MEDIA ADVISORY – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 31, 2016
Contact: Brian Franklin, 703-201-3875, bfranklin@thewakemanagency.com
WHAT: Metropolitan College of New York (MCNY) will hold its 39th Commencement ceremony on Saturday, June 11th at the Jacob Javits Convention Center. Five hundred and fifty students will be awarded undergraduate and graduate degrees from the Audrey Cohen School for Human Services and Education, School for Business, and School for Public Affairs & Administration programs.
WHO: MCNY President Vinton Thompson will preside over the ceremony
Keynote Address:
- Jennifer Jones Austin, CEO, Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies
Jennifer Jones Austin is the CEO and Executive Director of the Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies (FPWA), a prominent New York City social policy and advocacy organization with over 200 member human services agencies operating throughout New York City. Prior to joining FPWA, Ms. Jones Austin served as Senior Vice President of United Way of New York City.
Honorary Degrees:
- Brian Silva, Executive Director, Marriage Equity USA and MCNY Alumnus
Brian Silva serves as Executive Director of Marriage Equality USA (MEUSA), and Director of Grassroots Engagement and the National Equality Action Team for 
Freedom for All Americans (FFAA). MEUSA is the nation’s oldest and largest grassroots organization dedicated to achieving civil marriage equality in all 50 states and at the federal level. Under Silva’s leadership, MEUSA is credited with galvanizing support around the United States Supreme Court’s landmark decision affirming marriage equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans. At FFAA, Brian is overseeing the transition of MEUSA/NEAT and other initiatives to bring volunteer, grassroots participation into t
he national campaign for LGBTQ non-discrimination.
- Melvin Douglass, Co-Founder, YOUniversity Bound and MCNY Trustee
Dr. Melvin Douglass is an expert in K-12 education, urban education, organizational administration and supervision. As an MCNY Trustee, Dr. Douglass oversees the Academic Affairs Committee. Civic-minded and deeply dedicated to New York’s educational community, Dr. Douglass has been described as “one of America’s most profound, insightful, engaging, sensitive and accomplished instructional leaders on the scene today.”W HEN: Saturday, June 11, 2016 – Doors open to guests at 3pm, Ceremony begins at 4pm
WHERE: Jacob J. Javits Convention Center, 655 West 34th Street, NYC
WHEN: Saturday, June 11, 2016, Doors open to guests at 3pm, Cermony begins at 4pm
Editor’s Note: To attend and/or arrange coverage of MCNY’s Commencement, for student stories, or for further assistance, please contact: Tina Georgiou, tgeorgiou@mcny.edu or 646-648-0694
About Metropolitan College of New York
Audrey Cohen, educational visionary and activist, founded the Women’s Talent Corps in 1964. Through development and training for new professional positions, the Talent Corps created employment for thousands of people. It became The College for Human Services, later Audrey Cohen College, and today Metropolitan College of New York (MCNY). For over 50 years, MCNY has continued the tradition of offering highly motivated learners an education that combines applied skills with professional knowledge to effect personal transformation and positive change in the workplace and community. MCNY is a not-for-profit, accredited, independent college. Full year-round offerings accelerate degree completion, and a unique approach to learning permits close integration of workplace activities and study. MCNY locations are in the Financial District at 60 West Street, New York, NY 10006 and in the Bronx at 529 Courtlandt Ave., Bronx, NY 10451. For more information on MCNY, visit www.mcny.edu or call 800.33.THINK.
