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DR. LEA A. JOHNSON, pictured at right, is the new president of Maria College in Albany. A 17-year veteran in the field of higher education, she comes to Maria from American International College in Springfield, Mass., where she's been dean and associate professor of its school of business administration. She succeeds SISTER LAUREEN FITZGERALD, RSM, who's retiring after 38 years of leadership (read a previous story at http://www.evangelist.org/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=23359&SectionID=3&SubSectionID=28&S=1).

Maria College conferred six bachelor's degrees and 211 associate's degrees at this year's commencement ceremony; keynoter and U.S. District Judge MAE D'AGOSTINO received an honorary degree. Maria also held a candlelight ceremony wherein nursing graduates take their oaths, and held a symposium for guidance counselors. To learn about Maria's two- and four-year degree programs, see www.maria.edu....

At its commencement, Siena College in Loudonville celebrated the class of 2012 and also conferred three honorary degrees: to educational leader DR. JOSEPH PASTORE JR.; journalist, author and sportswoman VIRGINIA KRAFT PAYSON and New York Yankees captain DEREK JETER (see www.siena.edu/commencement)....

The College of Saint Rose in Albany bid farewell to outgoing president DR. R. MARK SULLIVAN and his wife, KATHLEEN, with honorary doctorates while conferring 677 bachelor's degrees and 1,112 master's degrees and certificates of advanced study upon the class of 2012. CSR also just kicked off an exhibit of art and design by faculty (see www.strose.edu/gallery)....

JOSEPH A. REILLY of Voorheesville (pictured at right), retired president/CEO of the New York State Broadcasters Association and an alumnus of Christian Brothers Academy in Albany, received an honorary doctorate from Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh, as did CARDINAL PETER TURKSON, profiled several times in The Evangelist....

SISTER MARY JANE HERB, IHM received a bouquet from JAMES LEVESKAS, principal of St. Ambrose School in Latham, during a send-off party. Sister Jane, previously profiled in The Evangelist, is becoming president of her religious order after 15 years as superintendent of schools for the Albany Diocese....

St. Gregory's School in Loudonville raised a record $120,000 at its annual gala. More than 200 donors and supporters attended the event, where GREG AND TICHIE LANGAN FININ were honored with the school's founder's service award for their support....[[In-content Ad]]

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