Celebrating the Class of 2025

As our new Seton Hall graduates get ready to cross the graduation stage, we set out to spotlight 25 graduates from Seton Hall's Class of 2025. Along the way, we found even more voices worth celebrating. In this round-up, meet our 25 for ’25 — and a few bonus stories we couldn’t resist sharing.

Sanskruti Brahmbhatt
Hightstown, New Jersey 
“Seton Hall provided me with the opportunities of a lifetime in my research, training me to be an inquisitive scientist while also giving me a community that I could not be more grateful for,” said Brahmbhatt, who is graduating with a degree in biology and minor in both chemistry and business administration in the Joint B.S./M.D. program. A Student Government Association (SGA) senator and president of Alpha Kappa Psi, Brahmbhatt also spearheaded the Seton Hall University Blood Initiative, working closely with RWJ Hospital to host blood drives on campus and collect an average of 150 pints of blood per drive.

A student in the Joint B.S./M.D. Program, Brahmbhatt plans to pursue medical school and study oncology after graduation. In addition to clinical experience, she also conducted research in the Department of Biochemistry and Chemistry, was a teaching assistant in the Organic Chemistry Laboratory and interned at Summit Health Cancer Center during her time at Seton Hall.

Olivia DeFilippo
Montville, New Jersey
“I am so happy with my decision to attend Seton Hall, as I was able to explore everything it had to offer and meet the most amazing people that truly made my time here so special,” said DeFilippo.

A marketing and information technology management major in the Buccino Leadership Institute’s Business cohort, DeFilippo also served as a peer advisor for the Center of Academic Success, co-captain of the Seton Hall Dance Team, "The Sapphires," co-president for Women in Leadership and event coordinator for the UndefeatED club, which strives to raise on-campus awareness for eating disorders and mental illness.

DeFilippo also minored in Italian, and studied abroad in Italy during the summer of 2023 as a part of the Life and Language in Rome program with Gabriella Romani, Ph.D.

“Being selected to join the number one Leadership Program in the country, the Buccino Leadership Institute, was one of the deciding factors that I felt would help prepare me for a future of success and shape me into the strongest leader I could become,” said DeFilippo when asked why she chose Seton Hall. After graduation, she will hone her business management skills as an allocation analyst for Burlington Stores Inc. in the Merchandise Planning Department.

Nicholas Esposito
Hammonton, New Jersey 
Growing up, Nicholas Esposito was always involved in his Catholic church’s community, where he helped as an altar server and volunteered at many parish events. According to Esposito, it was through those experiences as a child and young man that he first heard the Lord’s call to the priesthood, so after graduating high school, Esposito entered the College Seminary at St. Andrew’s Hall at Seton Hall University. 

“Here at St. Andrew’s is where I have grown and continue to grow tremendously as a man preparing for the priesthood,” said Esposito, who is graduating with a B.A. in Philosophical Theology. “It is the remarkable formation faculty that guided, encouraged and challenged me in many ways to become the best version of myself that I could be. 

Esposito commended Seton Hall’s excellent professors, most notably in the Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology, who have all helped him grow intellectually in ways far greater than he anticipated. While the courses in philosophy and theology have deepened Esposito’s personal understanding of the Catholic faith, he said that his education at Seton Hall also enabled him to speak better and more clearly about the faith. 

“The combination of the priestly formation alongside the fine education I have received at St. Andrew’s over these past four years has allowed me to help edify my own parish community as well as my diocese through giving short reflections about my vocation to the priesthood and other topics relating to the faith,” said Esposito, who is a seminarian for the Diocese of Camden. “Seton Hall has not only impressed me, but others who have witnessed the fruits of my time spent here in priestly formation and in study.”

Valerio Levin Gaddi
Hackensack, New Jersey
“As a student and as a leader, I strongly believe that there is always room for improvement within ourselves, both personal and professional,” said Gaddi, a registered nurse. As a working professional with six nursing certifications in critical care and surgery, Gaddi chose the University’s Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.) in Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program because it “constantly ranks as a top hybrid online program for various nurse practitioner programs in the tri-state area and best in New Jersey as per the U.S. News.” According to Gaddi, he was also drawn to the university because “each professor genuinely cares for each student to succeed to the best of their potential and based on personal experience, you are treated as an individual and not a number.“

At Seton Hall, Gaddi was a member of the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing and a recipient of both the 2025 M.S.N. Graduate Scholarship and Institute for Nursing’s Region Two Memorial Scholarship. Outside of coursework, he raised thousands of dollars for orphaned children in Peru, and volunteered at the Friendship house in Hackensack, New Jersey, for the mentally disadvantaged. 

After passing the national board certification, Gaddi intends to work in a critical or intensive care unit managing critically ill open-heart patients on ECMO and other life sustaining devices. “It is true that nursing is a calling, and we must affect change by making an impact one patient at a time,” said Gaddi.

