Empire State University Honors Class of 2023 in Albany Ceremony

(ALBANY, NY — June 5, 2023) Empire State University celebrated the class of 2023 on Sunday, June 4, 2023, at noon at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center.

This is the first graduating class under the university's new designation as Empire State University, formally SUNY Empire State College. SUNY Empire President Lisa Vollendorf was in attendance.

Of the 2,200 members of the SUNY Empire class of 2023, graduates collectively live in 58 different New York state counties, in 24 U.S. states and territories, 17 countries around the world, and ranged from ages 19 to 79. 

SUNY Empire President Lisa Vollendorf said, "I am so proud to celebrate Empire State University’s 2023 graduating class! We are champions of equity and inclusion, and we continually seek new ways to deliver on our commitment to access and excellence. Our students stand apart from the crowd and know that educational attainment can be achieved at any age and at any stage of life.” 

Professor in the School of Arts and Humanities Thomas P. Mackey said, "I am honored to be here today and congratulate all of our students who are celebrating their academic achievements with family and friends. Through these scholarly endeavors, in a wide range of disciplines, you wrote and produced your own authentic story. When you cross this stage today as graduates of the university, you begin a new narrative based on this strong foundation to create meaning and to share what you know with the world."

SUNY Empire MBA student speaker Naomi Arndt said, "Like the ending credits of a movie, it takes many people to help you earn a degree. As I start my doctoral journey this fall to earn one final degree in honor of my late younger sister, I will take you with me in memory."