During 50th Commencement Ceremonies
UTICA, NY – SUNY Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly) celebrated the achievements of 764 graduates during its 50th Commencement ceremonies earlier today.
“Commencement is a time to reflect on the extraordinary achievements of our students. This year, it is particularly special as we celebrate the 50th graduating class in SUNY Poly’s history,” said SUNY Poly President Winston Oluwole Soboyejo. “These graduates have demonstrated not only academic
excellence but also adaptability, creativity, and resilience. They are entering a world that needs their talents and vision, and we are proud to have prepared them to lead with purpose and impact.”
A total of 488 students received their bachelor’s degree, and a total of 276 earned a graduate degree or certificate of advanced study. Moreover, the top three undergraduate degrees awarded by number of students were Computer Science, Business Administration, and Mechanical Engineering, while the top three graduate degrees were Family Nurse Practitioner, Computer Science, and Technology Management MBA.
Two ceremonies were held, with the College of Engineering ceremony taking place at 10 a.m., followed by a 2 p.m. ceremony honoring graduates from the College of Arts & Sciences, College of Business, and College of Health Sciences.
The following commencement speakers addressed SUNY Poly’s newest graduates at the ceremonies:
Dr. Guru Madhavan – College of Engineering Ceremony
A renowned biomedical systems engineer and author, Dr. Madhavan serves as the Norman R. Augustine Senior Scholar and Senior Director of Programs at the National Academy of Engineering. He founded the Forum on Complex Unifiable Systems (FOCUS) program and has advised the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the European Union Malaria Fund. Previously, he contributed to developing surgical catheters for cardiac ablation and neuromuscular stimulators to improve blood circulation.
Dr. Madhavan holds an M.S. and Ph.D. in biomedical engineering and an M.B.A. from the State University of New York, which honored him with the Edward Weisband Distinguished Alumni Award. His numerous accolades include the ASME Gantt Medal and IEEE Norbert Wiener Award. A fellow of organizations such as AAAS and ASME, he is a former IEEE-USA vice president. Dr. Madhavan has authored two books: Wicked Problems: How to Engineer a Better World, and Applied Minds: How Engineers Think, which is widely translated and celebrated for its insights into engineering.
Dr. Maria Irene Kontaridis – Colleges of Arts & Sciences/Business/Health Sciences Ceremony Dr. Kontaridis is the Executive Director and Director of Research at the Masonic Medical Research Institute, where she leads efforts in basic biomedical and clinical research to uncover molecular mechanisms of disease and develop future treatments. The institute also provides education and training for scientists and researchers worldwide. She holds a part-time faculty position as Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.
Dr. Kontaridis earned dual undergraduate degrees in Classics and Chemistry from the University of Florida and received master’s degrees and a Ph.D. in Biomedical and Biological Sciences from Yale University, where her research focused on protein tyrosine phosphatases in cell growth and skeletal muscle differentiation. Her research program investigates congenital heart disease and heart failure, funded by NIH and foundations like the Children’s Cardiomyopathy Foundation. A Fellow of the American Heart Association, she has held key leadership roles, including chairing AHA’s Early Career Councils and Harvard Medical School’s Joint Committee on the Status of Women.
In recognition of SUNY Poly’s milestone 50th Commencement, the university will also honor the Class of 1975, the institution’s first graduating class, during Wildcat Homecoming Weekend this September, further linking its proud past to a promising future.
About SUNY Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly)
SUNY Polytechnic Institute, located in Utica, N.Y., is a vibrant and inclusive community where students, faculty, and staff are empowered through a forward-looking STEAM education and dynamic campus experience. As New York State’s premier public polytechnic, SUNY Poly fosters innovation and interdisciplinary learning across its four colleges—Arts & Sciences, Business, Engineering, and Health Sciences—preparing graduates to lead in a rapidly evolving global landscape.
Guided by a bold vision for societal impact, SUNY Poly advances use-inspired research and transformative collaborations that drive economic development, technological progress, and humanitarian solutions—locally in the Mohawk Valley and globally across diverse communities. For more info, visit www.sunypoly.edu.
