University Confers More 700 Master’s and Doctor of Physical Therapy Degrees

The University of Scranton conferred 48 doctor of physical therapy degrees and 668 master’s degrees at its post-baccalaureate commencement on May 31 in the Byron Recreation Complex.

Graduates represented 33 states, including Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia and Washington. Programs with the most graduates at Scranton were MBA, curriculum and instruction, educational administration, occupational therapy and human resources.

Sister Maryalice Jacquinot, IHM, president and CEO of St. Joseph’s Center in Scranton, was the principal speaker at the University’s graduate school commencement. She also received an honorary degree from the University at the ceremony. Sr. Maryalice is a member of the Congregation of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Scranton. Since 2010, she has served as the president and CEO of St. Joseph’s Center, which offers residential and community-based programs for children and adults with intellectual and physical disabilities, as well as maternity and family services.

“You have a commencement speaker who is deeply humbled by this generous and thoughtful recognition on behalf of your University,” Sr. Maryalice said in her address, noting that it is “especially significant to be honored by The University of Scranton in this anniversary year.”

“Both were begun in 1888 on the 300 block of Wyoming Avenue. With a mostly immigrant population, there was a great deal of poverty and hardship to be endured,” Sr. Maryalice said. “Many times, we find that the most vulnerable, those we seek to assist, bring tremendous meaning and understanding into our lives. They demonstrate courage, trust, fidelity and acceptance in such a positive way that they become the ones providing the greater good and life lessons. They are our inspiration and able to change all of us for the better.”

University of Scranton President Kevin P. Quinn, S.J., also addressed the graduates and their guests.

Degrees were conferred by Father Quinn to candidates presented by W. Jeffrey Welsh, Ph.D., dean of the College of Graduate and Continuing Education.

Also at the ceremony, graduate students were honored for outstanding academic achievement in their academic area. Outstanding Academic Awards were presented to

Peter James Potena of Lebanon and Kristin Dee Ryffel of Oakland, N.J., for the Doctor of Physical Therapy. Outstanding Academic Awards for master’s level programs were presented to the following graduates in the programs as listed: Yaquob Yousef Aljumaan of Scranton, general business; Victor Glenn Allara III of San Jose, Calif., accounting; Thana Abdullah Almohaimeed of Scranton, management information systems; Ibtehaj Fahad Alshdoukhi of Scranton, chemistry; Kristen M. Cantarella of Throop, biochemistry; David Adam Capranos, Winter Park, Fla., marketing; Pratik Chakraborty of Aurora, Ill., healthcare management; Lawrence C. Deparis of Ridgewood, N.J., international business; Rita Alexia Dileo of Factoryville, marketing; Jessica Dowches-Wheeler of Bel Air, Md., health administration; Lisa S. Dunn of Phoenixville, educational administration; Jessica Emert of Lock Haven, human resources; Rosina Falcone of Potomac, Md., curriculum and instruction; Jenna L. Fancher of Philadelphia, clinical chemistry; Arielle Kathleen Ferry of Philadelphia, clinical mental health counseling; Emily N. Hagerty, enterprise resource planning; Jennifer Rose Harris of Ogdensburg, N.J., educational administration; Emily Grace Holmes of Moscow, rehabilitation counseling; Amanda Jones of Scranton, software engineering; Elizabeth Suzanne Lavine of Garnet Valley, operational management; John M. Lenhart of Bloomsburg, software engineering; Mary Patrice Matamoros of Wheat Ridge, Colo., educational administration; Cristina Elisabeta McCarville, Chandler, Ariz., finance; Megan Lynn McCarthy of Ringwood, N.J., occupational therapy; William McGuiness of Forty Fort, finance; Sebastien Daniel Moulin of Dickson City, secondary education;  Amanda M. Rice of Gloucester City, N.J., school counseling; David J. Roe of Woodbridge, N.J., educational administration; Kimberly Michele Schachner of Seaford, N.Y., reading; Joseph Louis Scopelliti  of Brooklyn, N.Y., international business; Caroline Ann Swift of Clarks Summit, operations management; William Charles Thomsen of Bethlehem, accounting; Christopher Gerard Toomey of Macungie, general business; Michael Anthony Trovato of Dalton, nurse anesthesia; and William Clark Wolf of Scranton, theology.

Click for a list of Doctor of Physical Therapy degree recipients, or for a list of master’s degree recipients.

The University of Scranton conferred more than 700 post-baccalaureate degrees at a commencement ceremony held May 31 on campus.