NYIT-Abu Dhabi Honors Graduates in the Class of 2015

Graduates, family members, supporters, and university leaders gathered today at Abu Dhabi’s InterContinental Hotel to celebrate the graduation of NYIT-Abu Dhabi’s Class of 2015. Guests congratulated the 23 bachelor’s and 10 master’s degree recipients who completed their degrees and joined the ranks of nearly 100,000 NYIT alumni around the world.

Outgoing NYIT Board of Trustees Chairperson Linda Davila (B.S. '78) welcomed graduates and their supporters. Davila is the first vice president, investments, at Merrill Lynch Global Wealth Management. Special guest Ethan Goodrich, deputy chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy, congratulated the new graduates on behalf of the Hon. Barbara A. Leaf, ambassador to the United Arab Emirates.

In his address, NYIT President Edward Guiliano, Ph.D., said that while change is constant, graduates are well prepared to adapt. “As you face the unknown of tomorrow, take heart in the knowledge that nine out of 10 NYIT graduates obtain jobs in their chosen fields within six months of graduation,” he said.

Graduate speaker Mona Ahmed, who earned her NYIT Master of Business Administration, noted how she and her classmates learned and experienced teamwork at NYIT. She encouraged her fellow graduates to “stand together” and “work toward achieving excellence and serving this community and this country in the most honorable manner.”

Several New York-based university officials attended the ceremony, including NYIT’s Vice President for Student Affairs Patrick G. Love, Ph.D., Dean of Career Services John Hyde, and Director of Alumni Relations Jennifer Kelly (M.S. '99).

The Abu Dhabi graduation ceremony followed NYIT’s 54th Commencement on May 17 in Old Westbury, N.Y., which celebrated all 2,790 members of the Class of 2015. NYIT’s final graduation ceremony of 2015 will take place on May 29 in Vancouver, Canada.

NYIT is Abu Dhabi’s first licensed and accredited American university offering bachelor’s and master’s degrees since 2005. NYIT degrees are accredited in the United States and the United Arab Emirates. More than 5,000 NYIT alumni are from the Middle East.