Kai Hansen
Dallas, Texas
According to Texas native Kai Hansen, “Seton Hall was absolutely the right place” for him. “There are so many opportunities at Seton Hall that often go untapped — you just have to be willing to seek them out.”

Hansen took full advantage of Seton Hall’s academic, athletic and extracurricular activities. Beyond the classroom (where he completed a triple major in Business Administration, Chemistry and Philosophy), Hansen was in the lab performing chemistry research under Alexander Fadeev, Ph.D., living and working in residence halls as a resident assistant and leading tours across campus as a member of Blue Crew. 

Beyond his extraordinary academic and extracurricular resume, Hansen also served as the president of Student Government Association, was an active member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity, participated in ROTC and played club volleyball.

After graduation, Hansen plans to pursue a master’s in business administration before receiving a commission for the United States Army.

Dovid Holtzman
Clifton, New Jersey
As a biology student whose extracurriculars span across media, religion and politics, Holtzman is proof that the classroom isn’t the limit.

“Seton Hall University is a home for students to pursue their dreams, develop their minds, and actualize their aspirations,” said the graduate, who was a news director at 89.5 FM WSOU, founding producer at SHU Television and president of Seton Hall Hillel. 

Beyond working in the Chemistry Preparatory Laboratory and hosting "Pirate News Desk" weekly for WSOU, Holtzman also led the production of its 2024 presidential election and inauguration coverage. “From attending the ABC Presidential Debate for 89.5 WSOU-FM, to leading production of an eight-hour Election Night show, Seton Hall became the place where I discovered my identity, passion and skill,” he said. “I will forever look upon my time at Seton Hall as among the brightest years of my life.”

After graduation, Holtzman plans to obtain a Paralegal Certificate and practice for two years before applying to Law School. He will also continue serving as policy chairman and member of Board of Governors at New York Young Republican Club.

Chris Jones
Flanders, New Jersey
As a Visual Sound Media major, Chris Jones shared his skills beyond the classroom as an active member of the Pirate Sports Network (PSN) and the sports and news department at WSOU.

“Pirate Sports Network, WSOU and the Center of Sports Media have given me opportunities I would never have dreamed of,” said Jones, who was attracted to Seton Hall’s robust sports media program. Throughout his time at Seton Hall, Jones traveled to Creighton University to call play-by-play for Seton Hall Men's basketball on WSOU, worked March Madness at the Prudential Center with PSN and attended the Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden on behalf of the Center of Sports Media. “All of these opportunities have further proven that I want to be in sports media and my passion for it has only grown, and that is all because of Seton Hall,” he said.

In 2024, Jones worked at MetLife Stadium as a broadcast intern and assisted with on-site productions such as concerts, sporting events, and even the Copa America soccer tournament. After graduation, he will return to MetLife and begin a full-time position as a Media Services Coordinator.

Nicholas Kimble   
Edison, New Jersey
Nicholas Kimble, a senior graduating with a B.S. in Diplomacy and International Relations, exemplifies servant leadership through his unwavering focus on human connection, resilience and empathy. His dedication is evident in his years of volunteering with the Community of Sant’ Egidio, where he distributed 150 meals and essential shelter resources twice a week to homeless individuals at New York Penn Station since January 2023. 

In the fall of 2024, Kimble served as the outreach and partnerships coordinator for the Graduate Institute of Geneva Migration Initiative. In this role, he collaborated with organizations supporting migrants, coordinated events to amplify migrant voices and forged partnerships to enhance the initiative's impact. Beyond these efforts, Kimble led English and French language workshops and ensured migrants had access to essential integration resources. 

Kimble and a colleague from the Graduate Institute of Geneva were recently awarded the Davis Projects for Peace Scholarship and will be traveling to Kenya following graduation to implement their project. Developed in collaboration with students from Jomo Kenyatta University, Kimble’s work focuses on reducing climate-induced resource conflicts between pastoralists and farmers in Northern Kenya. Beyond reducing land conflicts, the project aspires to transform everyday life for pastoralist families by simplifying pasture tracking, supporting family cohesion, and opening new opportunities for young people within these communities.

Looking to the future, Kimble has been awarded the prestigious U.S. Department of State Rangel Fellowship and will pursue a master’s in public administration at Cornell University in the fall. This opportunity will empower him to bridge communities, advocate for justice and extend his dedication to service on a global scale. With his commitment to transformative action, both locally and internationally, along with his humility and leadership, Nicholas Kimble embodies the qualities of a servant leader.

