“Regina is an inspiring role model who will show our graduates what it looks like to live out our Jesuit values,” said Fordham President Tania Tetlow. “Her remarkable talent, strong work ethic, and unwavering commitment to justice make her the ideal speaker for our commencement ceremony. We’re thrilled to honor her.” 

Road to Hollywood

Hall has appeared in numerous hit films, including The Best Man, Love and Basketball, the Scary Movie franchise, Girls Trip, The Hate U Give, Master, and will be in the upcoming Paul Thomas Anderson movie, One Battle After Another.

But a Hollywood career wasn’t always her plan. Born in Washington D.C., Hall graduated from Fordham in 1992 with a degree in English. She was inspired to pursue acting after a personal tragedy—her father died unexpectedly of a stroke while she was in grad school studying journalism. 

“When you’re young, you don’t necessarily realize life’s brevity,” Hall told The LA Times. “It wasn’t like I didn’t want to do journalism. It was more like, you live once, life is short.”

Hall started taking acting classes and auditioning, and soon she was landing roles. 

Awards and Accolades 

Hall has appeared in many popular television series, including Ally McBeal; Law & Order: Los Angeles; Black-ish; Insecure; Nine Perfect Strangers; and Black Monday, which she co-produced. In 2022 she appeared in Peacock’s The Best Man: The Final Chapters, based on the popular Best Man film franchise. 

Hall is known for her versatility as an actress, standing out for both her comedic chops and dramatic range. BET called her performance in the megachurch dark comedy Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul a “masterclass in subtle comedy and emotional depth.” She was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award and an NAACP Image Award for the performance. 

For her role in the 2018 dramedy Support the Girls, in which Hall plays the manager of a sports bar, she became the first Black woman to win the New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress. She has also been honored with the Women’s Image Network Award for Best Supporting Actress, NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress, and more. 

In 2022, Hall hosted the 94th Academy Awards with Amy Schumer and Wanda Sykes. It was the first time in history three women hosted the ceremony. 

Hall’s production company, Rh Negative, is currently developing projects on the scripted and unscripted sides of television as well as film.

Faith and Advocacy 

Throughout her life, Hall has maintained a strong connection with faith. She attended a Catholic high school before Fordham, and as an adult she’s drawn spiritual inspiration from Christianity along with Buddhism, Hinduism, and other faiths. 

“I’ve always had a relationship with God,” Hall told The Cut in 2022. “A deep and sometimes complex relationship with God has carried me through my difficult times.”

One such difficult time came in 2006 when her mother was diagnosed with scleroderma, a rare autoimmune disorder. Hall became an advocate for scleroderma research, and she now serves on the Board of Directors for the Scleroderma Research Foundation. 

Hall has also been involved with organizations including the American Red Cross, the Ronald McDonald House, Habitat for Humanity, Smiles for Speech, Solutions Project, and Just Like My Child. 

“Regina’s dedication to advocacy embodies the principles we hold dear at Fordham,” said President Tetlow. “We can’t wait to welcome her back to campus.”

Among Fordham’s many rich traditions, the ringing of the Victory Bell outside the Rose Hill Gym holds special significance. The bell tolls at the start of every commencement, and it signals hard-fought wins in Fordham sports venues. In May 2019, the University’s Office of Military and Veterans’ Services instituted a bell-ringing ceremony to honor veterans in the graduating class.

Here’s your chance to brush up on the roots of these historic traditions.

Original use: The bell was a fixture on the Japanese aircraft carrier Junyo during World War II.

How it came to Fordham: Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, who had received an honorary degree from the University in 1944, presented the bell to Fordham in 1946 and dedicated it as a memorial to “Our Dear Young Dead of World War II.”

First campus bellringer: U.S. President Harry S. Truman, visiting Fordham on May 11, 1946, to mark the University’s centenary under a New York state charter, was the first person to ring the bell in its new home on campus. Fordham presented Truman with an honorary Doctor of Laws degree, and in a speech, the president stressed the need to support higher education to “master the science of human relationships” and build peace throughout the world.

VIDEO: Watch this short 2016 piece on the history of the Fordham Victory Bell.

RELATED STORY: Celebrating 100 Years of Rose Hill Gym: A Thrilling Legacy

“It taught me a lot about myself, a lot about time management, determination, and grit,” Cardell said of balancing it all, noting that as a four-year member of the track team, she had practice at 7:30 a.m. six days a week. “It made me a more well-rounded person.”

