New York Institute of Technology will award an honorary degree to Kevin D. Silva, executive vice president and chief human resources officer for Voya Financial, Inc., the New York City-based financial services company with $8.5 billion in 2018 revenues, at its 58th annual commencement on Sunday, May 19. Silva, also the chairperson of the New York Institute of Technology Board of Trustees, will receive a Doctor of Science (Sc.D.) before an expected audience of nearly 7,000 graduates, families, and friends at the university’s Long Island campus. The ceremony will also be livestreamed on nyit.edu.

Silva continues to be an exceptional supporter of New York Institute of Technology’s students through guidance, mentoring, and the Kevin D. Silva Endowed Presidential Scholarship and Annual Scholarship fund. Additionally, through the generosity of Voya Financial, Silva’s impact is underscored further through the Voya Foundation’s sponsorship of a simulated trading floor on the New York City campus and its current support of the university’s Diversifying STEM Leadership Program. Silva has dedicated time, talent, and treasure to New York Institute of Technology for more than a decade.

“Kevin is a role model who has excelled professionally and also set the standard personally for service to others, and truly embodies the values for which our university stands,” says New York Institute of Technology President Henry C. “Hank” Foley, Ph.D., who will preside at commencement and confer degrees to members of the Class of 2019. “He leads by example at both Voya and New York Tech, and will offer unique inspiration and guidance to our graduates during this watershed moment in their lives.”

At Voya Financial, Silva is responsible for human resources, corporate responsibility, and the Voya Foundation and directs a strategy aimed at building the organization’s human capital by attracting, retaining, and developing world-class employees. He is committed to supporting Voya’s high-performing work environment and a corporate culture of diversity and inclusion, resulting in Voya’s designation as a “Best Place to Work.” He attributes his Latino heritage in helping him incorporate diverse perspectives into his role at Voya.

Previously, Silva served as chief human resources officer at Argo Group International, a global, publicly traded specialty insurance company, where he was responsible for building a high-performing team and implementing compensation, succession, and executive development practices.

He also spent more than 13 years at MBIA Insurance Corporation, a global, publicly traded insurance company. There, he served as chief administrative officer responsible for the human resources, corporate administration, information resources, facilities and telecommunications, and records management functions. Silva also has served in senior human resources leadership roles for Merrill Lynch Capital Markets, MasterCard International, and PepsiCo Management Institute/PepsiCo. He earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from St. John’s University and a master’s degree in psychology from New York University.

Following the degree conferral, Silva will deliver the keynote address at the commencement ceremony.

In addition, New York Institute of Technology announced the Class of 2019 student orator and singer. Gabrielle Redding (Bachelor of Architecture; Sparta, N.J.), who in September will attend the Harvard Graduate School of Design, was selected as the student orator to address the Class of 2019 during the commencement exercise. She also will assist in hooding Silva as the honorary degree recipient. Renee Williamson (M.A. in Teaching - Social Studies; Deer Park, N.Y.), will sing the national anthem.

About New York Institute of Technology

New York Institute of Technology offers 90 undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree programs in more than 50 fields of study, including computer science, data, and cybersecurity; biology and biomedical studies; architecture and design; engineering; health professions and medicine; IT and digital technologies; management; communications and marketing; education and counseling; and energy and sustainability. A nonprofit, independent, private, and nonsectarian institute of higher education, New York Institute of Technology welcomes nearly 8,000 students worldwide. The university has campuses in New York City (Manhattan) and Long Island (Old Westbury), New York; Jonesboro, Arkansas; and Vancouver, British Columbia, as well as programs around the world.

New York Institute of Technology embraces its mission to provide career-oriented professional education, give all qualified students access to opportunity, and support research and scholarship that benefit the larger world. More than 107,000 alumni comprise an engaged network of doers, makers, and innovators prepared to change the world, solve 21st-century challenges, and reinvent the future.

Media Contact

Elizabeth Sullivan
libbys@nyit.edu