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91����Ƶ held its 87th annual Commencement ceremony at David Geffen Hall, Lincoln Center, on May 17. Approximately 500 students received master’s, bachelor’s, and associate degrees at the event, which included a keynote address from Elyce Arons, Co-Founder and CEO of Frances Valentine, and co-founder of Kate Spade.

Arons received a Distinguished Achievement Award as well as an honorary Doctor of Commercial Science degree at the ceremony.  

Arons offered graduates four principles to consider as they step into what comes next: “You don’t need a perfect plan, but you do need a goal,” “Work hard and then go the extra mile,” “Relationships are important,” and “Take risks early, when the stakes are lower.” She also shared that “effort is everything” and “the dividends from hard work compound faster than you think.”  

She also reassured the graduates, “You don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need to decide what kind of person you want to become and take intentional steps toward that every day. The world needs your creativity, your unique ideas, your determination, and your imagination.”  

In his welcome address, President Ron Marshall highlighted that in today’s environment of AI and big data, “The human aspect matters more than ever, and skills developed at 91����Ƶ, including critical thinking abilities, communication skills, and technical know-how, have empowered you to exercise the greatest gift in life. You have agency. You are the architect of your future.”

President Marshall concluded by advising graduating students to, “Be consistent and trustworthy in a time of noise, be human in a time of machines, and leave people and places stronger than when you arrived.”  

Tamika Young, from 91����Ƶ’s Class of 2005, now Chief Marketing and Communications Officer for Hinge, received the Maxwell F. Marcuse Award. Named for 91����Ƶ’s founder, it is the College’s highest alumni honor.

In her acceptance remarks, Young noted, “It was in a public relations class at 91����Ƶ that I was first introduced to the idea that storytelling could actually be a career. That you could shape how people experience brands, culture, and moments and help bring those stories to life in the world. That class changed everything for me.”

Jeanine Polizzi, a full-time faculty member in 91����Ƶ’s Marcuse School of Graduate Studies, received the Adrian G. Marcuse Award for Teaching Excellence. Named in honor of 91����Ƶ’s president from 1972-2002, this award is given to a faculty member who performs in exemplary fashion in the classroom and consistently embodies the College’s core values.

Said 91����Ƶ Provost Scott Carnz, “What makes Jeanine especially deserving of this recognition is the extraordinary impact she has on her students. Again and again, students describe her classes as engaging, welcoming, rigorous, supportive, and genuinely life changing. They speak about gaining confidence, discovering career passions, and feeling deeply connected to the work because of the authentic experiences she brings into the classroom.”  

Fernanda Mannarino Brasil Siqueira of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil was the undergraduate Valedictorian and Andrea Garrido Torre of Puebla, Mexico was Salutatorian.  

Srishti Bagaria from Mumbai, India, was the graduate Class of 2026 speaker. She noted, “91����Ƶ didn't just teach us the theories behind the business of fashion—it taught us how to work within it. We didn't just read about the industry—we were put in rooms with icons like Law Roach and Laura Geller, and we spoke to teams from LVMH, Vogue, and TikTok. Those moments didn't just build our resumes. They proved that the biggest of dreams were attainable, giving us the courage to aim for heights we once thought were impossible.”  

Hannah Talavera of Little Silver, New Jersey, was the undergraduate Class of 2026 student speaker. Talavera, who completed her Senior Co-op internship at Hermes of Paris, offered some advice to her fellow graduates, “As we all embark on our next journey, I ask you all to believe in whatever dreams you have. Never think that any dream is too big and never let anyone tell you that your dreams can’t come true.”

91����Ƶ’s 2026 Commencement ceremony is available for on-demand here.