Berkeley College: A Year in Review 2025

Top News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, December 30, 2025

Contact: Kelly J. Depsee
Senior Director, Communications
973-200-1099
[email protected]

Berkeley College looks forward to the new year by highlighting the top events, accomplishments, and news stories of 2025. We thank our dedicated faculty and staff, as well as our valued business and community partners, who support us in our mission of empowering each student to achieve lifelong success.

Our 95th anniversary year in 2026 will be filled with more opportunities for our community of lifelong learners as they pursue bright futures.

We wish you happiness and good health in the new year.

Commencement 2025 at Prudential Center

Berkeley College celebrated the perseverance and achievements of more than 1,200 graduates during a Commencement ceremony on May 16, 2025, at Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. The graduating class included 77 military and veteran graduates and 314 international students from 34 countries.

Richard Schultz, PhD, Director, Division of General Education, served as Faculty Speaker. Rui Oliveira, Class of 2009, CEO and Co-CIO, BFA Asset Management and Founder of Academia Santa Catarina (above left), was recognized as Alumnus of the Year.

Emilia Hansson, an international student from Sweden, was honored as the Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award recipient, and Wanetta Vita, the College's first Master of Science in Nursing graduate (above right), was honored as the Outstanding Graduate Student Award recipient. Gaby Ramirez, who earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Financial Services, served as Student Speaker.

Academic Initiatives

The Master of Business Administration in Management program celebrated 10 years of business excellence during an MBA Reunion and Networking Event in April. Click here for additional faculty accomplishments.

The College launched a Bachelor's of Business Administration in Business Analytics, focused on data and actionable insights to drive business decisions. The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design received systemwide reaccreditation by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation.

Students participated in a wide range of experiential learning opportunities with organizations including Bellevue Hospital, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, East Rahway State Prison (above left), the Passaic County Sheriff's Office, the New Jersey Regional Operations and Intelligence Center, the law offices of Scura, Wigfield, Heyer, Stevens & Cammarota, and many others.

The College and iHeartMedia introduced the Mentors in Media initiative, providing Applied Media students with a behind-the-scenes look at potential careers (above right). A youth-led service grant from The Allstate Foundation funded a Circular Fashion Bootcamp for high school students, which focused on garment repair, wearable art, and youth empowerment.

Student Achievement

Honors scholars tackled hotly debated topics such as gun control, healthcare, and artificial intelligence (AI) during the annual Honors Scholars Research Symposium (above left). Students Christian Benito, Andre Krzyzanowski, and Gabriel Pereira presented posters at the Middle States Commission for Higher Education Annual Conference.

The School of Health Studies honored new cohorts of healthcare heroes entering the workforce at Licensed Practical Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Practical Nurse pinning ceremonies in April, August, and December (above right), and a White Coat Ceremony for Master of Science in Nursing graduates in December. Several students received DAISY Awards for compassionate care.

The New Jersey Business & Industry Association honored alumna Alusha Olivier with its 2025 Rising Star Award. Student Monserrat "Monse" Miranda was named to the ALL IN Student Voting Honor Roll, recognizing college students who advance nonpartisan democratic engagement on campus. Alumna Esther Marquez was honored with a Design Excellence Award from the New Jersey Chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers in its Student Portfolio Program. MBA student Delia Espinal received a scholarship from the New York City Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

The Gender and Sexuality Alliance brought the College community together for a series of inclusive and impactful events during Pride Month and Transgender Day of Remembrance. The Graphic Design Club held its first meeting.

Designer Chuks Collins and the African Fashion Council selected student Alma Torres as the winner of the African Fashion Pavilion NYC - Student Designer Showcase competition. Students were directed to create collections inspired by Eatonville, FL, one of the nation's first self-governed Black towns. Other student finalists included Louis Candelario, Shalisa Ebanks, and Keiara Lewis.

National and Regional Excellence

FirstGen Forward announced Berkeley College as one of 60 new members of the FirstGen Forward Network, honoring the College's strong commitment to advancing success for first-generation college students.

For the 12th consecutive year, U.S. News & World Report ranked Berkeley College among the Best Colleges in the nation for Online Bachelor's Degree Programs. The ranking recognized the College among the Best Online Bachelor's Degree Programs for Veterans and in the categories for Best Online Bachelor's Degree Programs - Business and Best Online MBA Programs.

