The 145th Commencement of Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences took place on Saturday, May 17, 2025, at 10 am at the Albany Capital Center in Albany, New York.
- 230 graduates total
- Students are from 10 countries, 19 states, and one U.S. territory (Puerto Rico)
- Age range of graduates— 19-50
Commencement Speakers
Mayor Kathy Sheehan is in her third term as Albany’s 75th mayor and has dedicated her administration to creating a city where every neighborhood works — neighborhoods that are safe and have access to quality housing that is affordable to the people who live there, world-class amenities, and vibrant economic opportunities.
Under Mayor Sheehan’s leadership, the City has invested nearly $200 million in new parks, pools, community centers, streets, sidewalks, and water and sewer infrastructure across the City. These investments have been made with a commitment to equity and responsive government that includes diverse community voices, and a focus on neighborhoods impacted by redlining and other historically discriminatory practices.
Since Mayor Sheehan took office, crime in Albany is down 21%, Albany’s population has grown beyond 100,000 for the first time in decades, Albany’s tax base is 75% larger, Albany's tax rate is 36% lower, more than 5,000 new units of housing have been built, and Albany has seen more than $1 billion in new development citywide with another $500+ million in the pipeline – all indicators of the growing optimism within New York’s Capital City.
These accomplishments are the seeds Mayor Sheehan helped plant — the same seeds that prepared Albany to be selected as the future home of National Semiconductor Technology Center and be in a prime position to capitalize on Governor Hochul’s proposed $400 million investment in Downtown Albany. Thanks to Mayor Sheehan’s leadership, Albany now stands on the brink of a transformational era.
Mayor Sheehan has served as our city’s Mayor since 2014 after spending four years as City Treasurer. After graduating from Albany Law School, she practiced law before entering politics. The Chicago, IL-native earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Bowling Green State University.
SeHan Jeong is a Doctor of Pharmacy candidate from Dallas, Texas. She has previously served in various campus leadership roles including vice president of the Student Government Association, president of the local chapter of American Pharmacists Association-Academy of Student Pharmacists, president of Phi Lambda Sigma, and as a resident assistant. She will be pursuing a two-year residency program in Health-System Pharmacy Administration and Leadership following graduation.
Dominick Lomonaco is a Commencement candidate in the dual degree BS/MS in Pharmaceutical Sciences program. Over the past five years, he has made a lasting impact on campus through his leadership as president of the Student Government Association, American Medical Student Association, and Phi Delta Chi (Alpha Theta Chapter). His dedication to research led to a publication following work both on-campus and at the Masonic Medical Research Institute. Outside the classroom, he has been deeply involved in serving the local community through campus-led volunteer initiatives. Originally from Binghamton, NY, he is honored to represent the graduating class and will continue his journey in medicine this fall as a medical student at SUNY Upstate Medical University.
Audrey DeGraw, a microbiology major, proudly led ACPHS’ Land Acknowledgement Ceremony, commemorating Indigenous Peoples Day. DeGraw has worked with ACPHS’ Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion to share her Native heritage with the campus community.
Titilayo Sunday, a pharmacy doctoral candidate, knows she may someday encounter a patient overdosing on opioids. Sunday is learning how to handle such a situation in her clinical rotation at The Collaboratory, ACPHS’ public health resource.
Paige Spiess, one of the first students to sign up last year for the Bachelor’s in Health Sciences program felt the BSHS pre-professional components as the perfect complement to the scientific grounding she’d already received, in preparation for her training as a PA.
ACPHS was well represented at the 2024 ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting, among the largest gatherings of pharmacists nationwide. Pharmacy faculty, students in their final year of pharmacy education, residents and alumni participated in the conference.
Grace O’Boyle, forensic psychology major, who transferred from the College of Saint Rose, saw the transition as seamless as it could be. She continues to study psychology, law, criminal justice and more with the former Saint Rose professors who joined ACPHS.
Rafael Diaz Melendez, a PharmD candidate, was on an urgent care rotation when he was asked: did you want to help resuscitate a patient? The next several minutes would end up re-shaping his view of his profession, his patients and his future.
Carter Huntley and Julia Sexton, PharmD candidates, participated in a Saratoga County effort to distribute naloxone during Narcan Training Day. The students stopped at stores to offer shop managers and associates some training – on how to use the opioid overdose reversal drug naloxone (a.k.a., Narcan).
Lexi Karam, a biology transfer from College of Saint Rose, feels like she finally found her place at ACPHS. She has been accepted into the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine where she hopes to become a large-animal veterinarian.
San Diego-native, Valerie Carrillo, a microbiology and molecular biosciences major, grew up in a family committed to providing health care. She credits the College's research- and internship-rich environment with helping to continue her family legacy.