A spirited Commencement ceremony for SLU took place at Town Hall on May 28. Graduates from all Labor Studies and Urban Studies programs strolled — and in a few cases, danced and strutted – across the stage to accept their certificates and bachelor’s or master’s degrees from Founding Dean Greg Mantsios. Of the 139 students in attendance, 68 were high-school students from five New York City public schools who marked their completion of the Urban Experience certificate program.
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The ceremony opened with the singing of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” then the faculty seated on the stage linked arms for the union anthem “Solidarity Forever.” Dean Mantsios stepped up to congratulate the graduates — and their supportive families — with an address that recognized their noble commitment to public service and social justice, especially at a moment when American power is controlled by billionaires who operate at a huge disconnect from the everyday lives of working people. Amidst all this, he said, SLU graduates have a proven track record of educating, advocating, challenging injustice, building movements and standing up for those whose voices go unheard. He encouraged the new graduates to always consider the history and skills they learned to continue that legacy with intention and compassion.
“Knowledge tells us what is. Values help us decide what ought to be—and what responsibilities come with what we know,” said Dean Mantsios. “Carry your knowledge with confidence and carry your values with conviction. Carry with you justice, equality, inclusion, democracy, empathy, compassion, and solidarity. And use them not simply to build successful lives, but meaningful lives — lives that improve the lives of others and continue to do extraordinary things.”
Dean Mantsios introduced Michael Arvanites, a CUNY Trustee, who gave an entreaty to the graduates to “fight for the dignity and improvement of the lives of yourselves, your family and your community.” He was followed by a video greeting from CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez, who reminded everyone that CUNY would always be a home for them to return to.
Senior Associate Dean of Academic and Student Affairs Rita “Kiki” Edozie, who’s wrapping up her first academic year in the role, introduced the student speakers, beginning with Valedictorian Christine Clemmings, who earned her BA in Urban and Community Studies. She echoed the Dean’s emphasis on personal values.
“We must continue to hold our values close to heart as we advocate for equity and justice, and for ourselves, we must embrace a firm belief in our discipline, our work ethic and our excellence,” Clemmings said. “What our time at SLU has taught us is that there is power in social movements and in community. That we must be centered in the work we do, and we must find meaning in our service.”
Graduate student speaker Tanesha Alexander, who received her MA in Urban and Community Studies, called out her takeaway from Dr. Sofya Aptekar’s class: “Argue the topic, not the person. Do not confuse disagreement with disrespect.”
“That lesson changed how I show up,” Alexander continued. “It made me sharper in public service, more grounded as a parent, and more thoughtful with my spouse. It reminded me that the way we speak to each other matters. It shapes how we solve problems 0without losing our humanity.”
The honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters was presented to Gwynne Wilcox in recognition of her historic leadership as Chair of the National Labor Relations Board. Wilcox is the first Black woman to serve on the Board.
“We recognize that you embody the humanity, respect for the dignity of work, and unwavering sense of social justice that we strive to cultivate in our graduates, celebrate in our public figures, and uphold as core values of our School and University,” he dean said upon introducing her.
In an uplifting address, Wilcox urged students to recognize the “importance of working people living with dignity that’s been lost in so many ways.”
Wilcox was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in July 2021. In an unprecedented move, she was fired by President Trump in January 2025. The Dean told her: “Wear your dismissal as a badge of honor.”
Melanie Kruvelis, who earned her master’s degree in Labor Studies in 2023, received the Distinguished Alumni Award. She is now a Senior Policy Director for City Councilwoman Alexa Avilés.
“I rely heavily on the lessons learned at SLU when it comes to crafting public policy,” Kruvelis said. “Perhaps then it comes as no surprise to anyone in this room that the first resolution that I worked on calls on the city’s Department of Education to make May Labor History Month in our city’s public schools.”
The ceremony concluded with celebratory New Orleans-style sounds provided by the Rude Mechanical Orchestra. The brass-led “radical protest marching band” often appears at street protests, rallies, community gatherings, and other events supporting progressive movements. One of its musicians was an SLU Diversity Scholar when the awards were first introduced — and the band also appeared at SLU’s 2019 commencement, SLU’s first as a standalone school.
It was fitting for this ceremony to take place at Town Hall, a national landmark founded in 1921 by suffragists. In the hallway upstairs hangs a framed flyer from May 8, 1939 announcing an upcoming Town Meeting featuring a panel discussion titled “What Is Humanity’s Greatest Need Today?” And the panel at the following meeting: “How Can We Defend Democracy in America Now?” Turns out, these are timeless questions and the class of 2026 is equipped to address them.