Alfred University’s AUNY program will hold its commencement ceremonies at 6:15 p.m. on Wednesday, June 11, at the Queensborough Performing Arts Center in Queens, NY. The ceremony honors 249 graduates from AUNY’s Class of 2025.
Alfred University’s AUNY program will hold its commencement ceremonies at 6:15 p.m. on Wednesday, June 11, at the Queensborough Performing Arts Center in Queens, NY. The ceremony honors 249 graduates from AUNY’s Class of 2025.
Graduates of the AUNY program have earned master’s degrees in School Counseling or Mental Health Counseling, or they have completed advanced certification programs in those fields at Alfred University’s New York City campuses. Alfred University will award 73 master’s degrees in School Counseling and 30 master’s degrees in Mental Health Counseling, as well as 107 Certificates of Advanced Study in Mental Health Counseling and 39 Certificates of Advanced Study in School Counseling at the June 12 ceremony.
Dean Fuleihan, a 1974 graduate of the Alfred University, will be the keynote speaker. Fuleihan earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Alfred University and now works as a Senior Fellow at the CUNY Institute for State & Local Governance. This organization, part of the City University of New York, focuses on solving policy issues related to criminal justice, budgets, and inequality.
From 2018 to 2021, Fuleihan served as New York City’s First Deputy Mayor under Mayor Bill de Blasio. He was responsible for leading major areas such as education, criminal justice, sustainability, labor, and the city’s budget.
Before that, from 2014 to 2018, he was the director of the New York City Office of Management and Budget. In that role, he was the mayor’s top financial advisor, overseeing the city’s spending and capital budgets, economic and revenue forecasts, debt management, and overall financial planning.
Fuleihan was executive vice president for Strategic Partnerships at the University at Albany College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering from 2011 to 2013.
Fuleihan worked in the New York State Assembly for over 30 years, holding top staff roles such as Secretary to the Speaker for Program and Policy and Secretary to the Assembly Ways and Means Committee. In the latter role, he served as the chief staff negotiator for the Assembly on the New York State budget.
Reynaldo Maria, who will receive his master’s degree in School Counseling, will serve as student speaker at the ceremony June 11.