School of Professional Studies Celebrates Its First Graduates

College commencement banner

Sunday, May 21, 2017 marked a singular date in the history of the School of Professional Studies as the first students to complete their degrees via SUNY Old Westbury’s newest academic unit crossed the stage during the College’s 51st Commencement Ceremony.

The 10 new alumni from the School of Professional Studies joined with more than 1,100 other candidates to take part in the College’s annual commencement celebration.

The students who make up the inaugural class of graduates from the School are:

Bachelor of Professional Studies in Business & Management

  • Neydelin Z. Banegras
  • Akshay Chand
  • Antwon Dexter
  • Fabian R. Gorena
  • Cameron Kohn
  • Chigozie Nneka Nnakwe
  • Karina Reyes
  • Arielle I. Rifkin
  • Elissa Verasawmi

Bachelor of Science in General Studies

  • Angela Nicado-Lopez

The School of Professional Studies at SUNY Old Westbury was created in 2015 to offer a variety of programs oriented toward developing skills and knowledge needed for specific occupational areas.  The School seeks to provide high quality, flexible courses of study attuned to the needs of the current workplace that prepare students to compete successfully in the global marketplace.

Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs Patrick O'Sullivan (far left) and School of Professional Studies Director Dr. Edward Bever (far right) congratulate (from left to right)  Arielle Rifkin '17, Akshay Chand '17, Cameron Kohn '17, Neydelin Banegas '17, and Elissa Virasawmi '17, members of the inaugural class of graduates from the SUNY Old Westbury School of Professional Studies.