On May 9th, the Professional Science Master’s (PSM) program brought together faculty, staff, and students to celebrate our recent October 2023, January 2024, and May 2024 graduates. The night was more than just a celebration of academic achievement; it was a culmination of hard work, a reflection of growth, and a look toward a bright future.
The graduation dinner began with an outdoor reception, where our graduates had the chance to reconnect with classmates and catch up with their professors.
MBS Executive Coach and Assistant Director Abbe Rosenthal, MA, PCC, DYL Certified Coach, kicked off the night by engaging with the graduates in a conversation about the fears and surprises during their MBS journey. Students openly shared their experiences, from concerns about the return on investment for their degree to the challenge of balancing academic work and other full-time responsibilities.
Encouraging the graduates to look forward, Rosenthal urged them to set new goals now that they had earned their MBS credentials. She emphasized the importance of appreciating every step of their journey and maintaining a mindset of continuous growth and exploration.
Rosenthal concluded her address with a timeless quote from Dr. Seuss, inspiring graduates to embrace their next adventure:
“You're off to great places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting,
So... get on your way!”
Continuing the evening, PSM Executive Director Dr. Deborah Silver recognized retiring faculty members Robert Centofanti who instructs Fundamentals of Regulatory Affairs, and Larry Horowitz who instructs Principles of Accounting and Finance and has been with our program since its inception.
We also started a new tradition of honoring instructors with certificates of appreciation, with Dr. Karen Bemis receiving the inaugural award.
Dr. Silver also shared insights from her own life journey, including her encounters with kangaroos in Australia for an IEEE conference. The Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) is the world’s largest technical professional society dedicated to advancing technology for the benefit of humanity. She emphasized the importance of lifelong learning, professional networking, and the unwavering support of family. Her personal experiences resonated deeply with everyone in the room, guiding our students as they stepped into their future.
We celebrated the program’s achievements, including a spotlight on the Acts of Kindness initiative from the Principles of Communication and Leadership course led by Professor Kathleen Cashman, featured in Rutgers Today.
Dr. Silver also recommended Daniel Kahneman’s book, Thinking, Fast and Slow, as essential reading for the graduates’ journey.
As certificates were presented to each graduating class, online students and their families joined the celebration via Zoom.
Caroline Thorpe, an MBS alumna in User Experience Design (UXD) who now works as the Senior Marketing Manager for the program, took the stage. She also serves as a liaison to the MBS alumni group alongside Rosenthal. Drawing from her journey, Thorpe emphasized the significance of staying connected through the alumni network.
“Being part of an alumni group is like having a passport to a vast network of opportunities,” she said, announcing the upcoming launch of the Graduway alumni community platform in June. Alumni: Look out for our invitation!
The evening concluded with food, music, and dancing, marking the beginning of a new chapter for our graduates. Congratulations to all, and we look forward to seeing the great places you’ll go!
Alumni: stay connected by joining our alumni groups on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. You can also view more photos from the party here.
