Salute to Graduates of African Heritage
Salute to Graduates of African Heritage
BAAFSSO's 40th Annual Salute to Graduates of African Heritage
Wednesday, April 29, 2026
New Jersey City University
Gilligan Student Union
NJCU's 40th Annual Salute to Graduates of African Heritage is a special annual event hosted by the Black Administrators, Alumni, Faculty, Students and Staff Organization (BAAFSSO) at NJCU.
Our Salute to Graduates ceremony is an opportunity for our students of African Heritage to be celebrated for their achievement in higher education with Baccalaureate, Master’s as well as Doctoral degrees. The ceremony which is a special event for students who plan to graduate in May or Summer 2026 includes a gift, a reception with family, friends, and members of the University community, a procession of the graduates, a keynote speaker, and the distribution of certificates to graduates.
Our distinguished keynote speaker will be Eldonie S. Mason, Esq. '02, a proud alumna, attorney, entrepreneur, founder of Mason Firm LLC, professional member of the Recording Academy (GRAMMYs) and a member of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA).
Program
Opening Reception
Musical performance by the NJCU Student Jazz Ensemble
Processional of 2026 Graduates
Marshalls: Courtney Chambers, Academic Advisor and Program Assistant, Art Department, Ashley Lemon, Associate Director, Center for Student Persistence and Success
Mistress of Ceremonies: Dr. Joy Smith, Associate Vice President for Persistence, Division for Student Development & Community Engagement
Passing of the Torch
Torch Bearer: Sirell Clark, Class of 2026
Receiving the Torch: Trinity Campbell, Class of 2028
Black National Anthem
Performance: TRINITY
Invocation
Thyquel Halley, Class of 2023
Greetings
President Andres Acebo, President, NJCU
Poetry Performance
Frederick King, Class of 2028
Presentation of Speaker
Dominique Smith, Director of New Student Programs
Keynote Address
Eldonie S. Mason, Esq., Class of 2002
Stellar Service Award
Awarded to John Smith, Director, Educational Opportunity Program
Community Service Awards
Awarded to Branda Logan, Class of 2026
Awarded to Brandi Warren, Hudson County Under Sheriff
Recognition of Graduates
Readers: Stevanie Rhim, Assistant Director, GEAR UP Pre-College Programs, Chancey Paige, Associate Director, Residence Life and Housing
Scholarship Announcement
Dr. Gloria Boseman, Founding Member of BAAFSSO
Special Recognition
Awarded to Leslie Graham, OSP/EOF Counselor
Closing Remarks
Jeffrey Dessources, Executive Director of Community Engagement and Alumni Relations
Undergraduates
A
Mohammad Aboubakr
Ikechukwu Achebe
Nicholian Adderley
Chiamaka Adibe
Barnabas Adombire
Olatoye Agboola
Fattan Ahmed
Anayah Aiken
Aarinola Akinduyi
Hannah Precious Allen
Taren Allen
Anita Alli
Benewaa Amankwa
Moraa Angwenyi
Chancellor Asamoah
Malika J. Ashley
Shahod Augustin
B
Muhammed Balure
Naziha Bamba
Mohamed Bangura
Jordan Banks
Desiree Barbour
Winifred Barnes
Ebony Batts
Jade Benjamin-Harper
Tim Biang
Shonda Borders
Monique Boss
Roman Boukpessi
Teresa D Boyd
Nyla Boyd
Jenea Brayboy
Althea Broomfield
Alequa Brown
Elijah Brown
Sonya Brown
Taurean Brown
Tyvera Bryant
Nasir Burns
C
Neila Cantave
Tania Campos
Joberto Casseus
Brianna Celestin
Pratt Charles
Sirell Clark
Dwayne Clement
Kyara Cowan
Toyosi Craig
Tamika Cuffy
Danard Cunningham
Deanna Currington
Ai'jhana Cutler
D
Amudalat Danmola
Wykisha Davenport-Lovelace
Kristen Davis
Monet Dennis
Amele Jeanne-Esther Divo
Mame Dieng
Chelsea Diggs
Fatou Diop
Gabriella Dosmas
Altamease Drummond
Nicole Drayton
Brionna Dunkley
E
Amiah Jade Edmondson
Valerie Egharevba
Shaza Elamin
Zeyad Elshikh
Eunice Emenonye
Corine Etienne
Egbe Etta-Ashu
Ledescia Eversley Denny
Raymond Ezike
F
Lemar Ferguson