Cardell graduated from the Gabelli School of Business on May 18 and will soon begin work as an analyst at J.P. Morgan Private Bank, where she interned last summer.

Like Mother, Like Daughters

Cardell applied to Fordham in 2019, the same year her sister, Julia Murphy, earned her own Fordham degree in applied accounting and finance. Murphy also interned at JPMorgan Chase and earned a job as an analyst there after graduating. On campus, she joined Sláinte, Fordham’s Irish dance club, rehearsing several times a week to feed a passion she’d had since childhood.

“It wasn’t something I wanted to give up,” said Julia, now an associate at Madison Realty Capital. “And I met a lot of friends I wouldn’t have necessarily met otherwise.”

The sisters’ mother, Sheila Cardell—a 1985 Fordham graduate and former captain of the cheerleading team—said when her daughters were young, she encouraged them to find a physical activity they enjoy.

“Our family was always into academics—make sure you learn—but also have that other side of you,” she said. “If you move your body and you’re physically active, it helps with your mental health and your brain is sharper. I think it’s really important, and my parents were like that, too.”

Sun Shines on the Class of 2024

Now, Carolyn has joined her mother and sister—plus several aunts, uncles, and her maternal grandfather, the late John Prendergast, FCRH ’50, a former track team captain—as a proud member of the Fordham alumni community. The sisters are particularly excited to attend future Jubilee reunions together.

Asked what makes Fordham such a special place, Carolyn answered immediately.

“The people. I’ve met so many amazing people here,” she said, adding that she and her fellow 2024 grads bonded over the ways the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted their last year of high school and first years of college. “It’s such a special occasion to be able to be here today and celebrate everything we’ve overcome. Choosing Fordham was the best decision I ever made.”

Sheila, who majored in accounting, echoed that sentiment, calling Fordham “an amazing place.”

Asked how her father, who died in 1996, would feel about seeing Julia and Carolyn earn Fordham degrees, Sheila had no doubts.

“He would be bursting with pride to have two of his granddaughters be so successful and love Fordham the way he did. He bled maroon,” she said, adding that she recently prayed to him, hoping to ward off rain on commencement day.

“We woke up today, and the sun was shining on the Class of 2024.”

(Photos by Chris Taggart, Bruce Gilbert, and Taylor Ha)

For many parents and families, Fordham’s 2024 Commencement was a time to celebrate grads who didn’t have an in-person high school graduation ceremony. For others, it was a chance to recognize years of hard work and accomplishment. Fordham Magazine spoke with families at the Rose Hill campus on May 18 to get a sense of what the day meant to them.

Next Steps in NYC

Rich Schneider said he was grateful Fordham helped his son, Patrick, gain an “amazing” group of friends as well as the values, work ethic, and analytical skills needed to build a successful career.

“He came in as a shy, quiet boy, and he’s leaving as a smart, confident, outgoing man that’s just ready to take on his next steps in New York City,” he said, adding that Patrick, who graduated from the Gabelli School of Business, will be starting as a corporate banking analyst at Barclays in a few weeks. 

The day was “especially moving,” for Patrick’s mother, Donna, who is also a Fordham graduate.

“I graduated [from Fordham College at Rose Hill] 36 years ago, and my dad graduated in 1954,” she said. “So seeing my son graduate is especially wonderful.” 

Both parents said they appreciate how Fordham balances academic rigor with the support and resources students need to succeed. 

“It’s like a warm, comfy blanket,” Donna Schneider said with a laugh. “But what I like is they don’t hold your hand—they want you to go out and strike it on your own, but they’re for you if you fall.” 

A Heartfelt Goodbye

Commencement was bittersweet for Lisamarie and Maureen Gonzalez-Burris, parents of Jemma Burris, who graduated from Fordham College at Rose Hill with a degree in communication and culture and a minor in music.

“Overall the experience has been absolutely incredible for our daughter—and for us,” Lisamarie said. “I’m sad for her, but I’m also sad for us because we’re saying goodbye to the campus.” 

Jemma was drawn to Jesuit schools when she was applying to college and really wanted to live and learn in a big city. That’s why she chose Fordham, Maureen said, even though they couldn’t set foot on campus until Jemma’s move-in day, in August 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“From the get-go, from drop-off, just how much we were embraced—it just felt like parents were being taken care of too, and we just totally trusted the whole experience and have felt so connected to Fordham, even though we live in Los Angeles,” Maureen said. 