U.S. News also ranked the College among its Best Regional Colleges/Universities in the North in the 2026 edition of the Best Colleges survey, as well as among the Top Performers on Social Mobility.

Newsweek and Statista honored the College among America's Top Online Colleges for 2025. Cigna Healthcare selected the College as a recipient of its Gold-Level Healthy Workforce Designation for its commitment to improving the health of its employees. City & State New York named the College on its list of Top Workplaces in New York.

Awards and Recognitions

NJBIZ recognized Kevin L. Luing, Chairman of the Board (above left), among the recipients of its inaugural Executive Excellence Award and Jennifer DeJesus, Campus Operating Officer, Woodbridge, among its 2025 Leading Women in Business.

James Marshmon, Director, Student Development and Campus Life, Woodbridge and Woodland Park, and Manager, Berkeley College Foundation Food Pantries (above right), received the Community Volunteer of the Year Award from the Middlesex County Regional Chamber of Commerce. The Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey named Lynn Stamatelatos, Director, Corporate and Community Relations, New Jersey, among its 2025 Enterprising Women in Commerce. The Meadowlands Regional Chamber of Commerce presented Tom Alessandrello, Senior Vice President, Operations, with the 2025 Arline Simpson Leadership Award. LaTysha "Ty" Gaines, Campus Operating Officer, Woodland Park, received a Leadership Excellence Award from Our Way to H.O.P.E. (Helping Out People Everywhere).

City & State New York honored Steven Perry, Director, Financial Aid, New York City, among its inaugural list of Black Trailblazers and Diane Recinos, EdD, President of Berkeley College, among its Trailblazers in Higher Education.

The Eastern Association of Financial Aid Administrators honored Howard Leslie, Vice President Emeritus, with its Lifetime Achievement Award. The Hand Foundation recognized Busie Matsiko, Member, Board of Trustees, and Randy Gómez, Director, Graduate Admissions and Corporate Learning Partnerships, New York, with the President's Lifetime Achievement Award. Matsiko, a Berkeley College alumna, also published her first book, Create the Life of Your Dreams, which explores the power of unlocking your potential through vision boards. Barbara Crump, PhD, Nursing, School of Health Studies, received an International Impact Book Award for her autobiography, From GED to PhD: My Journey Toward Becoming an Extraordinary Woman. Christopher de la Victoria, DNP, Nursing, School of Health Studies, received the 2025 Nursing Excellence Award: Nurse Educator from the Philippine Nurses Association of America.

Berkeley College received Davey Awards from The Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts for two creative submissions in podcasting and outdoor billboard display.

Corporate Learning Partnerships and Continuing Education

In 2025 the College welcomed nine new Corporate Learning Partners seeking to invest in their employees' career development, including the City of Paterson, City Harvest, and Capital Rx, Inc., among others.

Berkeley College and iHeartPodcasts announced the launch of the Teach Me Something podcast that explores the transformative power of education (above left).

The Continuing Education initiative continues to offer hands-on, practitioner-focused programs and courses to meet the needs of professionals seeking to advance in their careers or enter a new field. New for-credit certificates/stackable credentials include an AI and Social Media Certificate; CSI Forensics Certificate; and online Graduate Certificate in Marketing Management that may be applied to the MBA program at Berkeley College. Students can take new standalone, in-person courses in Fashion Circularity Strategies and Service, Public Speaking, Drawing, and Painting. Continuing Education launched the second phase of the New York City FC Professional Development Project that included a Leadership Skills for New Managers workshop (above right).

Chamber and Community Collaborations

High school students had opportunities to learn professional skills and explore career pathways during the second annual Career Exploration Summer Youth Program with Paterson Public Schools, the Newark Summer Youth Employment Program, the New York City Summer Career Experience (above left), and the College's annual Summer Workshops.

The College and community partners celebrated Latin American heritage at the New York City FC Noche Latina match; welcomed its newest designer-in-residence, Bach Mai, with a Catwalk and Conversations fashion show and panel discussion in New York City (above right); and launched a collaboration with The Brooklyn Fashion Incubator, Inc. to further experiential learning opportunities for students.

The College partnered with Woodbridge and local businesses to host a Young Women's Empowerment Summit. Luis Collazo shared his journey from Berkeley College student to Campus Operating Officer on the Newark Regional Business Partnership Engage and Exchange Podcast.

