The Bravery of Beginning: Spring 2025 Commencement Student Voices
(MANHATTAN, NY – May 5, 2025) For each commencement ceremony, Empire State University selects a student representative to speak on behalf of their class by sharing their academic journey—typically, they are a student in good academic standing who has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to learning despite any challenges.
This year’s student speakers have felt, each in their own way, scared to take the first step that got them where they are now: pursuing a college education. Today, they all look back on their journeys fondly and feel gratitude for having taken that leap into the unknown. They celebrate academic success, as well as personal and professional growth, because they were all brave enough to step in the direction of their dreams even if the path ahead was uncertain. Here is a snapshot of Empire State University’s four spring 2025 commencement student speakers:
Meet Jenny Edwards, Commencement student speaker for the Albany ceremony
Edwards, who hails from Cambridge, NY, considers the ability to personalize degree programs the most unique part of her education at Empire State University. As a graduate student, she focused on embodied learning theory for adult learning, and merged it with two other passions: cello-playing and writing. She is graduating with a Master of Arts degree in Adult Learning.
“I hadn’t played the cello in ten years and journaled that experience. Two whole years I was doing this… then my capstone project was on how to be a responsive educator through cello-playing and writing an educational biography—it all meshed together. I wrote a lengthy book this semester about it,” she explains.
Edwards stepped away from college at age 19 due to financial hardship, returning to her education in 2015 at the age of 40 after homeschooling her six children. As a non-traditional student, she has balanced academics with several professional experiences—from being a preschool teacher to lecturing at community colleges in the area—and excelled. In 2020, Edwards was recognized with the Chancellor’s award while pursuing her BA, and even got to graduate at the same time as her second son. Edwards also runs the Battenkill Valley Pride organization.
“I’ve always said I wanted to go back and teach at a community college level, in those introductory, very important, foundational classes for educating young children,” comments Edwards when asked about an objective she has fulfilled while at Empire State University. “That goal is fulfilled, right?” she adds, smiling.
While she is currently taking a moment to celebrate her successes, Edwards is also at a point she describes the following way: “When you get to what you think is the mountaintop but realize there’s still a little bit more to go. It’s funny that one goal has led to another, which was not one that I expected,” she laughs.
She thanks her first professor at Hudson Valley Community College, Eileen Mahoney, for encouraging her to pursue her passions: “[She was] the perfect person, at the perfect time, to set me on this path. 10 years later, I am graduating with honors, I get to be a commencement speaker, and I earned my master’s degree.”
Her advice to share is: “Do it, even if you’re scared.” Hear more about her journey and insights at the Albany Commencement ceremony on May 9.
Meet Deanna Barrera, student speaker for the first Manhattan ceremony
Born in Levittown, NY, Barrera is receiving her master’s degree from Empire State University in applied behavior analysis. She is a special education teacher at a D75 Title I school in Queens, and is constantly in pursuit of more knowledge with which she can better support her students.
“A goal I have accomplished [while at Empire State University] is expanding my knowledge of special education and people with exceptionalities and disabilities… I had more to learn, and I’m extremely grateful,” she shares.
Additionally, Barrera is receiving her master’s degree with a 4.0 GPA, which she considers another goal met, as she was just shy of 4.0 at the time she obtained her bachelor’s degree. She is a first-generation college student with a passion for education, and she aims to obtain her doctorate degree following graduation.
When asked what she considers the most unique part of her journey at Empire State University, Barrera comments, “Forming an online community—it’s something I hadn’t expected when I signed up for an asynchronous program. I’ve been able to connect with faculty, who have pointed me in the right direction, and have met many new people through this program, one of which I ended up doing my field work with—we’ve become such close friends.”
Barrera is involved in several initiatives that support individuals with disabilities and has worked closely with Empire State University’s Center for Autism Advocacy: Research, Education, and Supports (CAARES), whose team of professionals have helped shape her understanding of autism and special education.
“I am extremely grateful for what this program has taught me in regard to the ethics code of clinical work,” says Barrera.
When it comes to encouraging her peers and community, Barrera’s advice is to “just take chances. You only regret the chances you don’t take. You never know where they might lead you.” She will be walking in the first Manhattan ceremony to receive her master’s degree and address ceremony attendees on May 21.
Meet Serrina Goodman, student speaker for the second Manhattan ceremony
Graduating with a Master of Business Administration degree in Business Management, Goodman strongly believes in doing things “on purpose.” The self-proclaimed Baltimorean-New Yorker considers the demystification of higher education the most unique aspect of being a student at Empire State University.
“In all the attempts I had made, it just seemed so complex. Then I met Amy Ruth Tobol, and she taught me how to break it down, understand it, and navigate it. It was an amazing journey, and it still is,” shares Goodman.
Her path has been one of resilience, which has led her towards living with intentionality, something that she encourages others to harness when they step into each new day. “I’m a 13-year breast cancer survivor,” says Goodman, “when I was faced with the possibility that life could be short for me, it was like ‘everything you said you’re going to do—do it.’ I had no time to waste.”
A personal goal she has fulfilled while working towards her degree is starting a production company. “I don’t want to work for anyone else—I have three adult children. One thing that I said was, ‘when you walk, I walk.’ What that meant was when my son graduated from college, that meant I’d put all three of my children through college, and it was now time for me to walk—for me… Eventually, I’ll get my doctoral degree. These are goals that I set for myself, and I aim to reach each and every one of them,” she explains.
At present, Goodman is working to create the Empire State Cancer Awareness Network, which aims to support survivors of cancer in the Empire State University community. “I work with the SHARE Cancer Support AfroSHARE division and Sister 2 Sister Mentorship Program, servicing all boroughs and doing presentations on breast cancer awareness and gynecologic cancers—that’s what I’m bringing to Empire State University as an additional resource available to everyone,” she says.
Her wish is for anyone who faces challenges, whether visible or not, to know that they can fulfill their dream— “that’s the reason why I agreed to speak,” Goodman adds. She will be receiving her MBA at the second Manhattan ceremony, and looks forward to sharing what she has learned with those in attendance.
Meet Stephanie Weinman, student speaker for the Rochester ceremony
Weinman—a Rochester native—considers herself a non-traditional student given her 30-year pause in pursuing higher education, during which she tended to her family life, raising two sons, and worked full-time. Now, graduating at age 50, she celebrates the achievement of a goal that she never thought she would pursue again: being a student.
“I never considered myself going back to school after 30 years,” shares Weinman, “and being a student—a good student—that was a big goal for me. I really can’t believe that’s where I’m at right now.”
Weinman feels that the uniqueness of her journey at Empire State University was underscored by being part of an Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), as well as being a SUNY EOP Ambassador throughout the 2023-2024 academic year.
“Being part of an EOP was really special for me as well—it was a whole other community within the school community,” she comments. As an EOP student who has overcome great obstacles in pursuing academic and personal success, Weinman was also recognized with one of SUNY’s highest honors: the Norman R. McConney Jr. Award for Student Excellence.
Weinman has always gravitated towards activism, allyship, and social justice, which led her to enroll at Empire State University and focus on earning her bachelor’s degree in community and human services. Her passion lies in broadening access to proper health care and necessary resources for women and all marginalized communities.
Her recent work with international non-profit organization, Girls Rock! Rochester, involves using music as a conduit for personal growth and positive change for girls, women, and the LGBTQ+ community.
Weinman is a strong proponent of pursuing one’s goals even in the face of uncertainty. She advises, “Step over the line of fear and do the things that scare you, because that is where the good stuff is in life.”
She will be walking in the Rochester Commencement ceremony on Thursday, May 29, and sharing more insights and words of encouragement with graduates and attendees.