, chemicals, and licensing business. His decision to continue to invest in the manufacture and production of celluloid film for photography and movies led to partnerships with key Hollywood studios and film directors, such as Christopher Nolan and Quentin Tarantino. That decision process was featured in the Harvard Business School case study The Reinvention of Kodak, published in 2018.

Clarke holds a BA in economics from SUNY Geneseo and an MBA from Northeastern University. He has supported his alma maters by serving on the Geneseo Foundation Board and as a Northeastern University trustee. Clarke will receive an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree for his significant contributions to business leadership.

The ceremony will begin with the processional at 9:00 a.m. and will end with the recessional at approximately 11:00 a.m.

Prelude: Sempre Fidelis by John Phillips Sousa—Brass Ensemble

Processional: Pomp and Circumstance by Edward Elgar—Brass Ensemble

National Anthem: Hannah J. Lieberman ’26

Welcome and Introductions: Melinda Treadwell, President

Conferral of Honorary Degree: Rebecca Wilson Bresee ’93, Presented by Mary C.Toale, Provost & Vice President for Academic Affairs

Commencement Address: Rebecca Wilson Bresee ’93

Presentation of the Richard Roark Award: Harry Howe, Vice Chair, College Senate

Senior Oration: Corrina Ophelia Filek ’26

Recognition of the Graduates: President Treadwell

Conferral of Baccalaureate Degrees: Provost Toale

Welcome to New Alumni: Rita Rogan ’19

Concluding Remarks: President Treadwell

Alma Mater: Hannah J. Lieberman ’26 (music and lyrics at the bottom of the page)

Recessional: Canzona by Samuel Scheidt—Brass Ensemble

The international flags on the stage indicate those countries or territories represented by graduates in the Class of 2026: Canada, Japan, Myanmar/Burma, and Norway.

Also on stage is the Haudenosaunee flag, which recognizes the land upon which the campus now stands as the historic homeland of the Seneca Nation of Indians and the Tonawanda Seneca Nation.

Grand Marshal: James Kimball, Lecturer of Music

Head Marshals: Melanie Blood, Dean for Workforce Development • Agya Boakye-Boaten, Dean of Arts and Sciences • Lerong He, Dean of School of Business • Karen Mach, Dean of Students • Ann Monroe-Baillargeon, Dean of School of Education

Marshals: Sarah Brookes, Communication • Claire Gravelin, Psychology • Andrew Herman, Communication • Enrico Johnson, Academic Affairs • Matt Pastizzo, Institutional Research • Meg Reitz, Residence Life • Kelli Sperino-Pease, Communication

Readers: Melanie Blood, Dean for Workforce Development • Harry Howe, School of Business • Karleen West, Political Science and International Relations

Flag Bearers: Members of the Geneseo Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and American Legion

The ceremony will begin with the processional at 1:00 p.m. and will end with the recessional at approximately 3:00 p.m.

Prelude: Sempre Fidelis by John Phillips Sousa—Brass Ensemble

Processional: Pomp and Circumstance by Edward Elgar—Brass Ensemble

National Anthem: Hannah J. Lieberman ’26

Welcome and Introductions: Melinda Treadwell, President

Conferral of Honorary Degree: Jeff Clarke ’83, Presented by Mary C.Toale, Provost & Vice President for Academic Affairs

Commencement Address: : Jeff Clarke ’83

Presentation of the Richard Roark Award: Harry Howe, Vice Chair, College Senate

Senior Oration: Giulyana Soe Gamero ’26

Recognition of the Graduates: President Treadwell

Conferral of Baccalaureate Degrees: Provost Toale

Welcome to New Alumni: Rita Rogan ’19

Concluding Remarks: President Treadwell

Alma Mater: Hannah J. Lieberman ’26 (music and lyrics at the bottom of the page)

Recessional: Canzona by Samuel Scheidt—Brass Ensemble

The international flags on the stage indicate those countries or territories represented by graduates in the Class of 2026: Canada, Japan, Myanmar/Burma, and Norway.