Maria Elena Lugo
Fort Myers, Florida
A Florida native who moved to New Jersey to study diplomacy and international relations while minoring in both Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies, Lugo recognized that out-of-state costs played a big factor in her college decision. “Realistically, I chose Seton Hall because it offered me the most financial support to study International Relations, and I needed a school that believed in my potential enough to invest in it,” recalled Lugo. “Seton Hall not only made it financially possible but also gave me the leadership opportunities to grow far beyond the classroom,” she said. And her leadership extends far beyond Seton Hall, South Orange and even the United States. As a member of the B.S./M.A. Geneva Graduate Institute Program, Lugo will be returning to Geneva, Switzerland, for her last year of school following graduation.

“My favorite thing about Seton Hall is the Joseph A. Unanue Latino Institute because it is a powerful and affirming space to grow as a student and leader,” said Lugo, who was a student worker at the Institute, founded the Latin Caucus and served as co-president of the Undergraduate Diplomacy Student Association (UDSA). “Through the Institute, I found a community that recognized and uplifted my identity, values and aspirations — something that shaped both my professional journey and personal confidence.”

Tasiah Mayfield
San Antonio, Texas
While Tasiah Mayfield excelled academically as a Sound Production and Engineering and Asian Studies double major, the most meaningful part of her Seton Hall experience was the on-campus clubs, organizations and opportunities. “I made a wide network of friends and always had something to do,” said Mayfield, who served as the K-Pop Club president and dance co-coordinator, WSOU DJ and artist interviewer, Jazz Ensemble vocalist, Seton Hall Choir manager and Alto section leader. 

Her advice? “Check if Seton Hall has any clubs or organization you’re interested in and see what sort of things they are up to,” said Mayfield. “They will make your college experience way more fun.”

During Monday’s Baccalaureate ceremony, Mayfield will also sing the alma mater. After graduation, Mayfield plans to return home to Texas to pursue a graduate certificate and study abroad, ideally in Japan.

Callie McCool
Tampa, Florida
“The Seton Hall community is extremely close-knit and welcoming,” said McCool, a biology major from Florida who found a new home at Seton Hall through Buccino Leadership, the Center for Academic Success, and Pre-Health Programs, which have prepared her for medical school. 

“The great thing about extracurriculars at Seton Hall is that there is such a variety to pick from,” said McCool, who founded and led the University's chapter of Project Sunshine; was an IDT mentor for freshman, College of Arts and Sciences underclassmen representative, and led the Social Interaction Initiative through Buccino Leadership Institute. She was also a peer advisor (PA) and PA coordinator for the Center for Academic Success. Beyond the classroom, McCool worked with children, in and out of the hospital setting, adults with disabilities and volunteered within her community through DOVE. “These experiences were so vastly unique in that they equipped me with numerous skills, such as empathy and compassion, that will definitely help me to be a better physician and provide the best care for my future patients,” said McCool. “The chance to work and volunteer with different populations so early on made me truly thankful for all the opportunities Seton Hall has to offer.”

McCool was recently commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Air Force and was selected for the Air Force’s Health Professions Scholarship Program and will serve as a military physician after attending medical school. Prior to moving back home to Florida and starting medical school classes at Nova Southeastern University in the fall, McCool will attend Air Force Officer Training School alongside other newly commissioned Second Lieutenants.

Joseline Molina
Roxbury, New Jersey
“When it came time to choose a college, the decision was easy — Seton Hall was always where I was meant to be,” said Molina, who is an alumni legacy, lifelong Pirate basketball fan and a management student in Buccino Leadership Institute. “More than just tradition, I knew Seton Hall would offer the resources, support and opportunities to help me build a strong future — and it absolutely delivered.”

Beyond sitting in the student section at The Rock, Molina was also an outstanding member Martin Luther King Scholarship Association and president of the Minority Pre-Law Club. She also was named a 2025 Servant Leader Scholar at Seton Hall.

“These past four years have been the best of my life,” said Molina, who credits Buccino Leadership Institute for helping her “find her place” within a week of being on-campus as a freshman. “I’ve made lifelong friends, grown in ways I never imagined, and I’m incredibly grateful for it all,” said Molina. “The relationships I’ve built and the memories I’ve made at Seton Hall will stay with me forever.”

Amanda Nyakwada
Nairobi, Kenya
Nyakwada, who is completing her M.A. Psychological Studies to gain research experience in preparation for a doctoral degree, chose Seton Hall because of its academic rigor combined with a supportive environment. “At Seton Hall, I had the opportunity to work with professors who encouraged my love for scholarship and went above and beyond for my success,” said Nyakwada. “I would not be the researcher I am if not for my mentor, Dr. Marianne Lloyd’s, support.”

And, while her primary interest is cognitive psychology, Nyakwada appreciated that Seton Hall’s psychology curriculum included courses from an enriching counseling perspective. According to Nyakwada, who also worked as a manager for the Lloyd Sleep and Memory Lab, “Seton Hall is the best decision I made for my academic career.”