Proud Beyond Words

David Collins said he was the “proudest great-uncle” on campus, watching Kalind Gipson graduate from Fordham College at Rose Hill with a degree in political science and a minor in African and African American studies.

“I’m so proud—I raised her mother mostly, and now to see my great-niece, you can’t even believe it,” Collins said. 

Gipson’s mother, Fashawn Cohen, said they “weren’t going to miss this for the world,” after her daughter’s high school graduation was held online.  

“It’s amazing, it’s been a lot of hard work—she’s been working hard since way back,” Cohen said, holding her hand just a few feet from the ground, remembering when her daughter was younger.  

For Kathleen Condon, seeing her daughter, Janice Puder, earn a Ph.D. in school psychology from the Graduate School of Education brought tears of joy to her eyes. 

“It’s an honor, and I’m so proud of her and her accomplishments and achievements,” Condon said. “Her hard work, dedication to everything that she’s going to do in life is just amazing.”

Shania Lauando, who graduated from Fordham College at Lincoln Center, said that she was so happy to have her parents and brothers there to celebrate her graduation, as she’s among the first in her family to earn a college degree.

“It’s a really big accomplishment for me being [a] first-generation [college graduate,] and so I’m really happy to be here and have the support of my family,” she said. 

Her older brother, Donnie, said his family was grateful to be a part of her big day.

“We’re very happy to see the youngest in the family finally graduate and accomplish this big chapter in her life—we’re just overjoyed and very proud,” he said.

Our fates are united, Joseph Patrick Kennedy III told the Fordham Class of 2024, and peace is possible when we recognize that “our pathway forward is together.”

Speaking at Fordham’s 179th Commencement on May 18, the U.S. Special Envoy to Northern Ireland for Economic Affairs recalled that region’s painful history—and eventual peace—to illustrate that even amid longstanding war and division, there is reason for hope. 

“While we may come from different backgrounds and perspectives, the lesson Northern Ireland teaches is that our future is shared,” he said from Keating Terrace on the Rose Hill campus, just after receiving an honorary doctorate from the University.

“It is as true in Belfast as in Boston. It is true across our United States. It is true in Israel and Gaza, where terror and heartbreak, violence, and suffering must give way to a shared future. And it is true in every other corner and cranny of our planet.”

A Bostonian who told graduates he loves New York (even if he can’t quite get behind the Yankees), Kennedy is a grandson of the former New York Senator Robert F. Kennedy. He represented the 4th Congressional District of Massachusetts for four terms before assuming his diplomatic role in 2022.

Northern Ireland’s journey from the strife known as the Troubles, which ended in 1998 with the Good Friday Agreement, is proof that change is possible, he told graduates.

“It’s not perfect. Like everything human, it is really messy and really hard. But 26 years later, the region is still at peace,” he said.

As the sun shone through clouds on the crowd of more than 20,000 people, Kennedy shared anecdotes about meeting people in Derry and Belfast who once were enemies but now are working together. 

“There is a difference between being guided by the past and being held hostage by it,” he said. 

“If we are bold and brave enough, we can learn to make space for each other, even when we disagree on really big things—if not for our benefit, then for those whose futures are yet to be written.”

He told graduates that the world they inherit needs them.

“It is a world that needs your vision and your grace. Your empathy and ambition. Your courage to choose to leave the world a little better than you found it,” he said. 

“And please hurry. Your world awaits, and it needs your help.”

A Time to Celebrate

In her second Fordham commencement address, President Tania Tetlow acknowledged that this year’s ceremonies hold special resonance for many students whose high school graduations were disrupted by the COVID pandemic. 

“Today is the day to glory in what you have achieved,” she said, noting that even the Empire State Building will be shining in the graduates’ honor tonight.

In graduating, students joined the ranks of millions of Jesuit-educated people around the world who can bond with each other simply by referencing the phrase cura personalis, or care for the whole person, she said. 

“But this isn’t the kind of secret handshake that gets you insider entitlement. Instead, it’s an enormous responsibility that you carry with you forever,” she said.  

“You came to Fordham with blazing talent, each of you blessed by abundant gifts from God. But—and this may be a rare thing to say at commencement—those gifts do not make you better than anyone else,” she said.

“What makes you special is how you use your gifts to matter to the world.”

The University officially conferred roughly 3,300 bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees at the ceremony. Including those who graduated in August 2023 and February 2024 and those who are expected to graduate in August 2024, the University will confer nearly 5,700 academic degrees in all.