Also on stage is the Haudenosaunee flag, which recognizes the land upon which the campus now stands as the historic homeland of the Seneca Nation of Indians and the Tonawanda Seneca Nation.

Grand Marshal: Chi-Ming Tang, Associate Professor of Mathematics

Head Marshals: Melanie Blood, Dean for Workforce Development • Agya Boakye-Boaten, Dean of Arts and Sciences • Lerong He, Dean of School of Business • Karen Mach, Dean of Students • Ann Monroe-Baillargeon, Dean of School of Education

Marshals: Scott Giorgis, Geological, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences • Chinmay Jain, School of Business • Enrico Johnson, Academic Affairs • James McLean, Physics and Astronomy • Matt Pastizzo, Institutional Research • Meg Reitz, Residence Life

Readers: Melanie Blood, Dean for Workforce Development • Dori Farthing, Geological, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences • Harry Howe, School of Business

Flag Bearers: Members of the Geneseo Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and American Legion

The Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence honors State University of New York students who have best demonstrated and been recognized for their integration of academic excellence with other aspects of their lives, which may include leadership, campus involvement, athletics, career achievement, community service, or creative and performing arts.

• Grace Elizabeth Hubbel
• Griffin J. Lyons

The Norman C. McConney Award recognizes 50 outstanding students in SUNY’s Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) for their academic merit and perseverance.

• Marcus Jabari Lewis

The Presidential Scholar honor is awarded to fewer than 20 Geneseo rising seniors each year. The distinction recognizes the highest level of accomplishment in academic study including creative achievement, along with community service, athletics, and other co-curricular activities. Presidential Scholars represent the ideals of SUNY Geneseo and serve as ambassadors for the College throughout the year.

• Sierra Lynn Doody
• Clare C. Douglas
• Kayla Alecia Harry
• Grace Elizabeth Hubbel
• Elisabeth Lersch
• Griffin J. Lyons
• Mark Tom Moroz
• Charlotte E. Sanson

Phi Beta Kappa is the nation’s oldest and most widely known liberal arts and sciences honor society. Less than 10% of seniors (along with a few exceptional juniors) are selected by faculty members for membership into the organization. Geneseo is the only undergraduate SUNY college with a Phi Beta Kappa chapter, one of only 286 chapters in the nation.

• Dylan Hunter Almy
• Gianna Louise Battista
• Ashley Nicole Biondi
• Sophia Grace Bobeck
• Zachary Boice
• Brett S. Bower
• Riley E. Bowersox
• Phoebe Lauren Brenner
• Hannah Brockman
• Christopher David Bulan
• Collin Joseph Capurso
• Meaghan Casey
• Rowan Renée Considine
• Ariana M. Cookinham
• Regina Maria Cucchiara
• Anna Dmytriv
• Liberty N. Dodds
• Sierra Lynn Doody
• Clare C. Douglas
• Ryan Edward Eck
• Max D. Esposito
• Elizabeth Margaret Finnegan
• Alexandra Illyana Gaboury
• Giulyana Soe Gamero
• Abigail Grace Gleason
• Kristen E. Heard
• Lincoln E. Hempstead
• Lily C. Herman
• Abigail Rayne Hildebrant
• Ella J. Hinckley
• Grace Elizabeth Hubbel
• Ryan Fowler Hyzy
• Fiona Kellerman Foley
• Brian Anthony Kenny
• Makayla R. Kieley
• Kelly A. Kinsella
• Shannon Leigh Lacy
• Elisabeth Lersch
• Ayden E. Link
• Griffin J. Lyons
• Carolyn A. Mack
• Matthew R. McGowan
• Alexis Dachille McGrory
• Payton Elizabeth Mehalick
• Ethan R. Moyer
• Meghan Viola Murphy
• Adam M. Neyhart
• Thadar Myat Noe
• Cadence Delaney Valentina Katerina Panol
• Valerie E. Pastore
• Alexis Patrick
• Kevin Alves Pereira
• Margaret MacLeod Rickel
• Audrey J. Ryan
• Jacob Mark Sledziona
• Sophia J. Stang
• Rose Johanna Grace Theel
• Anna Michelle Tompkins
• Emma K. Ward
• Grace M. Weidman
• Stephen N. Welsch
• Maxwell M. Worden

Edgar Fellows are members of the Geneseo honors program. They were selected for the program as first-years and sophomores in recognition of their high level of motivation and academic success. The program includes interdisciplinary seminars, research opportunities, and close work with honors advisors.

