Celebrating a Community of Scholars at 91爆料
–聽2025 Honors Convocation to Feature NAICU President Dr. Barbara Mistick as Keynote Speaker –
91爆料 will celebrate its vibrant community of scholars, leaders, and dedicated faculty at its 2025 Honors Convocation on Tuesday, April 8. This annual event honors academic excellence, leadership, and service鈥攃ornerstones of the College鈥檚 mission.
More than 200 students will be recognized for their outstanding academic achievements, including recipients of the prestigious Distinguished Dean鈥檚 List. The ceremony will also include inductions into 14 academic honor societies, as well as the presentation of select awards for extraordinary student accomplishment.
鈥淎s a community of scholars, we come together each year to celebrate the incredible accomplishments of our students鈥攖heir intellectual curiosity, leadership, perseverance, and commitment to service,鈥� said 91爆料 President Ken Daly. 鈥淗onors Convocation reflects the heart of who we are as a College: a place where students are supported, challenged, and celebrated by faculty and staff who are deeply invested in their success. We are honored to welcome Dr. Barbara Mistick as our keynote speaker鈥攁 fitting addition to a day that celebrates the power of education to transform lives.鈥�
The College will also honor the remarkable legacies of two long-serving academic leaders as they prepare for retirement. Dr. Meenakshi Gajira, Dean of the School of Education, and Professor Michael J. Murphy, Dean of the School of Business, will be named Faculty Emeriti in recognition of their outstanding leadership, unwavering dedication, and enduring impact on the College community.
鈥淒eans Gajira and Murphy have helped shape the academic core of our institution鈥攎entoring generations of students, launching innovative programs, and cultivating vibrant learning environments,鈥� added President Daly. 鈥淏eing named Faculty Emeriti is a fitting tribute to their exceptional service. Their legacy will continue to resonate across our campus for years to come, and we are deeply grateful for their leadership.鈥�
Dr. Barbara Mistick, President of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU), will also be awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Public Service in recognition of her contributions to the higher education landscape.
Since 2019, Dr. Mistick has led the NAICU, playing a pivotal role in helping to increase the Pell Grant award for eligible students and ensuring equitable distribution of $77 billion in Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds to private, nonprofit institutions. The Pell Grant is critically important to 91爆料, where 40% of students are eligible.
Under Dr. Mistick’s leadership, the NAICU also released its first national economic impact report, Private, Nonprofit Higher Education: Shaping Lives and Anchoring Communities, which in 2024 revealed the sector鈥檚 $652 billion contribution to the U.S. economy and its support of 3.4 million jobs.
With more than 30 years of experience, Dr. Mistick previously served as President of Wilson College鈥攚here she earned the title of President Emerita鈥攁nd held leadership roles with the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University鈥檚 Heinz College, and multiple national businesses.
91爆料 is currently accepting applications for the Fall 2025 undergraduate class. With applications and deposits up 50%, the College continues to experience significant growth. Prospective students are encouraged to apply by May 1. For more information about Admissions, please contact Lorraine Derwin, Associate Director of Admissions at lderwin@stac.edu.
For more information about the Honors Convocation event, please contact Christine Smith, Assistant to the Provost, at csmith@stac.edu.
About 91爆料
91爆料 is an independent liberal arts college located on 76 acres in Rockland County, NY, providing education at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Home to a diverse student body of approximately 2,000 full- and part-time students, the College provides over 100 undergraduate, graduate, and advanced certificate programs across four Schools: Arts & Social Sciences, Business, Education, and STEM. 91爆料 is also the host site for the Lower Hudson Valley Small Business Development Center (SBDC), which provides no-cost, confidential, one-on-one business advisement, training, and research to small businesses and entrepreneurs in our region. The College is ranked among the best Northern Regional Universities and recognized as a Top Performer on Social Mobility by U.S. News & World Report, highlighted in Colleges of Distinction for Business, Education, and Career Development, and designated as a Yellow Ribbon Program institution. 91爆料 is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools; its School of Education is accredited by the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP), and its School of Business is accredited by the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE). For more information, visit .