St. John’s University Celebrates Class of 2026 at 156th Commencement

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 18, 2026                    
CONTACT: James Stephen Smith, Director of Media Relations, St. John’s University
 718-990-5789 (o), 516-313-4568 (c), [email protected]

(QUEENS, NY, May 18, 2026) — More than 2,100 undergraduate degrees were conferred to St. John’s University students on Sunday, May 17, as faculty, alumni, parents, and guests celebrated the accomplishments of the Class of 2026. 

More than 12,000 guests gathered on the Great Lawn of the Queens, NY, campus to celebrate the University’s 156th Undergraduate Commencement Exercise. The Class of 2026 was recognized in a ceremony that honored students from the Queens and Manhattan, NY, campuses, as well as online learners. 

The Most Reverend Richard G. Henning, S.T.D., D.D. ’86SJC, ’88M.A., Archbishop of Boston, MA, served as this year’s Commencement speaker and was conferred an honorary Doctor of Sacred Theology degree during the ceremony. Archbishop Henning, the 10th bishop and seventh archbishop of the Boston archdiocese, is a double alumnus of the University and a dedicated scholar of Sacred Scripture.

The University also conferred honorary degrees upon two other distinguished alumni—Sr. Joanne Callahan, O.S.U. ’72ED, ’89M.S.Ed., Ursuline Sisters Province Office, and James J. Shannon ’87CBA, Chief Executive Officer, Indus Capital Partners, LLC, and Chair-Elect, Board of Trustees, St. John’s University—as well as Valerie Ackerman, Commissioner, BIG EAST Conference, and Mario J. Gabelli, C.F.A., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, GAMCO Investors, Inc.

Born in Rockville Centre, NY, and raised in nearby Valley Stream, Archbishop Henning earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in history from St. John’s. He received training for the priesthood at the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception in Huntington, NY. Ordained in 1992, he served for five years as associate pastor at the Church of St. Peter of Alcantara in Port Washington, NY.

Archbishop Henning holds a doctorate from the Angelicum in Rome, Italy, and is known for his commitment to “being a listener.” He often speaks on the themes of reconciliation, the dignity of the human person, and the renewal of parish life. He was named Auxiliary Bishop in the Diocese of Rockville Centre, NY, in 2018; Bishop of Providence, RI, in 2023; and Archbishop of Boston in 2024. Archbishop Henning was installed as Archbishop of Boston on October 31, 2024.  

Archbishop Henningchallenged the graduates to pursue a meaningful life and to remain faithful in the face of difficulties. “To become the person you were made to be involves passing through fire and dark clouds,” Archbishop Henning said. “Real, life-changing faith involves taking risks. Risk heartbreak by getting married and starting families. Risk it by committing yourself to the work of lifelong friendships. Risk it by giving of your time, talent, and sweat when there is no earthly reward for your efforts. When Christ chose His fishermen Apostles, he got into their boat and told them to put out into the deep. It is over the deep waters, waters way over your head, that you will experience the power of God lifting you up.”

A two-time alumna of St. John’s, Sr. Callahan, Provincial of the Ursuline Sisters of Tildonk, was the longest-serving superintendent of the Catholic school system in Nassau and Suffolk counties until her retirement in 2020. At the peak of her career, she managed more than 50 grammar schools, a dozen high schools, and nearly 40,000 students. She is a 2025 recipient of a Lifetime Commitment Award from the National Catholic Educational Association. 

Mr. Shannon, who earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from St. John’s, has been Indus’ Chief Executive Officer since October 2020. He has more than 30 years of experience in global equity and derivatives markets, including eight years as Indus’ Chief Operating Officer. He has also served on the school board of Archbishop Molloy High School, holding the roles of Chair of the Investment Committee and Board Chair. 

A longtime sports executive, Ms. Ackerman was named Commissioner of the rebranded BIG EAST Conference in June 2013. Her career includes executive posts at the National Basketball Association; Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA); and USA Basketball. She presided over the launch and expansion of the WNBA, and as the first female President of USA Basketball led the men’s and women’s teams to gold medals at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. She was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2021.

Mr. Gabelli started Rye, NY-based GAMCO in 1977. As of 2025, the firm managed more than $33 billion of assets. Its philanthropic arm, established in 2013, has combined charitable donations totaling $80 million, including $48 million worth of donations to causes chosen directly by shareholders rather than corporate officers. Mr. Gabelli’s personal philanthropic arm—the Gabelli Foundation—focuses support primarily on higher education, social services, and programs for young people. 

During his welcome remarks, University President Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P., urged graduates to pursue lives of purpose that draw upon the unique talents given to each of them by God. “Never stop seeking how to matter and how to find meaning,” Fr. Shanley said. “We hope and pray that you find the path that is uniquely suited to you, given who God made you to be.”  

Student speaker Ashley Genao, a member of the President’s Society and a government and politics major, challenged the Class of 2026 to carry St. John’s Vincentian message to the larger world.

“We do not leave here with just knowledge; we leave with values and a commitment to lead, serve, and lift others up along the way,” Ms. Genao said. “We have a responsibility to give back because we understand what it means to be a part of something bigger than ourselves.” 

The Class of 2026 adds to the ranks of St. John’s 200,000-plus living alumni.
 
St. John’s University Commencement 2026 Downloadable Images:

(Mandatory credit to St. John’s University)                                          

• https://photos.app.goo.gl/N3pckM289aJiUkpT9

Video Highlights from St. John’s University Commencement 2026:

• 30-second clip: https://vimeo.com/1193062130/7def9e0b57?fl=ml&fe=ec
• 60-second clip: https://vimeo.com/1193062129/e981e448c7?fl=ml&fe=ec 

Watch the 156th Undergraduate Commencement: 

• stjohns.edu/academics/commencement/class-2026-commencement-livestream

Facts about St. John’s University’s Undergraduate Class of 2026:

• Number of undergraduate students eligible for 2026 Commencement: 2,158 students
• Percentage of the Class of 2026 who are women: 56%  
• Members of the Class of 2026 who are US veterans: 31
• ROTC (Reserve Officers Training Corps) graduates: 18
• Members of the Class of 2026 who are student-athletes: 79   
• Members of the Class of 2026 who are international students: 85
• Countries represented in the Class of 2026: 41
• States represented by the Class of 2026: 20
• The oldest undergraduate member of the Class of 2026: 82 years old
• The youngest undergraduate member of the Class of 2026: 18 years old
• Students graduating with a perfect 4.0 GPA (grade point average): 53 students  

 For media inquiries, please contact James Stephen Smith, Director of Media Relations, at 718-990-5789 (o); 516-313-4568 (m); or at [email protected].

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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; and 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.