• Levi R. Allen
• Nina Avallone-Serra
• Wrileigh Alyce Bacon
• Gianna Louise Battista
• Ashley Nicole Biondi
• Phoebe Lauren Brenner
• Aimee Rose Clum
• Jenna J. Crowley
• Reese Dammers
• Sierra Lynn Doody
• Ryan Edward Eck
• Caelum M. Edris
• Sarah Elmassari
• Max D. Esposito
• Elizabeth Margaret Finnegan
• James Valentine Flockhart
• Fiona Kellerman Foley
• Ella Rose Fowler
• Sophie M. Fulton
• Alexandra Illyana Gaboury
• Riley Elizabeth Griffin
• Shoshanna Katriel Ford Hertz
• Ella J. Hinckley
• Gannon Patrick Kelly
• Brian Anthony Kenny
• Kelly A. Kinsella
• Griffin J. Lyons
• Alexis Dachille McGrory
• Hayden Rylie Mikula
• Cadence Delaney Valentina Katerina Panol
• Megan A. Pecenco
• Anamaria Santos Mendez
• Sophia J. Stang
• Emily M. Trask
• Madeline Julia Weld
• Kaden R. Wheeler
• Edward D. Wolcott

The Senior Oration is an important opportunity for seniors to share reflections on the Geneseo experience with the graduating class. Members of the Class of 2026 were invited to compete for the honor of Senior Orator in a multi-stage process.

From this year’s excellent entries, Corrina Filek ’26 will speak at the morning ceremony. She is graduating with a double major in sociomedical sciences and anthropology. Giulyana Gamero ’26 will speak at the afternoon ceremony. She is graduating with a major in communication.

The Richard Roark Award was first presented in May 1970, less than two months after Roark, a professor of anthropology at Geneseo, was presumed drowned off the Island of Guadeloupe in the French West Indies. The endowed award is given to a graduating senior whose excellence in scholarship and community service emulates Roark’s. The recipient will receive a stipend to purchase books and will have their name inscribed on a plaque in the Robert MacVittie College Union.

The President’s Cup is given annually to a graduating senior who exemplifies superior service and dedication to the Student Association through involvement in and leadership of the association and its funded organizations. Students receiving this award must have at least a 2.7 grade point average. Recipients are selected by the newly elected executive committee, and the award is presented by the incoming Student Association president at the Commencement Rehearsal.

Academic attire generally consists of cap, gown, and hood worn on formal occasions at institutions of higher learning. This attire reflects the ecclesiastical garb of the medieval period when scholars were nearly all members of the clergy.

The bachelor’s gown is worn closed, distinguished by its long, pointed sleeves; the master’s gown is designed to be worn open and has long sleeves with an arc cut in front and square base in the back. The doctoral gown is worn open or closed and has velvet panels down the front and three velvet bars on the round, full sleeve.

A distinguishing feature of academic attire is the hood. Its size, shape, and color designate the degree earned and the college or university. Bachelor’s hoods are rarely used, but they are similar in design to master’s hoods and are three feet long. The master’s hood measures three and a half feet. The doctoral hood is rounder and four feet long. Hoods are lined with the official colors of the institution conferring the degree, such as blue and gold for the State University of New York. The binding around the hood is velvet and the color indicates the major field of study.

Caps are normally black and the most common is the four-pointed mortarboard, but tams are also worn. Tassels are worn over the left front quarter after the degree has been conferred. Tassels were historically black although doctoral degree holders may wear a shorter gold tassel.

