St. John’s University Announces Commencement 2026 Honorees

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Brian Browne
Associate Vice President of University Communications and Public Affairs
St. John’s University
Tel 718-990-2762
Cell 917-561-7068
[email protected]

(QUEENS, NY, April 13, 2026) — St. John’s University will hold its Undergraduate-Level Commencement Exercises on Sunday, May 17, at 10 a.m. on the Great Lawn. The Most Reverend Richard G. Henning, S.T.D., D.D. ’86SJC, ’88M.A., Archbishop of Boston, MA, will serve as this year’s Commencement speaker and will be conferred an honorary degree during the ceremony.

St. John’s is honored to welcome Archbishop Henning, the 10th Bishop and seventh Archbishop of Boston. A double alumnus of the University and a dedicated scholar of Sacred Scripture with a doctorate from the Angelicum in Rome, Italy, he brings a deep pastoral focus to his ministry. Known for his commitment to “being a listener” and his fluency in multiple languages, he often speaks on the themes of reconciliation, the dignity of the human person, and the renewal of parish life.

In addition, the following individuals will be conferred honorary degrees: 

• Valerie Ackerman, Commissioner, BIG EAST Conference

• Sr. Joanne Callahan, O.S.U. ’72ED,’89M.S.Ed., Ursuline Sisters Province Office

• Mario J. Gabelli, C.F.A., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, GAMCO Investors, Inc.

• James J. Shannon ’87CBA, Chief Executive Officer, Indus Capital Partners, LLC, and Chair-Elect, Board of Trustees, St. John’s University.

St. John’s will hold its Graduate-Level Commencement Exercises on Friday, May 15, and the School of Law on Sunday, May 17. 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 15
10 a.m., Carnesecca Arena, Queens Campus

Ceremony Speaker:
Lucille T. Accetta, R.Ph., M.P.H., M.B.A. ’86CPHS
Senior Vice President, Chief Pharmacy Officer, and Head of CVS Specialty Operations, CVS Health

Graduate-Level Commencement Exercises for
The School of Education
The Peter J. Tobin College of Business
Friday, May 15
4 p.m., Carnesecca Arena, Queens Campus

Ceremony Speaker:
Robert J. Adams ’84CBA, ’88M.B.A.
Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, and Head of Operations & Services Group, Fidelity Investments, and Member, Board of Trustees, St. John’s University

School of Law Commencement Exercises
Sunday, May 17
5 p.m., Carnesecca Arena, Queens Campus

Ceremony Speaker:
John P. “Jack” Clarke ’55CBA, ’57J.D., ’24HON
Visiting Professor, The Peter J. Tobin College of Business

Please visit the Commencement Schedule of Events webpage for a complete list of ceremonies. 

Media must RSVP for Commencement 2026 by contacting:

Brian Browne, Associate Vice President of University Communications and Public Affairs, at 718-990-272 or 917-561-7068, [email protected]; or James Stephen Smith, Director of Media Relations, at 718-990-5789 or 516-313-4568, [email protected].

About St. John’s University

St. John’s University is a private, coeducational, Roman Catholic University founded in 1870 by the Congregation of the Mission (the Vincentians), with its main campus located in Queens, NY. St. John’s University also has campuses and locations in Manhattan, NY; Rome, Italy; Paris, France; and Limerick, Ireland.

St. John’s University is comprised of six Schools and Colleges, including the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences; The Lesley H. and William L. Collins College of Professional Studies; St. John’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences; The Peter J. Tobin College of Business (including the Maurice R. Greenberg School of Risk Management, Insurance and Actuarial Science); The School of Education; and the School of Law.

As of Fall 2025, the University has almost 1,300 full-time and part-time faculty; 16,651 undergraduate students; and 3,784 graduate students from 45 states and 125 countries. St. John’s offers more than 200 undergraduate and graduate programs, including 16 doctoral programs.