Commencement Speakers 2025
The ¸»¶þ´úÊÓƵ is proud to announce our distinguished lineup of commencement speakers for the 2025 graduation ceremonies. Representing diverse academic disciplines from each of our schools and ¸»¶þ´úÊÓƵs, these accomplished individuals will share their wisdom and experiences with our graduating class. Their journeys from St. Thomas classrooms to leadership exemplify how our graduates transform education into meaningful impact. Join us as these speakers inspire our newest alumni to advance the common good as they step confidently into their futures.
May 17 at 1 PM - ¸»¶þ´úÊÓƵ of Law
Marian Farah ’25
Marian Farah has earned her Juris Doctor (J.D.) from the ¸»¶þ´úÊÓƵ of Law at the ¸»¶þ´úÊÓƵ. After the bar exam, she is spending 6.5 wonderful weeks in Bali, Indonesia. In the fall, she'll join Stoel Rives LLP as a litigation associate in the Minneapolis office. Reflecting on her time at St. Thomas, Marian says, "I didn't just learn the law at St. Thomas—I learned to listen with inquisitiveness, not judgment. Inquire with compassion, not assumptions. And advocate with empathy and conviction."
May 24 at 9:00 am - Undergraduate Commencement for Opus College of Business
Jake Manske ’25
Following graduation, Jake will be working full time as the Assistant Operations Manager at Wings Insurance, a Twin Cities-based aviation insurance brokerage. Additionally, this summer, he plans to take the LSAT in preparation for beginning law school in August 2026. His long-term goal is to become a lawyer, business owner, and public servant. "St. Thomas not only equipped me with the skills for a successful career, but also gave me a deeper understanding of myself, my goals, and my aspirations. I am leaving with an incredible network of friends, mentors, and professionals who continue to support and cheer me on."
May 24 at 12:30 pm - Undergraduate Commencement for College of Arts & Sciences
Bifuh Ngongalah ’25
Bifuh is moving to San Francisco, CA to work as a Software Engineer at Atlassian. "My time at St. Thomas has shown me that belonging doesn't require sameness. It just requires someone to say, 'You belong here' until you start to believe it too. It's something we offer each other by seeing, believing, and reaching across the boundary."
May 24 at 3:30 pm - Undergraduate Commencement for Morrison Family College of Health, ¸»¶þ´úÊÓƵ of Education, ¸»¶þ´úÊÓƵ of Engineering
Kadija T. Koroma ’25
Kadija's future plans are to own a hospital and help underserved communities, both locally and globally, gain access to affordable healthcare services. Her next step is to attend graduate school and earn a master's degree in Healthcare Administration to become a Healthcare Administrator. She wants her education to transcend into a career where she can lead with her heart. "St. Thomas became my village. I joined student organizations and leadership roles to pour into others the way my mentors poured into me. My legacy is in the students I mentored, the events I led, the cultures I celebrated, and the courage I found within myself. It's in the first-gen girl who walked in unsure and is now walking out unstoppable."
May 25 at 9:30 am - Graduate Commencement for Morrison Family College of Health, Opus College of Business
Bethaney Kaye ’25
Bethaney plans to continue leading as the Senior Medical Director at Make-A-Wish America—bringing new insight, strategic thinking, and a renewed commitment to mission-driven leadership through the lens of what she's learned during her MBA journey. "I came to this program hoping to grow as a leader for the mission I care so deeply about. I'm leaving not only with new skills, but with a clearer sense of who I am as a mission-driven leader, one grounded in purpose, strengthened by challenge, and ready to lead work that truly makes a difference."
May 25 at 12:30 pm - Graduate Commencement for College of Arts & Sciences
Jayce Skaar Alexander ’25
Looking ahead, Jayce is excited to continue leading DEI efforts for the City of Minnetonka while growing his business, Clear Lens Consulting, into a dynamic platform for inclusive leadership, organizational change, and broader ¸»¶þ´úÊÓƵ impact. "We must welcome complexity, design inclusively, and co-create solutions to build for the common good in a pluralistic world."
May 25 at 3:30 pm - Dougherty Family College Commencement
Nayeli Garcia Genis ’25
Nayeli plans to pursue a co-major in social work and sociology. She hopes to one day create meaningful change and be the kind of support she once needed—especially for those from marginalized communities like her own. "My time at DFC felt short, but it was full of transformation. What once seemed like a distant dream (higher education) became a reality. DFC not only helped me make it through, but to actually succeed in it, and that success has opened the doors to so many life-changing opportunities."