The faculty and staff procession is led by the Grand Marshal, who carries the Geneseo mace. The mace dates to medieval times and is a symbol of authority. Geneseo’s mace is carried only at the New Student Convocation and Commencement.

The mace and a companion medallion were designed and created by Professor Willard Peterson in 1971 in response to a commission by a committee of students and alumni chaired by Robert Redden. Peterson’s design for the Geneseo mace fashions New York State cherry wood into the handle and the traditional spikes. The ornamentation features a blue lapis lazuli gemstone (found in the US only in New York State) and honors the Geneseo blue. The sunburst surrounding the stone alternates twelve gold and silver shafts, reflecting the light of learning.

The mace was a gift to the College by the Alpha Clionian Corporation. The medallion, worn by the president as a seal of office, was given by the Class of 1969.

A new lanyard for the medallion was designed and created by Professor Patrice Case in 2016. A cabinet to house both was designed and constructed by Professor Paul Hepler and presented to the College by the Alumni Association. It stands in the Tower Room of Doty Hall, where the mace and medallion are permanently displayed.

+ Teaching Certificate
++ Dual Major

++ Dual Major

Evan James Burmeister ++
Joshua J. Hemmings
Kaley L. Sumeriski

+ Teaching Certificate
++ Dual Major

We are a distinctive public liberal arts college that welcomes and inspires students to develop their knowledge and skills to build a better world. Our supportive, inclusive community is exceptional in cultivating creativity, engagement, and discovery. We find strength in diversity, joy in growth, and fulfillment in lifelong learning.

We will cultivate a distinctive, equity-centered, public honors college experience that propels learners to positively impact society.

The Geneseo campus community is guided by our beliefs in and commitments to the following values:

• Learning: embracing high expectations for intellectual inquiry, critical thinking, scholarly exploration, and personal growth
• Creativity: empowering a spirit of innovation that inspires intellectual curiosity, self-expression, and problem-solving
• Belonging: welcoming a diverse campus community that supports and celebrates different identities, promotes equity and inclusion, and respects the ideas and contributions of each individual
• Civic engagement: encouraging active participation grounded in self-reflection, empathy, and an ethical commitment to the common good of our local and global communities
• Sustainability: building a culture of well-being that integrates and applies principles of environmental, social, and economic stewardship informed by an understanding of the past and our obligations to the future

May 16, 2026

Dear Geneseo Graduate,

On behalf of the Office of Alumni Relations and the SUNY Geneseo Alumni Association (SGAA), congratulations on your graduation, and welcome to the Geneseo alumni community! You are now part of a powerful network of more than 67,000 alumni worldwide—Knights who support one another and make an impact wherever they go.

Your connection to Geneseo doesn’t end here; it’s just beginning. Get involved with the SGAA to maintain friendships and connections with faculty and former classmates. Learn more about upcoming events and programs, and update your contact information.

Again, congratulations on this milestone! We can’t wait to see what you will accomplish. And if you’re ever in the area, stop by our offices—we’d love to welcome you back!

Sincerely,

P.S. Stay connected to your Geneseo community! Visit the alumni website and update your contact information regularly, search for alumni events happening on campus or in your region, and visit the e-yearbook to reminisce.

Dave Miller ’90, President
Marissa Lewis Jardas ’10, Vice President
Rita Rogan ’19, Secretary
Miguel Baique ’14
Frank Blasioli ’73
Mark Broomfield ’94
Susan Chichester ’79, P’10, P’14
Ben Conard ’16
Cynthia Cusimano ’08
Scott Ewanow ’06
Kelly Gannon ’27
Sean Hayden ’09
Madalyn Hymowitz ’24
Sarah Jane Phillips Keegan ’18
Sandra Kupprat ’90
Hailey Luczak ’27
Linda Gray Ludlum ’85
Karen Gagnon McMahon ’86
Larkin Kimmerer Podsiedlik ’09
Rachel Laber Pulvino ’10
Anne Irwin Tillinghast ’96
Carolyn Campbell, Ex-Officio, Interim Vice President for College Advancement