In addition to Kennedy, Fordham conferred honorary doctorates upon two other notable figures: Sister Helen Prejean, author of Dead Man Walking and a leading global activist against capital punishment, and the University’s former board chairman Robert D. Daleo.

—Photos by Chris Taggart, Bruce Gilbert, Hector Martinez, and Taylor Ha

Watch the full ceremony here.

“I’ve long felt that there needed to be a spiritual component when we’re working with clients,” said Gibbs, owner of a seniors-focused business who is graduating with a master’s degree in mental health counseling and spiritual integration. “In my individual work with clients … their spiritual life was very much a part of how they were raised.”

The program, offered at the Graduate School of Religion and Religious Education, provided a “fantastic” education in mental health and spirituality that Gibbs thinks will become more sought-after. “I think this field is only going to expand,” she said.

Church, a ‘Second Home’

A New York City native, Gibbs is a granddaughter of Southern sharecroppers who remembers the bigotry her family faced after settling in the Rosedale section of Queens decades ago. She recalled church as “a second home … where we found support.”

She graduated from Baruch College and earned an MBA from Baruch and a master’s in vocational rehabilitation counseling from NYU. Later in her career, about 12 years ago, it was through her church that she developed the idea for her company, Safe Circle Inc., which serves seniors and caregivers in the New York City area. She enrolled in her Fordham degree program after its spirituality aspect caught her eye during an internet search.

After graduating, she hopes to expand her company to help women of color dealing with multigenerational trauma and incorporate more spirituality into its services. In addition, she said, “I have a strong leaning towards bringing mental health to the forefront, particularly within the Black church.”

“I think that the church is a good place to begin having these educational forums about mental health and normalizing the discussion about [it],” she said.

Standing on Others’ Shoulders

Key to her professional growth at Fordham was an eight-month internship with the Faith Mission Alcohol Crisis Center in Queens, where she gained experience in integrating spirituality into daily care. She got “a full visual of what alcohol and drug addiction can do to the mind and body,” and worked with clients to help them see the impact of drug addiction in their lives and identify its triggers. “The change when they’re drug free is remarkable,” she said.

Like many of her classmates, Gibbs was pursuing the 20-hour-a-week internship while going to school full time—something that was made easier by supportive, understanding professors. Her path to the degree was also smoothed by her encouraging “church family” at Bethany Baptist Church in Jamaica, New York, as well as support from family members like her daughter and her mother.

“I would come in some evenings and she would’ve come by the house—‘I left a plate for you on your stove,’” Gibbs said.

She’ll be thinking of them all at commencement.

“When you walk across that stage, you are walking across on other people’s shoulders, really,” she said. “If you’re blessed to have that support, they’re graduating with you.”

Remember, on the evening of May 18, New York’s Empire State Building will be illuminated in Fordham maroon for our graduates.

Whether you’re celebrating graduation in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Jersey, or cozied up at home, there’s a spot for everyone to see the Empire State Building light up for our grads! 

Check out our top picks for viewing (and photo-snapping) spots: 

Bryant Park, Manhattan 

Midtown-bound post-graduation? Heading toward Grand Central? Swing by Bryant Park for a seriously epic view of the Empire State Building lit up maroon.

Madison Square Park, Manhattan

This park offers amazing city views, making it the perfect spot to snap those unforgettable graduation pics with the Empire State Building in the background!

34th Street and Herald Square, Manhattan

Get ready for one of the best close-up street views of the Empire State Building. Don’t miss the chance to snap a pic as you stroll by post-graduation celebrations!

Union Square, Manhattan

Heading downtown? The lively Union Square offers a fun spot to catch a view of the famous skyscraper!

Washington Street between Front and Water streets, Dumbo, Brooklyn 

There really is nothing like this picturesque sight of the Empire State Building beautifully framed by the Manhattan Bridge. Head over for a unique grad picture with the iconic landmark.

Liberty State Park, Jersey City, New Jersey

These stunning views don’t end in the boroughs! This Jersey park serves up breathtaking shots of the Empire State Building and the Manhattan skyline. You won’t want to miss it.

Won’t be nearby? Want to share this special celebration with loved ones who are far away? You can still catch the iconic building lit up in maroon on the  Empire State Building’s live cam.

Don’t forget to share your pictures of this special tribute via email [email protected] and tag us @fordhamuniversity or use #Fordham2024 on social!

Learn more about Fordham’s 179th Commencement.

Photos by Argenis Apolinario

Graduating seniors celebrated their heritage and culture at four diversity graduation celebrations held from April 30 to May 6.

