Buffalo State University will confer degrees on nearly 1,300 undergraduate and more than 500 graduate students during its 151st Commencement celebration on Saturday, May 20, in the Sports Arena.
Degree candidates will be honored at three ceremonies:
The following graduates of the Class of 2023 will be honored with the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence in recognition of their academic and extracurricular achievements, leadership, and service: Miggie K. Wong (9:00 a.m.); Mikala Highsmith (1:00 p.m.); and Maimouna A. Samba (5:00 p.m.).
La’Shea Green-Thomas will deliver the student address at the 9:00 a.m. ceremony; Orlando J. Hill, recipient of the President’s Medal for Outstanding Graduate Student, will deliver the student address at the 1:00 p.m. ceremony; and Daniel P. May, recipient of the President’s Medal for Outstanding Undergraduate Student, will deliver the student address at the 5:00 p.m. ceremony.
Deneen Hernandez, retired forensic examiner with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, will deliver the Commencement address at the 9:00 a.m. ceremony; Mildred Otero, senior vice president of national impact for Leadership for Educational Equity, will deliver the Commencement address at the 1:00 p.m. ceremony; and Raven Baxter, ’14, ’16, molecular biologist and educator, will deliver the Commencement address at the 5:00 p.m. ceremony.
In addition, the President’s Distinguished Service Award will be presented to Lucy A. Candelario, executive director of the Belle Center (9:00 a.m.); John C. Starkey, ’98, principal of Lafayette International School (1:00 p.m.); and Mo Sumbundu, ’13, ’17, international trade manager for Empire State Development’s Global New York Division (5:00 p.m.)
This year marks the final Commencement ceremonies for Buffalo State University President Katherine Conway-Turner, who will retire at the end of the 2022–2023 academic year after leading the university for the past nine years.
Faculty and staff members are encouraged to celebrate the accomplishments of our graduates and join them in this special day by marching in the academic procession or by serving as a volunteer. Marchers and volunteer ushers are still needed for the 9:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., and 5:00 p.m. ceremonies. Register online.
Commencement 2023 Details
Saturday, May 20, 2023 | Buffalo State Sports Arena
• 9:00 a.m. (School of the Professions)
• 1:00 p.m. (School of Education and Individualized and Multidisciplinary Studies)
• 5:00 p.m. (School of Arts and Sciences)
Celebrating
Bachelor’s Class of 2023: August 2022 graduates, December 2022 graduates, January 2023 graduates, May 2023 graduates, and August 2023 degree candidates. Includes bachelor’s degrees. Does not include undergraduate certificates.
Graduate Class of 2023: August 2022 graduates, December 2022 graduates, January 2023 graduates, May 2023 graduates, and August 2023 degree candidates. Includes master’s degrees, certificates of advanced study, and graduate certificates. Does not include postbaccalaureate programs.
Share your photos, congratulatory messages, and words of encouragement with our graduates by using the hashtag #BuffStateGrads on Instagram and Twitter.
More Information
For more information, please visit the Commencement website.
• Directions, maps, and visitor parking
• Links to livestream and video archive