Sharaunda Fiedtkou
Tabitha Fleurant-Pascal
Shanté Foster
Ize Francois
G
Kathryn Atef Gadalla
Ta'keria Gaskins
Raven Gates
Avante Gilbert
Joseph Gilmore
Tiffany Ann Goodwin
Trevor Gordon
Lateef Graham
Khalil Gray
Tyrell Gregg
Daryl Griffin
Martina Guirguis
Mzima Grossett
H
Amethyst Hall
Jenifer Harris
Eshrak E Hassan
Brittney Hatcher
Alec-Brandon Hawes
Jahnae Hazard
Reyanna Henderson
Shantana Henry
Tarisha T. Hicks
Amina Higgs
Karindu Mas'sai Hill
Kevin Hobbs
Italee Hodge
Kelvin Holmes
Ziasia Holmes
Jamie Hyppolite
I
Tarwendpaga Ilboudo
Tâ’naisa Ingram
Serena Isaac
J
Ashiya Jackson
Keith Jackson
Takiyah Kai Jackson
Kenan James
Ivena Jean Louis
Guerlandie Jean Pierre
Sarah Jean-Baptiste
Myron Jefferson
Christina Jeune
Melissa John
Ineisha Johnson
Joan Johnson
Paris Johnson
Trenton Johnson
Victoria Rebecca Johnston
Aliyah Jones
Aji Juwara
K
Cierrah Kelly
Deborah J. Kendall
Tiranke Kenema
Zahier Kenny
Teresa Keragita
L
David Lago
Omar Law
Leon Lawson
Geraya Lee
Nahira Lenard
Breanna Little
Branda Addai Logan
Undergraduates
M
Jaydin Mahon
Devon Malloy
Zane'yah Mansfield
Tyema Manning
Namdi Maple
Quamir Martin
Jarren Mathis
Brian Matoke
Miranda Morcos Iskander Makar
LaVise McCray
Ladayja McDonald
Gershom Mcekeni
Carol Mclean
Tamyah Mcneil
Katelynn Miles
Ashanti Mills
Sarah Miltaha
Desron Mincey
Chloe Mintah
James Mompoint
Brice Morrison
Duke Mseleku
Aja Mullins
Aniyah Mullins
Nevaeh Mustipher
N
Chastity Nesbitt
Nancy Nesmith-Mitchell
Dancan Njogu
Channell E Norwood
Menna Nosear
Lynda Nwanze
Patrick Nwabunie
O
Landy Odige
Tajudeen Odejoke
Joshua Odoemene
Daniel Ogunsaju
Ozioma Okoro
Emmanuella Olajide
Paul Olajide
Toheeb Olaniyan
Deborah Olatunji
Jonathan Oliver
Ashley Omoyi
Oluwatofunmi Oni
Goodness Onwuzurike
Rita Onyeagusi
Onyinyechukwu Onyeagusi
Chinoyerem Opara
Emmanuel Owuor
Kwadwo Owusu Adusei
P
Asata Palmer
Nala Paraison
Jazmine Nitta Pierre
Shawn Pascal
Jarrett Pinckney
Brianna Pitchford
Zha'yneira Powell
R
Jean Raymond
Lofsna Raymond
Deasia Richardson
Ciara Riley-Fitts
Sha-Asia Ritchards
Rhonda C. Robinson
Mayra Rodriguez Alava
Bianca Roseau
Jacilia Rucker-Glasper
S
Diana Saintilme
Sydney Salters
Jenna Santos
Madison Scott
Halimatou Seini
Dave Senatus
Dersheni Singh
China Smalley
Shakayah Smith
Shanikia Smith
Taylor Smith
Sarafina Solomon
Habibatou Sow
Jahshae R Stewart
Alesha Steffens
Jake Stockling
Aricia Story
Sonarri Stoudmire
Nadirah Stover
Brieann Sullivan
Badi Sumakeita
Gabriel Sutherland
Carol Swain
T
Chavelle Taylor
Samantha Taylor
Janiya Terry
Sarah Theodat
Casandra Thomas
Samuel Toney
Raissa Toure
Judy Ann Toussaint
Raquayya Towler
V
Gerard Victor
Sierra Vieira
W
Larry Walker
Nadirah Webb Sparks
Amina White
Jada White
Tynaisha White
Amir Williams
Dyshawn Williams
Eman Williams
Essence Williams
Tasheca Williams
Dimoy Wilson
Hakeem Wilson
Joshua Wilson
John Woodards
Y
Ohemaa-Acheamah Young
Z
Witmayll Zidor
Graduates
A
Alan Akins
Malika Ashley
B
Richanne Barrett
Jade Benjamin
Beverly Berry
Gabrielle Berry
Tyvera Bryant
C
Alexis Cole
D
Guirlande Daurilas
Stevenson Demorcy
Yasmine Dorrielan
Altamease Drummond
Aurel Durrant
E
Amiah Edmondson
Elaine Ennis
G
Emani Givens
Tiffany Goodwin
H
Kevin Haynes
Taylor Higgins
J
Mariah Jackson
Takiyah Jackson
Natasha Jefferson
Jazmin Johnson
Nicole Johnson
Jordan Johnston
Victoria Johnston
L
Jeramiah Lyons
M
Tiffany McClary
Roshawna Minault
Dionna Murray
O
Tajudeen Odejoke
Alexander Ozojie
P
Jazmine Pierre
Brianna Pitchford
Jelani Ptah
R
Yusef Roach
S
Halima Shifa
Taylor Smith
T
Shamirah Tucker
W
Mya Weems
Edwin Whitfield
Michael Wilson
Doctoral Graduates
Beatrice Atobatele, D.SC.
Veronica Challenger, D.SC.
Patricia Dennis, ED.D.
Ishmael Kwawununu, D.SC.
Christina Pipkin, ED.D.
Sedar Pougaza, ED.D.
John Sargent III, ED.D.
Winfield Thomas, ED.D.
Chassidy Williams, ED.D.