Skip to main content
  • Home
  • About
  • Faculty Experts
  • For The Media
  • ’Cuse Conversations Podcast
  • Topics
    • Alumni
    • Events
    • Faculty
    • Students
    • All Topics
  • Contact
  • Submit
Campus & Community
  • All News
  • Arts & Culture
  • Business & Economy
  • Campus & Community
  • Health & Society
  • Media, Law & Policy
  • STEM
  • Veterans
  • University Statements
  • Syracuse University Impact
  • |
  • The Peel
  • Athletics
Sections
  • All News
  • Arts & Culture
  • Business & Economy
  • Campus & Community
  • Health & Society
  • Media, Law & Policy
  • STEM
  • Veterans
  • University Statements
  • Syracuse University Impact
  • |
  • The Peel
  • Athletics
  • Home
  • About
  • Faculty Experts
  • For The Media
  • ’Cuse Conversations Podcast
  • Topics
    • Alumni
    • Events
    • Faculty
    • Students
    • All Topics
  • Contact
  • Submit
Campus & Community

What You Need to Know for Commencement 2019

Wednesday, May 8, 2019, By Kathleen Haley
Share
CommencementStudents

graduates standing in two rows in Dome

Are you ready to celebrate your academic achievements? Join in the Syracuse University Commencement exercises and an entire weekend of events to honor you and your fellow graduates.

Syracuse University’s Commencement will take place Sunday, May 12, beginning with the degree candidates’ procession at 9:30 a.m. in the Dome.

Mary C. Daly G’94, president and chief executive officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, will deliver the Commencement address.

Syracuse University will confer 7,118 degrees, which are to the bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral and associate degree candidates. The College of Law will confer its candidates’ juris doctor and master of law degrees during its Commencement exercises on Friday, May 10. The College of Law’s speaker will be Reshma Saujani, founder and CEO of Girls Who Code.

During Commencement, Syracuse University Chancellor and President Kent Syverud and SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry Interim President David C. Amberg will address the graduates. Syracuse Vice Chancellor and Provost Michele Wheatly will preside.

two graduates clapping hands

The University will award honorary degrees to Zainab Hawa Bangura, former United Nations special representative of the secretary-general on sexual violence in conflict and former foreign minister for Sierra Leone; Steven W. Barnes ’82, a managing director at Bain Capital and Syracuse University Board of Trustees chairman, whose term ends this month; Daly; and Marvin K. Lender ’63, chairman of Baldwin Street Management LLC and part of the former family business, Lender’s Frozen Bagels.

Incoming Board of Trustees Chair Kathleen Walters ’73 will speak to the graduates, who will receive an alumni welcome from Tracy Barash ’89, president of the Syracuse University Alumni Association.

The two senior class marshals, Abigail J. Covington and Danielle Schaf, will lead graduates during the ceremony. Covington, from Bowie, Maryland, is a writing studies, rhetoric and composition major in the College of Arts and Sciences, with minors in public communications and information technology, design and startups. From Shelby, Nebraska, Schaf, who is in the Renée Crown University Honors Program, is a triple major in the College of Arts and Sciences and the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, majoring in anthropology, forensic science and writing studies, rhetoric and composition.

Along with the all-University marshals, 23 student marshals will represent the 13 schools and colleges at Syracuse University; ESF is represented by two student marshals. They were chosen on the basis of leadership abilities, participation in extracurricular activities, service to the University and academic achievement. The marshals will lead the degree candidates of their respective schools or colleges.

man holding mace at graduation

Twelve seniors have been designated as Syracuse University Scholars and three as SUNY ESF Scholars. This is the highest academic award given to undergraduate students. This year’s student speaker is Crystal Letona, a communication and rhetorical studies major in the College of Visual and Performing Arts, a women’s and gender studies major in the College of Arts and Sciences and a policy studies major in the College of Arts and Sciences and the Maxwell School.

John Palmer, Dean Emeritus of the Maxwell School, will serve as mace bearer and lead the academic procession. The Rev. Brian E. Konkol, dean of Hendricks Chapel, will give the invocation.

