St. Francis Starts New Year Celebrating New Graduates

Who: St. Francis College Winter Graduates
What: Winter Commencement and Baccalaureate Mass
Where: St. Charles Borromeo Church
21 Sidney Place, Brooklyn Heights
When: Wednesday, January 16, 2013
2:00pm – Baccalaureate Mass
3:00pm – Winter Commencement

St. Francis College is pleased to host the 2013 Winter Commencement for College graduates from the past summer and fall semesters at St. Charles Borromeo Church on Wednesday January 16, beginning with a Baccalaureate Mass at 2:00pm, followed by the Winter Commencement Ceremony at 3:00pm.

The valedictorian, Nursing student Catherine Greaves, not only achieved the highest grade point average among her fellow students, but she did it while being pregnant and working two jobs. Now her baby girl will be able to watch Greaves give the valedictory address and walk across the stage to receive her Bachelor of Science degree in the College’s RN to BS program. Greaves, who now works at Abbott House in the field of home health care, says she wants to put her education and experience to work as a critical care nurse. She credits St. Francis Nursing Professor Marianne Roncoli with providing extra motivation and assistance in her research courses. “St. Francis College had a great atmosphere to grow and learn,” said Greaves. “I wouldn’t change coming here for the world.”

Delivering the Commencement Address will be Professor of Religious Studies K. Priscilla Pedersen, Ph.D. Professor Pedersen’s scholarship focuses on comparative religious ethics and the religions of Asia. Her research interests include global ethics, interreligious dialogue and cooperation, human rights and the relevance of asceticism to ethics, especially environmental ethics. She edited a special issue of CrossCurrents on Asceticism Today, is Co-Editor of Earth and Faith: A Book of Reflection for Action and author of articles on environmental ethics, interreligious questions, and Buddhism (publishing as Kusumita P. Pedersen). Dr. Pedersen joined the faculty of St. Francis College in 1995 as Chair of the Department of Religious Studies, which merged with the Department of Philosophy in 2007. Before coming to the College she was Executive Director of the Project on Religion and Human Rights and Joint Secretary for Religious Affairs of the Global Forum of Spiritual and Parliamentary Leaders on Human Survival. She has been involved in the worldwide interfaith movement for twenty-five years and is currently Co-Chair of the Interfaith Center of New York.

Among the students graduating in January are:
Kristi Kutali came to the U.S. from Albania when she was five years old and graduates from St. Francis with a degree in Communication Arts (concentration in Advertising and Public Relations). She completed her studies in just three years while maintaining a grade point average that earned her a spot in the Communications Honor Society (Lambda Pi Eta). Kristi also worked as an intern for 42West where she developed press kits and press releases for major motion pictures. Kristi is now looking for a full-time job at an advertising agency or a PR firm.

Anthony Guiliano is one of the first students to graduate from the St. Francis College’s newly initiated two-year Master’s Degree program in Accounting. In 2006, he previously earned his undergraduate degree at St. Francis in Business Management and attended the Master’s program while working full-time at Sagent Advisors, an independent Wall Street investment banking firm. He plans to utilize what he’s learned at St. Francis to continue to grow in his profession while keeping to the Franciscan values that are at the foundation of the college. “I can sincerely say that I made the right decision in choosing my alma mater for my post-graduate education,” said Guiliano. “I had the opportunity to build on my undergraduate experience and further pursue my passion for accounting and its many intricacies. My professors were very knowledgeable, supportive, and are invested in the success of their students. St. Francis College is the small college of big dreams and it has helped make my big dreams a reality.”

Those unable to attend commencement will be able to watch a full replay on the St. Francis website (www.sfc.edu) shortly after the event

St. Francis College, founded in 1859 by the Franciscan Brothers of Brooklyn, is located in Brooklyn Heights, N.Y. Since its founding, the College has pursued its Franciscan mission to provide an affordable, high-quality education to students from New York City’s five boroughs and beyond.

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St. Francis College, 180 Remsen Street, Brooklyn Heights, NY 11201
www.sfc.edu