Dear Faculty and Staff,

Congratulations to each of you as we approach the end of a successful academic year! May is one of my favorite times of the year when we celebrate the success of our students’ completion of studies at ESF with a week full of Commencement activities.

As President Mahoney noted in her email, there are several ways for you to join in the excitement:

Attend one (or all!) of the receptions we have planned throughout the week of May 8. You can access the full schedule online here.

Raise a glass to our graduates. Stop by Gateway Center at 3 p.m. Wednesday, May 10, for the champagne toast, an ESF tradition hosted by the Alumni Association.

Attend the Higher Degree Ceremony. Join us at 4:30 p.m. Friday, May 12, in Gateway to celebrate our higher degree candidates. Graduate students are integral to the ESF community in their support of teaching undergraduates and contributions to societally important research and professional projects. You will hear more about each student’s special contributions as their faculty advisors introduce them.

Serve as a Commencement Ambassador. We are looking for ESF people to serve on May 13 by greeting guests, directing them to their seats, and answering questions. If you’re interested in signing up to be a Commencement Ambassador, please email Megan Thurston.

Participate in the May 13 Commencement procession. Faculty members can line up in the VIP Lounge at 1:30 p.m. to process in and enjoy the festivities from the faculty section of the Amp. Once the student processional is completed, faculty and members of the platform party will process to their seats. Please be sure to review all venue requirements and details on this page.

Hear our Commencement speaker deliver an uplifting address. Anne Therese Gennari will inspire and empower the Class of 2023 with words of resilience, action, and hope as they embark on the next step of their important journey. Signed copies of her book will be available for sale at the ESF Bookstore tent.

Hit the Food Truck Rodeo. Immediately before and after Commencement, grab a bite to eat and a cold drink – and mingle with our new graduates and their families! Food and drink are available for purchase; please note that the Amp is cashless. Trucks open at 1 p.m.

Join us for breakfast. Head over to Gateway Center at 7:30 a.m. Sunday, May 14, for breakfast with our graduates and their families. Graduates will then meet on the Quad for an ESF photo.

Attend the ESF/Syracuse University joint commencement. After breakfast, we will process to the Dome for our joint commencement ceremony with SU. If you want to sit in the faculty section, you should arrive at Syracuse University before 9 a.m. to join the 9:30 a.m. ceremony; regalia is required. Please RSVP via email by Monday, May 8, if you are interested in participating.

Full details for all events are available on the website.

Regards,

Anne Lombard

Executive Student Affairs Officer and Dean of Students