Amanda M. McCarthy, Director
Michelle Walton Worden ’92, Associate Director
Tracy Young Gagnier ’93, Senior Assistant Director
Serena Mulloy ’24, Assistant Director
Jessica Farrell, Administrative Assistant

The College has planned morning gatherings and afternoon gatherings for graduates and guests to offer you the opportunity to mingle with the faculty from the department. Please attend the gathering in the academic area from which you are receiving your degree. Thank you.

• Following the ceremony, please meet your graduate at the gathering. Please do not wait outside the arena. This will help alleviate congestion and long waits.
• Accessible shuttles will run from the Merritt Athletic Center after each ceremony, with stops near the Visitors Loop for upper campus gatherings, and at the College Union Loop for gatherings in the College Union or Mary Jemison Dining Hall.
• Restrooms are available in each of the buildings where gatherings are scheduled.
• Buildings are equipped with elevators for those who cannot utilize stairs.

• Smoking is not permitted inside the Merritt Athletic Center at any time. Individuals who wish to smoke must do so 25 feet from any campus building.
• As a courtesy to all spectators, the use of cell phones is not permitted during the ceremony. Please silence your cell phone and refrain from using it for calls during the ceremony.
• Ushers (in STAFF apparel) and University Police are available at all times for assistance and information.
• Family picture-taking is welcome from your individual seat. As a courtesy to all spectators, please do not approach the stage area. A professional photographer will take a photo of each graduate as they shake hands with the president and then one after they leave the stage. Proofs will be sent to your home with the option of purchase.
• Following the ceremony, please move to a location away from the arena. Please do not wait outside the arena. This will help alleviate congestion and long waits.
• Lost items may be claimed at a Lost and Found located in the Student-Athlete Resource Center (Sawyer Hospitality Room) in the lobby of Merritt Athletic Center. Items not claimed by the close of commencement activities can be claimed in the University Police Office, Schrader Hall, Room 19.

Restrooms are available in the lower level of Merritt. There are two sets, one on the south facing wall as you enter the arena from the floor and the other on the opposite side on the north facing wall overlooking the back of Merritt Athletic Center.

Restrooms on the lower level can be accessed by exiting the main upper doors and using stairs or elevator to the lower level or by exiting the hallway to the northeast on the jogging track (follow restroom sign). Please note that access is restricted from 8:45 to 9 a.m. and 12:45 to 1 p.m. due to the procession of graduates using the hallway.

Portable restrooms are available in two locations and both are accessible by wheelchair. One unit is located on the south side of Merritt by the overhead door that is used for mobility impaired entrance and exit to the arena. The other is out the northwest exit area, floor level.

First aid is provided by the Geneseo First Responders (GFR) and is available from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Commencement Day. Uniformed members are in the Workout Room on the lower level of the arena. Ask an usher to direct you if you need assistance

In the event that an individual requires a transport for medical services, an ambulance and local medical professionals are on duty to assist.

A shuttle will run to and from the Merritt Athletic Center to the outlying parking areas before and after each ceremony. After each ceremony, shuttles will make stops near the Visitors Loop in addition to the parking areas.

Looking to grab some last-minute Geneseo swag? The bookstore, located in the MacVittie College Union, will be open 8 a.m.–4 p.m. today.

In the unlikely event the arena needs to be evacuated, we ask each person to exit via the closest exit located in each corner of the arena. Geneseo staff will then assist by directing you to the nearest point of shelter.

PDFs of the Commencement 2026 program are available for download if you wish to save a copy or print it as a keepsake. Choose from the foldable program (print double-sided) or the simple program (one page per sheet).

SUNY Geneseo calls upon all members of our community to embrace sustainability as a core value, including a commitment to its constitutive principles of ecological, social, and economic justice. We recognize the critical role of higher education in creating a sustainable society.