BerkeleyCares® for Our Communities

Berkeley College and the Berkeley College Foundation continued to combat food insecurity among students through its on-campus food pantries. News 12 New Jersey highlighted the effort. The College welcomed higher education partners from across New Jersey for the College Food Pantry Forum (above left).

Faculty, staff, student, and alumni volunteers served at organizations including the Community FoodBank of New Jersey and Habitat for Humanity. Blood drives were held in partnership with Vitalant in Woodbridge and Woodland Park. Students designed and produced dog garments for a Canine Catwalk fashion show in support of Social Tees Animal Rescue.

In support of the military and veteran community, the College marched in the New York City Veterans Day Parade, sent Halloween candy to the troops, placed flags at graves ahead of Memorial Day, and participated in National Wreaths Across America Day (above right).

In December the College donated toys to children at St. Joseph's Children's Hospital in New Jersey, New York-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital, and South Bronx Charter School for International Culture and the Arts.

Global Endeavors

Berkeley College and the Geely Talent Development Group in China held a transglobal signing ceremony to celebrate the establishment of the Xinwei Institute in New York City, a digital and intelligence platform (above left).

The Berkeley College Office of Global Alliance and Cerwise Education in China celebrated the graduation of a group of MBA students at a ceremony in Woodland Park (above right).

Berkeley College appointed Linda Mauro as Associate Vice President, Strategic Partnerships, where she is focused on developing international study abroad programs and cultivating new institutional collaborations.

Elevating the Voices of Women

Berkeley College celebrated Women's History Month with events including Moving Forward Together - Positively (above left), which elevated the voices of women in leadership and Planting and Nourishing Your Seed, which focused on life with polycystic ovarian syndrome. The College joined panels alongside top media talent for iHeartMedia's third Annual International Women's Day event.

Berkeley College encouraged entrepreneurs to be true to the integrity of their brands during its 10th Annual Women's Entrepreneurship Week event, titled "Trailblazers of Today, Leaders of Tomorrow" (above right). Click here to view the highlight video.

NJBIZ recognized Berkeley College among the recipients of the Empowering Women - Companies Leading the Way award for the third consecutive year. The College was a sponsor of the 2025 Crain's New York Women of Influence event, honoring leaders who drive progress across diverse sectors.

Standout Speakers

Comunidad, Educación, y Cultura, an annual Hispanic Heritage Month celebration, featured a live recording of the Teach Me Something podcast and a conversation with professionals from Berkeley College, DailyPay, Feminine Alpha, and The Orchard.

Diane Recinos, EdD, President of Berkeley College, shared her insights on leadership and teamwork during a segment on CEOs You Should Know.

Kim Downey, an author and physician advocate, spoke about the mental health challenges faced by physicians and shared excerpts from her book, White Coats, Courageous Hearts (above left). Rebecca Ruballos, Specialist, Center for Academic Success, shared her essay, "I'm a Dog Person," which appeared in Chicken Soup for the Soul.

The College hosted a series of Bosses@Berkeley and Berkeley Fashion Forum events, featuring conversations with fashion professionals.

Africa was the focus of a series of events ahead of the 2025 G20 Summit and during the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly. Events included "Road Show to G20: Bridging Markets, Building Legacies," an "Imagining Africa's Fashion Future" workshop (above right), and "From Ideas to Infrastructure: Youth as Agents in Harnessing AI for Development."

The Epilepsy Foundation New Jersey provided seizure first aid training and certification during National Epilepsy Awareness Month, while the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention shared how conversations can save lives during National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. Jersey Shore Addiction Services HealthCare hosted a hands-on Narcan training for students in the School of Health Studies.

Linda Mauro, who previously served as Campus Operating Officer, New York City, discussed bridging the skills gap and career readiness during the City & State New York Economic and Workforce Development Summit.

Athletic Accomplishments

The 2024-2025 season marked the first time the College competed as a Division I school in its history.

The Men's Basketball team (above left) won 18 games, and the Women's Basketball team (above right) held a 14-11 record. Both teams qualified for the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) Division I National Tournament. Six student-athletes were honored with USCAA distinctions.

The Men's Soccer team (above center) held a record of 9-5-1 under first-year Head Coach Matthew DaCosta. For the fifth time in six seasons, the Knights received a bid to the USCAA Division I National Tournament. Six student-athletes received All-American or All-Academic honors.

