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The University of Saint Joseph 91st Commencement celebrates the Class of 2026
More than 600 students celebrated years of hard work and perseverance as they received their diplomas at the University of Saint Joseph’s 91st Commencement Ceremony, held Saturday, May 9 at the PeoplesBank Arena in Hartford, Connecticut.
“We say that USJ graduates are ‘educated to do well, empowered to do good.’ Fifty years ago, at the 1976 Commencement, then-President of Saint Joseph College Sister Consolata O’Connor expressed that same sentiment about the outcomes of a Saint Joseph degree,” President Rhona C. Free told the Class of 2026, sharing Sister Consolata’s words:
“You have had many opportunities during your college years to develop intellectually, spiritually, socially, and to the extent that you have used these opportunities you have prepared yourselves for the future, with your sense of values strengthened and with a realization of your responsibilities as educated members of society.”
President Free encouraged graduates to recognize those who helped them reach this milestone. “As you look around this arena, you will see many people who helped you get here,” she said. “Please take a moment to stand, turn to your families and friends, and join me in thanking and applauding them for their encouragement and support.”
She closed with a final message to the graduating class: “Congratulations once again on earning your USJ degree. As you face your responsibilities as educated members of society, go forward with courage, compassion, and joy.”
Congratulations once again on earning your USJ degree. As you face your responsibilities as educated members of society, go forward with courage, compassion, and joy.
President Rhona Free
Student and faculty honors
Two graduating students were given the honor of addressing the crowd. Lauren Romano, M’26, who received her master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, was the graduate student speaker. The undergraduate speaker was Kayla Marie Cortes ’26, who received her bachelor’s degree in Special Education.
Associate Professor of Psychology Kristin Cistulli received USJ’s 2025 Reverend John J. Stack Teaching Excellence Award. Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences Andrew Jenkins received the 2025 Sister Mary Ellen Murphy Faculty Scholarship Award.
Honorary Degree recipient James C. Smith, owner and CEO of JCSmith Advisors and former chairman and CEO of Webster Financial Corporation, delivered remarks to the graduates stressing the importance of USJ’s core values.
“Your USJ education, built on the University’s affinity for Catholic values, instills in its students Core Values that are central to everyday life,” he said. “Deeply ingrained core values are crucially important to good decision-making, yet seem to be growing scarcer in today’s society. You have them at the ready, a precious gift handed down from the Sisters of Mercy that will keep on giving throughout your lifetimes…provided that you ‘live those values … nurture them, reinforce them through your conscious behavior such that they become second nature.”
Smith concluded with a wish for each USJ graduate: “May your unshakable core guide you purposefully through a productive, fulfilling life.”
May your unshakable core guide you purposefully through a productive, fulfilling life.
Honorary Degree recipient James C. Smith