“I am so proud of what each and every one of you has achieved,” Tania Tetlow, president of Fordham, said in a video message to students. 

“Take a moment to give yourself a hug and to revel in everything that you’ve achieved because it is an extraordinary thing, these years of hard work and determination and talent, and glorious love of learning.”

In total, more than 300 students were recognized at the Asian, Pacific Islander, Desi American (APIDA); Black; Latine; and Lavender (LGBTQ+) graduation celebrations. 

Held at both the Lincoln Center and Rose Hill campuses, the celebrations were sponsored by the Office of Multicultural Affairs, Office of the Chief Diversity Officer, Office of the President, and the 2024 Senior Week committees. 

Remember, on the evening of May 18, New York’s Empire State Building will be illuminated in Fordham maroon for our graduates.

Below are the award winners for each graduation.

Lavender Graduation

George Takei Arts & Media Award – LC Recipient: Maura Johnston

George Takei Arts & Media Award – RH Recipient: Julia Patterson

Marsha P. Johnson & Sylvia Rivera LGBTQ+ Activism Award – RH Recipient: Dorothy Bogen

Marsha P. Johnson & Sylvia Rivera LGBTQ+ Activism Award – LC Recipient: Kenneth Tang

Audre Lorde LGBTQ+ Research Award – RH Recipients: Fareea Khan and Tarchithaa Chandra Sekharan

Fr. Bryan N. Massingale Faculty/Staff LGBTQ+ Award – LC Recipient: Joe Corcoran

Fr. Bryan N. Massingale Faculty/Staff LGBTQ+ Award – RH Recipient: Juan Carlos Matos

Award of Excellence for Outstanding Contributions to the Office of Multicultural Affairs: Dorothy Bogen

Latine Graduation

Sonrisa Award – LC Recipient: Katelyn Figueroa

Sonrisa Award – RH Recipient: Alan Ventura

Estrella Award – LC Recipient: Ernesto Perez

Estrella Award – RH Recipient: Caitlin Asper

Pa’Lante Award – LC Recipient: Andy Cuzco

Pa’Lante Award – RH Recipient: Hector Cruz

Black Graduation

Black Leadership Award – RH Recipients: Tamia Chaney, Chelsea Usiomwanta, Alan Ventura

Black Leadership Award – LC Recipients: Katelyn Figueroa, Rebecca Richmond, Mary Bookman

Black Leadership Award in Athletics – RH Recipient: Skylar Harris

Black Leadership Award in the Fine Arts – LC Recipient: Kierstin Oliver

Black Leadership Award in the Fine Arts – RH Recipient: Zhane Coleman

Black Excellence in STEM Award – RH Recipients: Kennedy Jeter and Kiara Pile

Black Excellence in Business Award – RH Recipient: Janel Codjoe

APIDA (Asian, Pacific Islander, Desi American) Graduation

Lotus Leadership Award – RH Recipients: Tarchithaa Chandra Sekharan and Elena Roden

Lotus Leadership Award – LC Recipient: Kenneth Tang

Most Likely to Sell Out a Lincoln Center Concert: Marie Isabelle Antendido

Most Likely to be on the Cover of Vogue, GQ, Elle, and/or Harper’s Bazaar: Meilin Renee Morefield

Most Likely to Start a Successful Youtube Channel: Julie Kae Trohan

Most Likely to Become Tik Tok Famous: Genesis Yi

Most Likely to Survive the Last of Us: Stacey Dana Zaragoza Cajita

Most Likely to Win Physical: 100: Alexander Joel Lang Hom

Most Likely to be the CEO/Director of their own Company: Yoshimi Pualani Eder

Award of Excellence for Outstanding Contributions to the Office of Multicultural Affairs: Kenneth Tang

“I thought I should get proper professional experience and a business school education,” Patel said, adding that he gained even more than he imagined when he began his M.B.A. experience. “I learned how to work as a member of a team, and I would have to participate and present in a class. This was very new to me. I was put into situations that I would not normally be exposed to, and [that]has boosted my confidence. I learned about everything in such a structured and precise manner, exactly how it should be.”

Patel earned his undergraduate degree in geology at the M.G. Science Institute at Gujarat University, a typical field that interested him and would prepare him to join the civil services in India. However, after working at Shree Umiya Developers, the company his father established, his vision for his future changed. Serving as general manager, Patel assisted in the completion of a luxury bungalow project and, when each of the 21 properties sold, he knew the experience was the first step toward his new career journey.

