UAlbany Celebrates Class of 2022
ALBANY, N.Y. (May 16, 2022) — The University at Albany's new graduates have officially joined the ranks of more than 190,000 alumni worldwide after a series of in-person commencement events to celebrate the Class of 2022 — including the return of the University-wide outdoor undergraduate ceremony for the first time since 2019.
More than 4,200 students received their degrees during Commencement 2022 festivities, which stretched from Thursday, May 12, through Sunday, May 15. Among the recipients were an estimated 2,825 undergraduates and 1,395 graduate students, including summer, fall and winter semester recipients.
View the "Best of UAlbany Commencement 2022" photo collection.
The festivities began with a doctoral hooding and stage crossing on Thursday inside the new $180 million ETEC research and development complex. PhD recipients were individually recognized in front of family, friends and faculty to honor this significant accomplishment.
On Saturday, the University-wide undergraduate ceremony was held at the Entry Plaza lawn on the Uptown Campus. Graduates were greeted with remarks by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, U.S. Sen Chuck Schumer and President Rodríguez, along with a number of other University leaders.
“There is no doubt that the education, the skills, and the different perspectives you gained through the past few years will serve you well, no matter where life takes you after today,” Rodríguez said. “Combined with all that you have gained through your UAlbany experience, you have all the tools to write the next chapter of your story.”
This year’s alumni commencement speaker was Tom Junod ’80, an award-winning journalist and graduate of UAlbany’s English program whose work in Esquire has included the haunting 9/11 story “The Falling Man” and a profile of Fred Rogers that inspired the 2019 Tom Hanks movie A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood. The student speaker was Ché-Doni Platt, a Biochemistry and Molecular Biology major and President’s Award for Leadership recipient from Kingston, Jamaica.
“Each of you has a story, and the story is this: You are all here because somebody loved you. You are all here because somebody cared enough about you to bring you to this moment in your life,” Junod said. “I’m going to ask you to take a minute and think of those who, in [Fred Rogers] words, loved you into being.”
“Four years ago, I sat in SEFCU Arena listening attentively to the welcoming address of our President. Back then, a light sparked in me — excitement for the first day of classes — perhaps. That light, much like the battery-lit candle we received at Convocation, still burns today,” said Platt. “As graduates of UAlbany, prepared by this noble institution to start new journeys… let us remember that though we may not be related, this journey has made us forever connected.”
In addition to Saturday’s ceremony, undergraduate and graduate students were individually recognized in small groups with their guests at school/college-based stage crossings from Thursday to Sunday. Graduates crossed the stage in regalia in front of family, friends and faculty. This concept was brought back by popular demand after last year’s Great Dane Graduation Experience, which offered a similar experience for the classes of 2020 and 2021 over seven days at Casey Stadium.
A number of special recognition ceremonies were also held, including the Lavender Celebration, honoring the achievements of graduating LGBTQ+ students and their supporters, and an international celebration, hosted by International Student and Scholar Services.
Photos: Patrick Dodson and Brian Busher