The University Marshal is Shiu-Kai Chin ’75, G’78, G’86, Laura J. and L. Douglas Meredith Professor for Teaching Excellence and professor of electrical engineering and computer science in the College of Engineering and Computer Science. Associate University Marshal is James K. Duah-Agyeman G’99, director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs.

The Army and Air Force ROTC cadets will present the colors.

Also during the ceremony, retiring faculty members who have been recommended to receive the title of emeritus by the University Senate to the Syracuse University Board of Trustees will be recognized by LaVonda N. Reed, associate provost for faculty affairs and professor of law.

The Syracuse University Brass Ensemble will perform under the direction of James Spencer, professor of chemistry in the College of Arts and Sciences. The national anthem will be sung by Jacob O’Shea, and Nicolas Godzak G’19 will sing the alma mater.

A live video stream will be broadcast for school and college convocations as well as Sunday’s Commencement ceremony.

Celebrate Commencement on social media using the hashtag #SUGrad19.

More information about Commencement 2019 can be found at commencement.syr.edu.

graduates with their arms around each other

  • Author

Kathleen Haley

  • Recent
  • Syracuse Stage Concludes 2024-25 Season With ‘The National Pastime’
    Wednesday, June 4, 2025, By Joanna Penalva
  • Japan’s Crackdown on ‘Shiny’ Names Sparks Cultural Reflection
    Tuesday, June 3, 2025, By Keith Kobland
  • Newhouse Professor Robert Thompson Featured on ‘NBC Nightly News’ for Pop Culture Lecture Series
    Monday, June 2, 2025, By Keith Kobland
  • Syracuse University Libraries’ Information Literacy Scholars Produce Information Literacy Collab Journal
    Thursday, May 29, 2025, By Cristina Hatem
  • Trip to Atlanta Gives Falk Students ‘Real-World’ Opportunities and Connections
    Thursday, May 29, 2025, By Matt Michael

More In Campus & Community

Neal Powless Inducted Into American Indian Athletic Hall of Fame

You could say that lacrosse is in Neal Powless’s blood. Powless G’08, the University ombuds, is a member of the Onondaga Nation Eel Clan. He is the son, grandson and brother of legendary lacrosse players. Powless picked up a lacrosse…

The Milton Legacy: Romance, Success and Giving Back

Growing up, Stacey Milton Leal ’75 and Chris Milton heard countless stories about how Syracuse University brought their parents together in what would turn out to be a fairy tale romance with a happy forever ending. So it was no…

Syracuse University Libraries’ Information Literacy Scholars Produce Information Literacy Collab Journal

Earlier this month, Syracuse University Libraries’ Information Literacy Scholars published their first open access information literacy journal, Information Literacy Collab (ILC). It is available on SURFACE, the University’s open access institutional repository. ILC is a diamond open-access publication by and…

Trip to Atlanta Gives Falk Students ‘Real-World’ Opportunities and Connections

The city of Atlanta is home to professional sports franchises in major leagues: Atlanta United FC (Major League Soccer), the Braves (Major League Baseball), Dream (WNBA), Falcons (NFL), and Hawks (NBA). Atlanta also features professional teams in lacrosse, rugby, and…

Syracuse Spirit on Display: Limited-Edition Poster Supports Future Generations

The third annual fiscal-year end poster campaign is a wonderful way to celebrate Syracuse pride, expand your art collection and make a meaningful impact on the Orange community. As a token of appreciation for their generosity, the first 500 donors…

Subscribe to SU Today

If you need help with your subscription, contact sunews@syr.edu.

Connect With Us

  • X
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • LinkedIn
Social Media Directory

For the Media

Find an Expert Follow @SyracuseUNews
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • LinkedIn
  • @SyracuseU
  • @SyracuseUNews
  • Social Media Directory
  • Accessibility
  • Privacy
  • Campus Status
  • Syracuse.edu
© 2025 Syracuse University News. All Rights Reserved.