Albertus Magnus College to Celebrate 93rd Commencement
Albertus Magnus College will award undergraduate and graduate degrees at its 93rd commencement exercises Sunday, May 22, at 2 p.m. in front of Rosary Hall, 700 Prospect Street, rain or shine. Among the 517 graduates are veterans, a married couple receiving their third Albertus degree together, and a mother and daughter receiving a master’s degree and a batchelor’s degree, respectively; one-third of the graduates are the first in their families to earn college degrees.
The College will confer the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters upon Joseph R. Crespo, Claire L. Criscuolo, Daniel H. Diaz, David S. Greco and Monsignor Gerard G. Schmitz.
Joseph R. Crespo has spent many years within the education, energy, utility and healthcare sectors. Joining the College’s Board of Trustees in 2003, he served as chair from 2005 to November 2015, when he stepped down, continuing to serve as trustee and member of the Board’s executive committee, providing extraordinary dedication and commitment to the Albertus mission. He served as a member of the Yale-New Haven Hospital board for 22 years, and currently is chair of the Yale New Haven Health Services Corporation.
Claire Criscuolo and her late husband, Frank, made culinary history in New Haven when they opened Claire’s Corner Copia in 1975. A restaurant ahead of its time, it reflected the fresh, simple, locally grown food that they had eaten since childhood. They believed that eating lots of fruits and vegetables, whole grains and beans was the best defense against illness and disease. A registered nurse, Claire Criscuolo prides herself on offering healthy food. She also is passionate about creating initiatives to protect the environment.
Daniel Diaz and David Greco are co-founders, and chair of the board and executive director, respectively, of Arte, Inc., a non-profit organization in New Haven promoting Latino art, culture and education. In 2004 they saw a need to build a bridge between the Latino and arts communities, opening dialogue and breaking down stereotypes, providing mentoring and motivation. Today, into its second decade, Arte is expanding its programs into schools, libraries and senior centers across the city.
Monsignor Gerard G. Schmitz is pastor of the Church of St. Michael in New Haven’s historic Wooster Square. Born and raised in the Fair Haven section of New Haven, he graduated from Notre Dame High School in West Haven, and earned B.A. and M.A. degrees from St. Bernard Seminary in Rochester, New York. From 2001 to 2014, he served as President Rector of St. Thomas Seminary in Bloomfield. In addition to his many pastoral assignments, Monsignor Schmitz has served in the Office of the Archdiocese of Hartford.
Bishop Theodore L. Brooks, pastor of the Beulah Heights Pentecostal Church in New Haven, will deliver the charge to the graduates and benediction. He received an honorary degree from Albertus Magnus College in 2003.
Now in its 91st year, Albertus Magnus College is an independent, liberal arts Catholic College in the Dominican Tradition. Albertus Magnus has an enrollment of 1,550 women and men in undergraduate and graduate programs at its New Haven and Hartford campuses. In addition to its Traditional Undergraduate Program, the College also offers undergraduate evening programs for adults and 10 graduate programs.
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