Molloy College students celebrate commencement

Nearly 1,300 students earned their degrees at Molloy College’s commencement ceremony on May 20 at Nassau Coliseum. About 800 undergraduates, nearly 500 graduate students and 13 earning doctoral degrees gathered to celebrate their accomplishments.

Dr. Drew Bogner, Molloy’s president who is set to retire next year, gave the commencement address. Bogner came to Molloy in 2000, after serving as executive vice president for academic affairs at Newman University in Wichita, Kans. Under his leadership, Molloy has reframed itself from a predominantly Baccalaureate undergraduate institution into a comprehensive, graduate-granting institution, adding more than 25 new master’s programs and the college’s first three doctoral programs.

Molloy’s enrollment has more than doubled during his tenure, from about 2,200 students to nearly 5,000 last fall. The Rockville Centre college has also added new facilities, including two residence halls and a new student center and performing arts center. A new academic building, the Barbara H. Hagan School of Nursing, opened in January 2016 and a new residence hall is scheduled to open later this summer.

The College’s 2019 valedictorian was Elena Stanco. Stanco, who lives in Glen Cove, will received bachelor’s degree in nursing, with a minor in Italian. Salutatorian Brianne Brunick, of Long Beach, received her degree in music therapy, minoring in psychology.

“Students like Ms. Stanco and Ms. Brunick represent the high quality student that Molloy is known for,” Bogner said. “I am grateful for the time all of our graduates have given to Molloy, and we look forward to following them in their chosen careers.”