Beginning in December the College will livestream coverage of home games, expanding access and strengthening engagement across the Berkeley College community and beyond.

Spotlight on Alumni

Alumni participated in a Career Speed Networking and Mentoring Event (above right) to help participants build meaningful professional connections; a NYC Dinner Cruise on the Hudson River; and an Alumni Holiday Reception and Toy Drive.

Michael Iris, EdD, Associate Vice President, Institutional Assessment, Alumni Relations, and Career Services, led visitors on a moonlit tour of the Woodland Park campus during the annual History and Ghost Walk (above left). Patricia Farrell, a physical medium, hosted an evening event to benefit the Berkeley College Foundation. Alumni also returned to campus for the Spring and Fall Career Fairs, which featured nearly 70 hiring companies.

Roshauna Bostwick, Class of 2020, was elected to serve as President of the Alumni Board for 2025-2026, as well as on the Berkeley College Foundation Board of Directors. Alumna Lachanee Scott earned a Juris Doctorate from New York Law School, where she delivered remarks and was selected to sing the National Anthem. Berkeley College leaders also celebrated the swearing-in ceremony of alumna Laura Riano Bonilla to the New Jersey State Bar, which was held at the Woodbridge campus.

Stories about graduates, their experiences on campus, and their contributions to their fields of study are featured on the Alumni Spotlight page of the Berkeley College website.

Foundation Highlights

The Berkeley College Foundation welcomed more than 100 golfers and sponsors to the Basking Ridge Country Club for its 8th Annual Golf Outing (above left), assisting the Foundation in its mission to provide scholarships and support for student success.

Nineteen high-achieving students were honored during the Foundation's Annual Scholarship Awards and 10-Year Anniversary Celebration (above right). Since its inception, the Foundation has awarded nearly $300,000 in scholarships to 84 high-achieving students.

Nico Caraballo, founder of Nicasio & Co. Horology, joined the Foundation's Board of Directors.

Eye on AI

The College's AI Committee announced its AI Principles, a foundational framework that will guide responsible, ethical, and effective use of AI across academics and business operations. Len De Botton, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer, shared insights on ethical and innovative AI use for college students at the Data Security Summit hosted by Rubrik (above right).

The College was selected to participate in the second cohort of Decoded Futures, an initiative at the Tech:NYC Foundation (above left). Berkeley College professors shared their perceptions of AI during the Association of Proprietary Colleges Innovation Summit.

Jason Gulya, PhD, Professor, English and Media Communications, Division of General Education, led discussions on his new book, Artificial Intelligence, Real Literacy: A Practical Guide To Using AI For 10 Evidence-Based Literacy Practices in Education, and shared his expertise with media outlets including The Chronicle on Higher Education and Higher Education Digest.

Inside Berkeley

Speakers across the College continued to present segments as part of "Berkeley Insights," a weekly webinar series. Recent topics have included strategic planning, first-generation success, public safety, and more. In November faculty and staff from all campuses came together for All Associates Day to focus on "Fueling Wellness, Powering Success" (above).

The College continued to inform and educate its community about the ongoing MSCHE Self-Study process. Working Groups met regularly to gather feedback and evidence, assemble outlines, and draft chapters for each Standard. The next MSCHE evaluation visits for seeking reaccreditation are scheduled to occur during the 2026-2027 academic year.

The 2024-2025 year marked the official launch of the College's new Strategic Plan, Resilience, Renewal, and Growth: Charting a Path Forward.

About Berkeley College

Berkeley College, founded in 1931, is a career-focused institution accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education that offers students Master's, Bachelor's, and Associate's degree and Certificate programs in more than 20 career fields. The College also offers Continuing Education programs to enhance career credentials.

Berkeley College has campuses in New York City and in Newark, Woodbridge, and Woodland Park, NJ, with more than 4,000 students enrolled. In addition, Berkeley College Online® serves a global population. U.S. News & World Report has named Berkeley College among the Best Colleges for Online Bachelor's Programs and among the Best Online Bachelor's Programs for Veterans for 12 consecutive years. Berkeley College is also ranked among the Best Regional Colleges/Universities in the North in the 2026 edition of the U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges survey. The website address is https://BerkeleyCollege.edu.

The mission of Berkeley College is to empower each student to achieve lifelong success.

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