SOM Commencement 2026: Graduates urged to be unique and find their ‘why’

What’s your “why”?

According to Shelley Dionne, dean of Binghamton University School of Management, the most important day of your life is the day you’re born. The second most important? The day you can answer that question. Dionne told the school’s graduating Class of 2026 that this was yet to come for them, but she was confident that their quest has already begun.

“From the faculty perspective, we have witnessed tremendous individual development as the pursuit of your ‘why’ has taken shape,” Dionne told graduates at SOM’s Commencement ceremony on Friday, May 15. “As SOM faculty and staff, we are privileged to work with such talented and dedicated students.”

SOM conferred just under 700 bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the Commencement ceremony. These graduates contributed to yet another successful year for the school, which was named the number one public business school in New York state.

Student speaker Leila Joseph ’26 put a bow on the Class of 2026’s hard work with her spin on Spotify Wrapped. Following the format of the annual, personalized listening experience summary, she started with some comical pseudo-statistics. According to Joseph, who earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in finance, the graduating class walked around 12 million steps each on campus over the past few years, shook over 200 hands (including their own), and asked professors if their slides will be posted after lectures thousands of times each day.

On a more serious note, Joseph left her fellow graduates with three profound discoveries from her time at Binghamton. First, a negative mind will never bring you a positive life. Second, confidence is key. And third, you’re capable of more than you’ll ever know.

“No matter who you are in the crowd, we are all still climbing to our potential,” she said. “Our brains are the most powerful tools on the planet. We steward them through our emotions and beliefs. If we, as a society, gave up back then, there wouldn’t be a today. If we give up now, there will be no future, no tomorrow.” 

Provost Donald Hall took the stage and said there are three questions for the graduates to ask themselves:

• What do I want my work life to look like?
• Do I want to work remotely, in a hybrid format, or always at the office?
• How will I maintain a work-life balance?

These questions have already begun for the Class of 2026, as their next steps are coming soon. 94% of last year’s graduates received a full-time job offer or graduate school acceptance within three months of graduation.

Regardless of their path forward, Hall is confident the graduates will make an impact.

“As you graduate from Binghamton, you will take with you what you have learned in your classes, through your internships, from the student organizations you participated in, and from the thousands of personal interactions you have had with those around you. I know you will take all that you have experienced here and become change-makers in the world,” he said.

University President Anne D’Alleva, attending her first SOM Commencement since assuming her role last November, expressed sincere gratitude to the graduates for contributing to the tremendous sense of community she has arrived at Binghamton. She calls the respect students show others, the acts of kindness, and the care they display for everyone on the campus the “Binghamton Bond.”

D’Alleva advised the class to reflect on their time as Binghamton students. She is confident they will do great things with their invaluable experiences.

“You’ve met new people, you’ve tried new things, and you’ve learned how to manage the ups-and-downs of living, working, and studying on your own,” she said. “In other words, you have a new, broad understanding of our world and your place in it.”

Susan Marenoff-Zausner ’87, president of the Intrepid Museum, was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters. She spoke about her nonlinear career.

“Each [experience] taught me something essential about leadership, teamwork, business, resilience, and yes, about making and handling lots of mistakes,” she said.

“But with every mistake, there came an opportunity to learn and to adapt. It gave me confidence to move forward, even when the path wasn’t obvious.”

Marenoff-Zausner reflected on becoming the first woman to serve as president of the Intrepid Museum, located on a World War II-era aircraft carrier in New York City. She encouraged students to step into spaces where their perspective will challenge the norm.

Leaving the graduates with a powerful message, Marenoff-Zausner emphasized the importance of embracing their unique journeys.

“The world needs you and your willingness to lead in ways that have not yet been defined,” she said. “When your path takes an unexpected turn — and it will — don't assume you're lost. You may be exactly where you need to be. Go forward with confidence, even when the path is not a straight line. When you're unsure in a complex situation, lead with courage. Lead with empathy. Listen to others — you will find the answers. When something new, uncertain, or bigger than yourself is in front of you, step forward and be the first. Then, make sure you're not the last. Because the path you create will not only define your journey — it will define and shape opportunities for those who follow.”