More than 1,000 undergraduate and graduate students from the State University of New York at Old Westbury will complete this academic year having earned their degrees.
These stellar students were celebrated on May 21 during the University's 59th Commencement Ceremony, held at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Degrees were conferred from the School of Arts and Sciences, School of Business, School of Education and School of Professional Studies, recognizing a diverse graduating class whose accomplishments reflect Old Westbury’s mission as Long Island’s only public liberal arts university.
Popular areas of study among the class include business administration, psychology, health sciences, sociology, and communication. Other top majors include criminology, finance, English, art, computer science, and biology—underscoring Eastern's broad liberal arts curriculum and professional degree offerings.
Speaker Calls on Graduates to Correct Structural Deficits
This year's commencement speaker was Dr. Alberto J.F. Cardelle, president of SUNY Oneonta. Cardelle, who has across his 25-year career in higher education been dedicated to building community and championing the needs of students, faculty, and staff for their success, urged the graduates to take action to improve society for themselves, their loved ones and society at large.
"In a current context in which the window for DEI is rapidly narrowing, our students, our colleagues and our leaders must lead with a strong unapologetic voice, but we must also ensure that we create expectations of actions that lead to correct the structural deficits, not our individual deficits,” he said.
Cardelle called on them to use the skills developed during their time at Old Westbury to be agents of improvement.
“We must teach the past and the deficits that others imposed but equip for the future and the assets that we posses, we must understand the past but act for the future, we must understand the constraints of the past but identify with the assets that we are for the future,” he said.
Leading Physicist Awarded Honorary Degree
The Commencement Ceremony also saw the awarding of a Doctor of Science, Honoris Causa, to Dr. Sylvester James Gates, Jr.
A world-leading theoretical physicist, Gates is known worldwide for his pioneering work in supersymmetry and supergravity, areas closely related to string theory, Gates in 2013 was elected to the National Academy of Sciences, becoming the first African American theoretical physicist so recognized in its 150-year history, and, in the same year, received the National Medal of Science from then-U.S. President Barack Obama.
Established across a career spanning decades, his work connects the two major achievements of 20th century physics, namely Einstein's theory of General Relativity, a theory of gravity, and the Standard Model of Particle Physics, a theory of electricity, magnetism, and nuclear forces. Currently, he serves as the Clark Leadership Chair in Science, Distinguished University Professor and Regents Professor within the University of Maryland. He is a past president of the National Society of Black Physicists and an NSBP Fellow, as well as a Fellow and past president of the American Physical Society, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the Institute of Physics in the United Kingdom. He is also an elected member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Philosophical Society.
President Sams Urges Graduates to Make Change
In his remarks, SUNY Old Westbury President Timothy Sams congratulated the graduates on the time and effort they put into the pursuit of their educations.
“I am here to tell you that your late nights, vigorous debates, your grit, moments of existential angst, long hours of research, and all the ups and downs leading to this moment were worth it,” he said.
He also pointed to what he described as a growing uncertainty and mean-spiritedness in the world and asked the Class of 2025 to use the “superpowers” that it developed while on campus.
“Your OW education taught you to acquire facts, think critically, and to act with empathy and a sense of responsibly," Sams said. "So, as you boldly pursue your pursuits, seek the truth, be compassionate and contribute to society."
In closing his remarks, President Sams invoked a famous quote.
"Nelson Mandela said that 'Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world,'” said Sams. "We need your ethically informed knowledge that allows you to make thoughtful, inclusive, and just decisions. We need your honed skills that enable you to work in the best interest of every person.
Senior Speaker Commends Classmates
Natalie Malatino ‘25, the senior selected to address her fellow graduates, delivered a heartfelt address to her peers, celebrating not just their degrees, but the journey that led to them.
“Each of us has come from a unique background and created our own path to this moment,” said Malatino. “Regardless of how you got here, you made it. Use your experiences as a guide for the future. Embrace every opportunity that comes your way, even if you're unsure.”
As she graduated with her Bachelor of Arts in Politics, Economics and Law, Malatino also reminded her peers that the day’s event stood as proof that they can succeed.
“College isn’t easy, and life never has been or will be,” she said. “We will never be able to follow a linear path, but we all make it out in the end. There will be struggles faced along the way, but standing here today proves it’s worth it.”