St. John’s University Announces Commencement 2025 Honorees
May 5, 2025
St. John’s University will hold its Undergraduate-Level Commencement Exercises on Sunday, May 18, at 10 a.m. on the Great Lawn. James F. McCann, Chairman of 1-800-Flowers.com, Inc., will serve as this year’s speaker and be conferred an honorary degree during the ceremony.
Mr. McCann is an entrepreneur, author, and philanthropist, renowned for transforming a single flower shop into the billion-dollar, omnichannel retailer, 1-800-Flowers.com. Besides being the founder of that company, he has acquired new businesses and brands that resonate with customers for their gifting and celebratory occasions. Mr. McCann is also the founder and chairman of Smile Farms, Inc., a not-for-profit organization with several campuses that provides meaningful work opportunities and experiences for people with disabilities.
In addition, the following individuals will be conferred honorary degrees: Msgr. James J. Kelly, Esq., Pastor Emeritus, St. Brigid Roman Catholic Church; Kathleen F. Meehan ’75Ed, ’79GEd, retired Senior Deputy Athletics Director/Senior Woman Administrator, Department of Athletics, St. John’s University; Sr. Margaret Mary O’Doherty, O.P., Dominican Sister of Sparkill, Dominican Convent of Our Lady of the Rosary; and Lewis Rice, Jr. ’74SVC, Senior Vice President of Global Security and Trademark Protection, The Estēe Lauder Companies, Inc., and Board of Trustees Emeritus, St. John’s University.
St. John’s will hold its two Graduate-Level Commencement Exercises on Friday, May 16, and the School of Law Commencement Exercise on Sunday, May 18. The invited speakers for each of these ceremonies are as follows:
Graduate-Level Commencement Exercises for
St. John’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
The Lesley H. and William L. Collins College of Professional Studies
Friday, May 16
10 a.m., Carnesecca Arena, Queens Campus
Ceremony Speaker:
Steven J. Farella ’77SVC
Managing Director
VFL Investment & Advisory
Graduate-Level Commencement Exercises for
The School of Education
The Peter J. Tobin College of Business
Friday, May 16
4 p.m., Carnesecca Arena, Queens Campus
Ceremony Speaker:
Brian V. Breheny, Esq. ’90CBA, ’96L
Partner and Co-Head of US Securities and Exchange Commission Reporting and Compliance
Mergers and Acquisitions, Capital Markets, and Corporate Governance
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, LLP & Affiliates
School of Law Commencement Exercises
Sunday, May 18
5 p.m., Carnesecca Arena, Queens Campus
Ceremony Speaker and Honorary Degree Recipient:
James A. Pitaro, Esq. ’94L
Chairman
ESPN
Please visit the Commencement Schedule of Events webpage for a complete list of ceremonies.
Related News
Graduating Biomedical Student on Short List for Key Literary Prize
Gillian Leasunia Katoanga enrolled at St. John’s University, hoping to one day become a doctor. She will leave this month as an author and a candidate for a global literary prize.
Sonia Kovalevsky Day Inspires Future Mathematicians at St. John’s University
Nearly 100 bright minds from William H. Maxwell Career and Technical Education High School in Brooklyn, NY, recently gathered at St. John’s University to celebrate Sonia Kovalevsky Day, an annual event dedicated to encouraging young women and underrepresented students to explore careers in mathematics.
Students Experience Albany with St. John’s Alumni
The various St. John’s University Alumni Insider’s View... programs, from Wall Street to Capitol Hill, are designed to provide students with a behind-the-scenes look at careers and how they can secure employment in today’s most exciting industries.