Patel notes a few M.B.A. courses that are particularly relevant to his next chapter. Strategic Branding not only focused on “how to build a brand, but how to differentiate it,” valuable skills he will use to grow the real estate development business. In Marketing with Cultural Intelligence, Patel discovered how different modes of marketing appeal to different cultures. This enlightenment came from learning specific practices that cater to Indian consumers and clients, which inspired him to reflect upon his own culture from a marketing perspective.   

“When I would visit Indian grocery stores, I would just go as a consumer, and I would not think why this item is placed here, and how it is different from the American way,” he explained. “After this class, my understanding of marketing within my cultural context deepened.”

Patel took advantage of many opportunities to build his leadership skills as an M.B.A. student. As the president of the Student Advisory Council, he and his team worked to enhance the student experience and campus culture by coordinating events, balancing budgets, and serving as a liaison between students and the School’s administrators.  

An accomplished equestrian who enjoys adventure sports and the outdoors, Patel looks forward to life in North Carolina and to his new role that will keep him connected to family and friends from India. 

“I am lucky to have my own family business here,” he said, adding that while he is excited for the next chapter in his career, he will miss the home he found at the Gabelli School of Business. “For one and a half years, I’ve been used to the Gabelli School way of living, meeting people, studying, attending events, and everything else. I will miss that when I [leave]for North Carolina.”

– Written by Gabrielle Simonson for Fordham Business Magazine

Remember, on the evening of May 18, New York’s Empire State Building will be illuminated in Fordham maroon for our graduates.

At first, Farrell was concerned about the new format, but when she began studying, her apprehension was quickly replaced with confidence. 

“My biggest fear was that I was going to go in knowing absolutely nothing, and that could not have been further from the truth,” she said, adding that so far, “every single accounting class” she’s taken at the Gabelli School is reflective of the new exam content.

Farrell took the exam’s Financial Accounting and Reporting section in March, and has three more sections to go. In December 2023, she completed her bachelor’s degree in accounting information systems and is now working toward her master’s in professional accounting. She enrolled in the Gabelli School’s 4+1 program to complete both degrees in under five years. 

Farrell also secured a position with a “Big Four” accounting firm—PricewaterhouseCoopers—which she’ll begin in January. This highly coveted opportunity was the result of a successful internship in the firm’s external assurance division.

“I’m excited because it’s such a great company, she explained. “They take a genuine interest in the interns and I formed so many connections in the time I was there. I’m thrilled to be doing meaningful work—helping ensure the integrity of financial statements that are going to get issued—and doing it at a firm where the values and people resonate with me.”

As a woman in accounting information systems, the job stability and integration of cutting-edge technology are part of what attracted Farrell to the field. 

“I honestly don’t know why more women aren’t drawn to this field,” she said. “Women can be very organized, and I found that the characteristics of being organized and analytical aligned with both accounting and myself.” 

While Farrell’s decision to apply to Fordham’s Gabelli School was an easy one—she grew up in nearby New Jersey and liked the idea of studying business in New York City—she wasn’t sure what career path to pursue. That changed after her first accounting class when she realized that she had a natural aptitude for accounting and technology.

As an undergraduate, Farrell served as the president of Beta Alpha Psi, the honor society for accounting, finance, and information systems, and was a member of Smart Woman Securities, where she placed first in a stock-pitch competition. She also was a teaching assistant in the Gabelli School’s Ground Floor course for first-year business students, a freshman advisor, and a member of Fordham’s women’s club soccer team throughout her undergraduate years.

Farrell is the fourth member of her family to find her place in accounting, following her father, James Farrell, GABELLI ’98, and mother, both CPAs, and her sister who also works in the field.

“Ever since I left high school, my parents said, ‘The world’s your oyster. Whatever you want to do, just do it,’” Farrell said. “They’re so supportive. They think there are no limits to what I can do.”

—Written by Gabrielle Simonson for Fordham Business Magazine

Remember, on the evening of May 18, New York’s Empire State Building will be illuminated in Fordham maroon for our graduates.

“[W]hen we look at those generations forged in the fires of suffering and crisis, we see the generations who mattered most to history. Class of 2024, you have become fiercely focused on what matters. You have refused to accept the brokenness of the world. You face the challenges ahead with courage. You look for truth with curiosity and openness. And today, especially today, you remember to find joy. There’s nothing more Jesuit than that,” said Tania Tetlow, president of Fordham University.