Albertus Magnus College Announces Plans for 100th Commencement Ceremony

New Haven, Conn., April 25, 2023 – Albertus Magnus College President Dr. Marc M. Camille will confer approximately 440 undergraduate and graduate degrees to the Class of 2023 in a Commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 21, 2023 at 11:00 a.m.  As has been the case for nearly a century, the celebration will take place in front of the College’s iconic Rosary Hall and will include annual traditions that date back to the College’s founding in 1925.

“In my six years serving as Albertus Magnus College President, Commencement is the day within each academic year that fills me with the most pride and joy, observing our graduates celebrating with their families and friends as they receive their earned Albertus degrees,” said Dr. Camille.  “Presiding over the ceremony, shaking the hand of every graduate, and congratulating them as I hand them their diplomas, is an amazing privilege.  As New England’s most diverse Catholic college, an Albertus commencement is a wonderful reflection of the excellence and diversity that defines our college community and the greater New Haven area that we proudly call home.”

Another Albertus Commencement tradition is the awarding of honorary degrees to distinguished individuals whose life and work embody the College’s mission.  They will be recognized for their inspiring, values-based leadership.

Dianne M. Pinderhughes, Ph.D. ’69, Eleanor Roosevelt Fellow at the American Academy of Political and Social Science, University of Notre Dame Presidential Faculty Fellow and the Rev. Edmund P. Joyce, C.S.C. Professor of Africana Studies and Political Science, will receive the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters honoris causa and deliver the Commencement Address to the Albertus graduates.  Dr. Pinderhughes holds a concurrent faculty appointment in American Studies, is a Faculty Fellow at the Kellogg Institute, and is a Research Faculty member in Gender Studies at the University of Notre Dame.  She also holds the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Fellowship at the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University.  Dr. Pinderhughes is President of the International Political Science Association (IPSA) – an organization that was founded in Paris in 1949 under the aegis of the United Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).  Her extensive research addresses inequality with a focus on racial, ethnic, and gender politics and public policy in the Americas.  The author of numerous publications, her list of accolades is just as long including being elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2019.

Joseph P. Germain, Jr., Managing Partner of Germain and Rooney Certified Public Accountants and Albertus Board of Trustee since 2003, will also receive the Degree of Doctor of Humane Letters honoris causa.  Germain is a graduate of Fairfield University and served a stint as an infantry officer in the Marines before beginning his accounting career.  He’s a Past President of the Connecticut Society of CPAs, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Benevolent Fund, and the Bridgeport Area CPAs.  He founded the Nutmeg Group of CPAs, a consortium of firms sharing wisdom, expertise, and education and for years served as a Special Master to the Connecticut Tax Court.  In addition, Germain is a recipient of the coveted Meritorious Service Award.  Beyond his expertise in small business and executive taxation, Germain has served on numerous civic, social, and church boards and committees.  In 2021, he made a gracious gift to the College in memory of his wife, Lillian Adley Germain ’57, who was a constant at her alma mater’s events.  In her honor, the College’s academic success center was renamed the Lillian Adley Germain ’57 Center for Academic Success.

Joan E. Sacco, ’59, is this year’s third recipient of the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters honoris causa -- for her success in the varied fields of real estate, interior decoration, social work, and insurance as well as her work as an Albertus Board of Trustee since 1999.  After earning her Bachelor’s Degree in History from Albertus while on full scholastic scholarship, Sacco went on to work for Travelers, the State of Connecticut, and several top real estate agencies – each time developing new skills and taking on bigger responsibilities.  She was a member of the National Association of Realtors and the Connecticut Association of Realtors and contributed to the community as President of the East Shore and Hartford Chapters of the Albertus Magnus College Alumnae Association and as a member of the Board of Directors of the Guilford Scholarship Association, to name a few organizations.  She attributes her personal and professional accomplishments to her adaptability to different environments and her ability to effectively work with people of different backgrounds – all crediting her Albertus experience.

In addition to bestowing honorary degrees, this year’s Albertus Commencement ceremony will mark the fourth presentation of the St. Dominic Medal, an honor that recognizes an individual or organization whose mission, values, and practices signify the College’s four core Dominican values:  Study, Prayer, Community, and Service.  For 2023, there are two recipients of this prestigious honor:

Columbus House, Inc., which opened its doors in 1982 as a nonprofit organization providing shelter for homeless men and women at least 18-years of age, will receive the St. Dominic Medal.  Quickly, the goals broadened from the provision of food and shelter to working toward overcoming the root issues which cause people to become homeless in the first place.  Today, Columbus House provides not only shelter but also housing assistance, case management services, and innovative programs that meet the changing needs of the unhoused. Every year, Columbus House serves more than 2,700 clients throughout four counties in Connecticut through: outreach and engagement; shelters for individuals and families; permanent supportive housing and Rapid Re-Housing; programs for seniors, Veterans, and those living with HIV/AIDS; and behavioral, healthcare, and employment services.  Columbus House has an integrated system of care through partnerships with established community services providers for wrap-around services which help our neighbors find and maintain homes they can afford.  Accepting on behalf of Columbus House is CEO Margaret Middleton.

Saint Martin de Porres Academy, a faith-based middle school that provides tuition free and extended day education for children from underserved families in the New Haven, Connecticut area, is the other St. Dominic Medal awardee.  Saint Martin de Porres Academy’s holistic approach to education emphasized experiential learning, spiritual grounding, and rigorous academics to help break the cycle of poverty through education and opportunity.  This independent Catholic school is committed to a belief in the dignity and worth of every person and strives to provide each child with a promising start in life – equipping them to fulfill their academic potential while achieving spiritual and social maturity.  The strength of Saint Martin de Porres Academy is in its 12-year commitment to each student and its unwavering belief in their unique gifts, talents, and potential.  The Academy’s promise is that their students will emerge as people of competence and compassion, with a commitment to engage with the world and exert a positive influence.  Accepting on behalf of Saint Martin de Porres Academy is President Allison Rivera.