Berkeley College Honors More Than 1,200 Graduates, Including First Master of Science in Nursing Graduate, during 2025 Commencement Ceremony at Prudential Center
Monday, May 19, 2025
Senior Director, Communications and External Relations
973-200-1099
KME@BerkeleyCollege.edu
Photo Captions: (Left) Diane Recinos, EdD, President of Berkeley College, delivers remarks during the Berkeley College Commencement ceremony on Friday, May 16, 2025, at Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. “An idea can be generated with the stroke of a key, but it is creativity that drives the actions capable of creating meaningful change in our world,” Recinos said. (Right) A Master of Business Administration graduate celebrates following the conferral of degrees. The College celebrated the achievements of more than 1,200 graduates.
Share the News: @BerkeleyCollege #BerkeleyGrad2025
Berkeley College celebrated the perseverance and achievements of more than 1,200 graduates during a Commencement ceremony on Friday, May 16, 2025, at Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. The graduating class included 77 military and veteran graduates, 314 international students from 34 countries, and the College’s first Master of Science in Nursing graduate.
“Graduates, today more than ever, your degree is more than a credential – it is a foundation for leadership, innovation, and meaningful impact,” said Diane Recinos, EdD, President of Berkeley College. “While it is important to embrace change, remember that creativity – sparked by emotional intelligence, curiosity, and the human experience – is one of our most valuable qualities. An idea can be generated with the stroke of a key, but it is creativity that drives the actions capable of creating meaningful change in our world.”
The average age of this year’s Berkeley College graduate is 32 years old, with 71 percent of the graduates age 25 or older. More than 83 percent of the graduates who identified their ethnicity in a survey identify as Black or Hispanic. The graduates join the ranks of 68,000 Berkeley College alumni from around the world.
Photo Captions: (Left, L to R) Kevin L. Luing, Board Chairman, Berkeley College, and Diane Recinos, EdD, President of Berkeley College, lead the processional during the Berkeley College Commencement ceremony on Friday, May 16, 2025, at Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. (Right) Gaby Ramirez delivers remarks as the 2025 Student Speaker during the ceremony, which celebrated the achievements of more than 1,200 graduates.
Who are This Year’s Berkeley College Graduates?
If you need help accessing the information shown in this infographic, contact Kelly J. Depsee, Senior Director, Communications and External Relations, at KME@BerkeleyCollege.edu or (973) 200-1099.
“Graduates – thank you for being part of the Berkeley College family,” said Kevin L. Luing, Board Chairman, Berkeley College. “As an alumnus of Berkeley College, your story continues. Be a leader and be a role model. Give back to others and give back to your community. Congratulations, and be proud.”
View the Ceremony: Click here to watch the full Commencement ceremony. Click here to read more about the 2025 speakers and honorees.
Rui Oliveira, a 2009 graduate who serves as CEO and Co-CIO, BFA Asset Management and Founder, Academia Santa Catarina, was honored as 2025 Alumnus of the Year.
“Stay curious, because the answer you seek may just lift a community,” said Oliveira, a resident of Luanda, Angola. “Remember, it’s not just about business. It’s not just about making money. It’s about why you do what you do. You are not just graduates now. You are bridges, so build them with empathy.”
Photo Caption: Rui Oliveira, a 2009 graduate who serves as CEO and Co-CIO, BFA Asset Management and Founder, Academia Santa Catarina (second from left), is honored as 2025 Alumnus of the Year during the Berkeley College Commencement ceremony on Friday, May 16, 2025, at Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. Pictured (L to R) are Diane Recinos, EdD, President of Berkeley College; Oliveira; Kevin L. Luing, Board Chairman, Berkeley College; and Michael Iris, EdD, Associate Vice President, Alumni Relations and Career Services, Berkeley College.
Wanetta Vita of Newton, NJ, and Emilia Hansson, an international student from Stockholm, Sweden, were selected as the Outstanding Graduate Student Award recipient and the Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award recipient, respectively.
Vita, a 14-year veteran of the nursing profession, is the College’s first Master of Science in Nursing graduate. As a family nurse practitioner, she is committed to advancing cardiovascular health and bridging healthcare disparities in underserved communities. Hansson, a former professional soccer player on the international stage, shifted her focus to business after a knee injury ended her athletic career.
Gaby Ramirez, a resident of Passaic, NJ, was selected as the 2025 Student Speaker.
“To the graduating class, remember that you entered Berkeley College with a goal and are leaving with a purpose,” Ramirez said. “As you step into this next chapter, remember to carry the spirit of Berkeley College with you, not just as a memory, but as a mission to uplift, to lead, and to leave the world better than you found it.”
Photo Captions: (Left, L to R) Diane Recinos, EdD, President of Berkeley College, stands with Emilia Hansson, an international student from Stockholm, Sweden, who was honored as the Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award recipient. (Right, L to R) Diane Recinos, EdD, President of Berkeley College, stands with Wanetta Vita, the College’s first Master of Science in Nursing graduate, who was honored as the Outstanding Graduate Student Award recipient. Berkeley College celebrated the achievements of more than 1,200 graduates at its Commencement ceremony on Friday, May 16, 2025, at Prudential Center in Newark, NJ.
Richard Schultz, PhD, Professor, English, Berkeley College Division of General Education, was selected as the 2025 Faculty Speaker. He is a resident of Lafayette, NJ.
“The students we have met and worked with have filled us with intense admiration and inspiration,” Schultz said on behalf of the Berkeley College faculty. “I thank you for consistently providing us with something more than just a job. We can see in you a future that, in these troubled times, gives us hope for what is to come.”
Photo Caption: Richard Schultz, PhD, Professor, English, Berkeley College Division of General Education (right), was selected as the 2025 Faculty Speaker. Pictured (L to R) are Patricia Greer, JD, Provost, Berkeley College, and Schultz. Berkeley College celebrated the achievements of more than 1,200 graduates at its Commencement ceremony on Friday, May 16, 2025, at Prudential Center in Newark, NJ.
Players from the New York City FC, U.S. Senator Cory Booker, U.S. Congresswomen Nellie Pou and LaMonica McIver, and New York State Assembly Member Monique Chandler-Waterman, a Berkeley College alumna, also shared congratulatory videos with the graduates.
About Berkeley College
Berkeley College, founded in 1931, is a career-focused institution accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education that offers students Master’s, Bachelor’s, and Associate’s degree and Certificate programs in more than 20 career fields. The College also offers Continuing Education programs to enhance career credentials.
Berkeley College has campuses in New York City and in Newark, Woodbridge, and Woodland Park, NJ, with more than 4,000 students enrolled. In addition, Berkeley College Online® serves a global population. U.S. News & World Report has named Berkeley College among the Best Colleges for Online Bachelor’s Programs and among the Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Veterans for 12 consecutive years. Berkeley College is also ranked among the Best Regional Colleges/Universities in the North in the 2025 edition of the U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges survey. The website address is https://BerkeleyCollege.edu.
The mission of Berkeley College is to empower each student to achieve lifelong success.
- end -
