Mercy University to honor 2,300 graduates at 2026 commencement

By AI, Created 4:37 PM UTC, May 18, 2026, /AGP/ – Mercy University will celebrate more than 2,300 graduates across four ceremonies on May 20-21 at the Westchester County Center in White Plains, N.Y. The school will also recognize five honorary degree recipients, with four delivering addresses to the Class of 2026.

Why it matters: - Mercy University’s 2026 Commencement marks a major milestone for more than 2,300 graduates entering the workforce or continuing their studies. - The ceremonies also spotlight five honorary degree recipients whose careers reflect the university’s focus on service, leadership and public impact. - The events will be available in person and by livestream, widening access for families and guests.

What happened: - Mercy University will hold four commencement ceremonies on May 20 and 21 at the Westchester County Center in White Plains, N.Y. - The university will honor over 2,300 graduates during the 2026 Commencement celebration. - Five honorary degree recipients will be recognized during the ceremonies. - Four of the honorary degree recipients will speak to the Class of 2026.

The details: - President Susan L. Parish said the university is launching the Class of 2026 into their careers and highlighted the graduates’ resilience, compassion and drive. - The ceremonies will be held in person and livestreamed. - Mark Ronquillo will receive an Honorary Doctor of Commercial Science and speak for the School of Business and School of Liberal Arts. - Ronquillo is the Donald P. Bellisario Professor of Practice at Penn State University’s Bellisario College of Communications, a role he assumed in 2024. - Before Penn State, Ronquillo served as EVP and Executive Creative Director at Saatchi & Saatchi’s New York office. - Ronquillo’s advertising work has included campaigns for Procter & Gamble brands such as Dawn, Cascade, Swiffer, Vicks, Pepto-Bismol, Mr. Clean and Crest. - His career has also included work for Saab, Honda, Braun, Heineken, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Bacardi, Diet Coke, the U.S. Army and Burger King. - His work has been recognized by Cannes, The One Show, Communication Arts and Graphis, and he has won Effie awards for four clients. - Aramina Vega Ferrer, Ph.D., will receive an Honorary Doctor of Pedagogy and speak for the School of Education and School of Health and Natural Sciences. - Ferrer is a former Mercy University associate professor of Literacy and Multilingual Studies and former chair of the Department of Literacy and Multilingual Studies. - Ferrer founded the School of Education Bronx Parent Center, a faculty-led initiative focused on student achievement and college access for Bronx families. - Ferrer has more than 30 years of K-12 teaching and leadership experience in New York City. - Her career included roles as a Spanish and English as a Second Language teacher, District Supervisor of Bilingual Education and Elementary School Principal in the Bronx. - Ferrer was elected to the New York State Board of Regents in March 2021 and reelected in March 2023. - Ferrer serves as co-chair of the Higher Education Committee, which oversees policy, chartering and regulation for postsecondary institutions in New York. - Her honors include Fordham’s Lifetime Achievement Award, Lehman College’s Alumni Achievement Award and the Governor’s Outstanding Hispanic Women Achievers Award. - Ena Williams, Ph.D., MBA, RN, CENP, FAAN, FADLN, FSIEN, will receive an Honorary Doctor of Science and speak for the School of Nursing. - Williams most recently served as senior vice president and chief nurse executive of Yale New Haven Health. - Williams joined Yale New Haven Hospital in 1992 and rose from staff nurse to chief nurse executive of the health system. - Williams became the first nurse of color to serve in several top leadership roles at Yale New Haven Hospital and Yale New Haven Health. - Under Williams’ leadership, nursing teams won an American Credentialing Center Magnet Nurse of the Year award in 2022 and a Magnet Prize in 2024. - Williams led a nursing leadership academy, the first nursing DEI task force and summit, and fundraising to support nursing and unlicensed assistive personnel. - Williams serves as president of the Board of the American Organization of Nursing Leadership and sits on The Joint Commission Board of Directors. - She is a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing and the Academy of Diversity Leaders in Nursing. - Williams was named one of Modern Healthcare’s 50 Top Clinical Executives in Healthcare in 2024. - Reverend Viviana M. DeCohen, a Mercy College alumna, will receive an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters and speak for the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences. - DeCohen is commissioner of the New York State Department of Veterans’ Services, which serves more than 630,000 veterans. - DeCohen oversaw the department’s elevation from a division in April 2023. - Under her leadership, DVS launched Operation Find and Serve and adopted 15 Veterans Welcome Center Digital Kiosks across New York State. - The kiosks received the Abraham Lincoln Pillars of Excellence Award from the federal VA. - DeCohen launched Operation Baby, which provides diapers, cribs and baby clothes. - DeCohen also updated the department’s intake form to better address the needs of veterans and military families. - Before becoming commissioner, DeCohen led the Mount Vernon Veterans Service Agency and founded Kristyn’s Closet, which served over 3,000 veterans in 10 months. - DeCohen earned a bachelor’s degree in behavioral science and a master’s degree in Health Service Management from Mercy College and established two inaugural Veterans Centers there. - She is pursuing a doctorate in Educational Leadership and Gerontology at Concordia University Chicago. - Joseph P. Carlucci, Esq., will receive an Honorary Doctor of Laws. - Carlucci is Partner Emeritus at Cuddy & Feder LLP and led the firm’s industrial development revenue bond practice. - His legal work covered corporate matters, lending transactions and real estate development deals. - Carlucci is recognized as one of the region’s most active counselors in industrial development agency revenue bond financing. - He served as chair of an agency before representing borrowers, underwriters and issuers in transactions across the New York metro area and other states. - Carlucci served as a captain in the U.S. Army from 1967 to 1969. - He earned a B.A. in Economics from Georgetown University and a J.D. from Fordham University School of Law, and was admitted to the New York Bar in 1969. - Carlucci served on Mercy’s Board of Trustees from 2002 to 2025 and is now Trustee Emeritus. - He received Mercy College’s Community Leadership Award in 2018. - Mercy University says full commencement details and livestream access are available at the university’s commencement page.

Between the lines: - Mercy is using commencement to reinforce its identity as a service-oriented university with deep ties to education, health care, veterans services and civic leadership. - The honorary degree list also shows the university leaning on alumni, former faculty and regional leaders to connect student achievement with public service and professional success.

What’s next: - Mercy’s four ceremonies will take place May 20-21 at the Westchester County Center. - The university will livestream the events for guests who cannot attend in person. - Graduates will move from the classroom into next steps in business, education, health care, public service and other fields.