May 2025

STAC Friends,

Congratulations to our graduating seniors as they approach the finish line … and to all of our students on their academic excellence this year!

We were truly blessed to celebrate our Community of Scholars this past month: 

- We inducted more than 150 scholars at our Honors Convocation on April 8 and awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Public Service to Dr. Barbara Mistick, who delivered a compelling keynote address (click link).

- We celebrated our 10th Annual IGNITE: Undergraduate Research Symposium (click link) on April 24 and highlighted the research, scholarship, and creativity of our students, who delivered innovative and insightful poster presentations. 

- Our students earned first place honors in two events at the International Business Ethics and Sustainability Case Competition (IBESCC) held in California.

- We proudly conferred Honorary Degrees and Professor Emerita/Emeritus status to Dr. Meenakshi Gajria and Dean Michael Murphy, who will both be retiring after decades of distinguished service. 

- We were delighted to announce the appointments of Dr. Meghan Mihal and Dr. Nydia Prishker as our new Deans of the School of Business and School of Education, respectively, and celebrate six deserving members of our dedicated faculty team who have been promoted and/or awarded tenure. 

And finally, 

- We are thrilled to share that we will be celebrating 273 graduates at our 2025 Commencement! 

So, please come join us on May 9 at Clover Stadium at the Commencement “After-party“ as we celebrate our Community of Scholars!

Regards,

St. Thomas Aquinas College celebrated its vibrant community of scholars, leaders, and dedicated faculty at its 2025 Honors Convocation on April 8. More than 150 scholars were recognized for their outstanding academic achievements.

The College welcomed Dr. Barbara Mistick, President of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU), as the keynote speaker (view her speech here at the 36 minute mark). She was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Public Service in recognition of her contributions to the higher education landscape.

At Honors Convocation, the College was delighted to present Dr. Rossen Trendafilov, Professor of Finance, with the Trustees' Award for Excellence for 2024-2025. Congratulations!

St. Thomas Aquinas College celebrated its Motorola Foundation Computer Science Scholars at a certificate ceremony at the Sullivan Theatre on campus. Following the ceremony, students and members of the community came together for a "STAC Chat" with Dr. Jerone Dunbar '09, who is a trailblazer in the areas of tech and transportation. Jerone graduated from STAC with his degree in Computer Science, and is an Infotainment User Experience Research Lead and Senior Engineer at the Honda Auto Development Center.

At STAC, students ignite their passions and get to take part in fantastic experiential learning opportunities. 13 members of the College's Business Club visited the CNBC Fast Money set at the Nasdaq MarketSite in Time Square on April 14! Spartans were able to witness firsthand how financial news is produced and broadcasted.

Special thank you to Dr. Meghan Mihal and Dr. Deirdre Engels for organizing this special trip alongside former Trustee Mary Duffy, as well as Fast Money's Guy Adami (who has visited our campus for a "STAC Chat").

The St. Thomas Aquinas College Case Study team competed in Los Angeles, California at the 2025 International Business Ethics and Sustainability Case Competition (IBESCC).

STAC students Kamya Ramakrishnan, Ella Call, Patrick Phelan, and Frank Schaefer (who led research) took home two awards. Kamya, Ella, and Patrick won first place in the 25-minute presentation with Q&A, and Patrick took first place in the 90-second elevator speech competition.

Our Spartans were prepared under the guidance of Professor Christine Cahill and the mentorship of the School of Business faculty. Congratulations!

The College is proud to honor Dr. Meenakshi Gajria and Professor Michael Murphy — two outstanding and long-serving academic leaders — as they prepare for retirement. (We are delighted to share that they will both return as part-time faculty!) Both Dr. Gajria and Professor Murphy received Honorary Degrees and Professor Emerita/Emeritus status in recognition of their decades of distinguished service.

Dr. Meenakshi Gajria

Professor Michael Murphy

Their legacy will continue to resonate across our College campus for years to come, and the Spartan community is deeply grateful for their leadership. Sending a heartfelt congratulations to them both!

St. Thomas Aquinas College is proud to announce the appointments of Dr. Meghan Mihal as Dean of the School of Business and Dr. Nydia Prishker as Dean of the School of Education — two accomplished leaders dedicated to advancing academic excellence, innovation, and student-focused outcomes.

“As we look to the future, I am honored to welcome two exceptional leaders to these important roles,” said St. Thomas Aquinas College President Ken Daly. “With a clear vision and a steadfast commitment to student success, Dr. Mihal and Dr. Prishker are well-positioned to guide their Schools — and our students — into a bold and promising future.”

Dr. Francesca Ciotoli Granted Tenure and Promoted to Associate Professor, School of Education

Dr. Cassandra Lo

Granted Tenure and Promoted to Associate Professor, School of Education

Dr. Tracy Tully

Granted Tenure and Promoted to Associate Professor, School of Arts & Social Sciences

Dr. Amos Rothschild

Promoted to Full Professor, School of Arts & Social Sciences

Dr. Rossen Trendafilov

Promoted to Full Professor, School of Business

Prof. Monica Wendel

Promoted to Full Professor, School of Arts & Social Sciences

St. Thomas Aquinas College celebrated its Community of Scholars and commemorated ten years of student innovation, creativity, and academic excellence at its 10th Annual IGNITE Exhibition on April 24.

IGNITE is a dynamic showcase of undergraduate research, creativity, and scholarly achievement. The annual event features student projects from across every discipline — including education, science, and the humanities — highlighting the vibrant intellectual life that defines the St. Thomas Aquinas College experience.

Check out St. Thomas Aquinas College's feature stories! We are delighted and proud to introduce you to the following individuals:

Vincent (Vinny) Vazquez

Assistant Director of Admissions



Margaret DeStaso ’88

Private School Teacher;

STAC Athletic Hall of Fame Inductee

Allan Doyle Jr. '25

Communication Arts Major and Marketing Minor