More than 700 Manhattanville University students received graduate and undergraduate degrees in two separate commencement ceremonies held outdoors on the campus quad on Thursday, May 14 (graduate ceremony) and Saturday, May 16 (undergraduate ceremony). The school awarded 386 master’s and doctoral degrees and 354 undergraduate degrees.
Dr. Joan M. Lucariello (Manhattanville ’76), an internationally known expert in cognitive development and educational policy, was the speaker at the graduate ceremony on May 14. Dr. Lucariello, a Manhattanville University Trustee, talked to the graduates about how intellectually accomplished they are. “What you have achieved is very, very rare in the United States,” she said. “Only about 3% of the population hold a doctorate or professional degree. Only about 13% hold a master’s degree. If you add in advanced certificates to degrees, that reduces the numbers further.” She told the graduates, “Manhattanville is known for connection and transformation,” stressing how special the Manhattanville community is.
While addressing the new grads at the graduate commencement ceremony, Manhattanville President Frank D. Sánchez, Ph.D., noted that the graduates receiving their advanced degrees span remarkable backgrounds, perspectives, qualities, and characteristics. Dr. Sánchez said, “Our Manhattanville master’s and doctoral students are not just experts in their field, but they are also leaders, champions and advocates for the future of their profession.” He added, “Manhattanville graduates are tenacious, focused, and driven to make a difference.”
Dr. Sánchez told the graduating undergraduate students at a separate ceremony on May 16, “Manhattanville University has a powerful and undeniable mission: To educate ethical and socially responsible leaders in a global community. It’s a mission we take incredibly seriously.” He told the graduates that they had developed leadership skills, self-confidence, and a clear voice during their time at Manhattanville and they would be tenacious in their desire to affect positive change.
Nicolas Brown (Manhattanville ’03), President of the McLaren Automotive for the Americas, addressed those at the undergraduate ceremony. Brown is an accomplished automotive industry executive, having previously held leadership roles at both BMW and Rolls-Royce before joining McLaren. Brown told the graduates that Manhattanville was the exactly the right place for figuring out who he was, who he wanted to be, and where he was headed. “Manhattanville taught me how to think critically, communicate clearly, and see the world through multiple perspectives. It helped me understand that life is shaped by countless interconnected decisions,” he said. Brown told graduates that life is similar to car racing. “No driver starts a race knowing exactly how it will unfold. Conditions change. Strategies shift. The unexpected happens. But once the lights go out, you commit – and you adapt,” he said. “Dream big. Have a direction. And don’t be afraid to adapt.”
Each year, the President’s Prize is given to a student whose academic achievements and involvement on campus provide a model of excellence for the entire campus community. The 2026 President’s Prize was awarded to Amanda Orlando. Orlando excelled as a Clark Scholar, President of the Psi Chi National Honor Society, NCAA Athlete on Manhattanville’s Women’s Basketball team, a housing resident assistant, a communications assistant for athletics, and a student government representative. In her spare time, Orlando is a full-time teacher aid providing one-on-one support for a fourth-grade student with a seizure disorder and is a PAC Peer mentor, supporting neurodiverse students both academically and socially. Orlando, who graduated with a 3.9 GPA, will be pursuing her master’s degree in childhood and special education at Manhattanville.
The Eleanor O’Byrne award is given each year to a student in the traditional undergraduate program who has achieved the highest overall GPA at all institutions attended. This year’s winner of the O’Byrne award was Lane Paddison.