After graduation, Nyakwada will attend Rutgers-Newark and earn a Ph.D. in psychology with a focus on decision-making and motivation. “I am excited to begin this next step in my academic career to become a professor of cognitive psychology,” she said.

Matthew Pardillo
Bloomfield, New Jersey
The only male in his cohort and the first to take the NCLEX and begin full-time work, Matthew Pardillo is the epitome of drive. A first-generation college student who is inspired by the hard work and sacrifice of his parents, Pardillo completed 60 credits in under 14 months while attending clinicals twice a week as part of the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) 14-month program, while also working part-time night shifts in a pediatric trauma center.

“I chose Seton Hall because it offered the kind of reputable, challenging nursing program that would give me a strong foundation to launch my career,” said Pardillo. Regarding that “strong foundation,” Pardillo recalled hearing consistent feedback about how Seton Hall nursing students stood out as some of the best-prepared during clinical rotations.

“Seton Hall prepared me to step into the real world with confidence,” said Pardillo. “The fast-paced, high-intensity nature of the ABSN program pushed me to grow quickly and think critically — exactly what’s needed in an acute care setting.”

Pardillo recently accepted a staff nurse position in the Coronary ICU at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, where he will be caring for patients with acute myocardial infarction, advanced heart failure, those on ECMO and others awaiting transplant. “Seton Hall gave me the start I needed — and now I feel ready to grow and go far in this field.”

Olivia Pasciucco
Cape May Court House, New Jersey
Pasciucco, a History major who minored in both Russian and European Studies, had somewhat of an unprecedented route to graduation after realizing that history was her true passion midway through her undergraduate experience. While some students would be overwhelmed by a coursework overhaul, Pasciucco said that Seton Hall made transitioning to a new major “seamless.” 

“The faculty welcomed me with encouragement and pushed me to grow as a researcher, writer and critical thinker,” recalled Pasciucco, who was a member of both the Phi Alpha Theta Honor History Society and Chronicles: Journal of History editing team. “Thanks to engaging coursework, archival research and the university’s proximity to incredible museums, I’ve developed analytical and communication skills that go far beyond the study of history."

“Most importantly Seton Hall helped me discover my calling in public history, making the past accessible and relevant to all people,” said Pasciucco, who interned at the Museum of Early Trades and Crafts in Madison, New Jersey as an undergraduate. “I’m graduating with the tools and confidence to pursue a career where I can share stories that matter and connect communities through education and engagement."

Following graduation, Pasciucco will work with the Cape May Museums of Arts and Culture and Historic Cold Spring Village, where she will gain hands-on experience in public history through educational programming for all ages (school field trips, adult programs, outreach programs) and collections management working under the museum registrar. After a gap year, she plans to pursue a master’s degree in either museum education or public history.

Nadia Pfarr
Albuquerque, New Mexico
“Seton Hall has truly become my home,” said Pfarr, a Stillman School of Business student and aspiring lawyer from New Mexico. “I’ve been able to grow into the person I aspire to be: someone who makes a difference, even if it’s just in one person’s life.”

According to Pfarr, Seton Hall allowed her to thrive professionally and academically. While majoring in both Sports Management and Finance, Pfarr was a member of the Buccino Leadership Institute, DEI Chair of the Sports Management and Analytics Club and an e-board member for the Stillman Mentorship Program. Outside of coursework, Pfarr worked at the University's Recreation Center, interned with the Seton Hall Athletics marketing team and was a campus marketing Intern for the sports prediction app VLTED. She was also an outstanding member of Residence Life, where she served as a head resident assistant, desk assistant and conference assistant.

“More than anything, Seton Hall has given me confidence in my voice and my abilities,” says Pfarr. “Seton Hall’s emphasis on real-world learning and professional development meant I wouldn’t just be gaining a degree but building a future.”

After graduation, Pfarr will continue her education at Seton Hall Law School on full scholarship, where she plans to specialize in sports and entertainment law and advocate for women in sports.

Lamiyah Rajai
Pompton Plains, New Jersey
“To me, Seton Hall represents the idea that education should not just inform — it should transform,” said Lamiyah Rajai, a student in the 3+3 B.S. Biology/M.S. Physician Assistant program who chose the dual degree to build a strong scientific foundation while also moving efficiently toward a career in patient care. According to Rajai, who matriculated after earning a B.S. in Biology in 2023, the accelerated structure challenged her to stay disciplined and focused, but it also provided clarity and purpose early on.

While pursuing her M.S.P.A, Rajai served as both the diversity chair (2024) and service chair (2023) of PASSSHU. Outside of Seton Hall, she was named a 2023-24 PAEA Student Health Policy Fellow, attended the 2024 AAPA Advocacy and Leadership Summit in Washington D.C., and volunteered in Honduras with Global Medical Brigades.

Rajai said that Seton Hall is “a community that has allowed me to explore my passions, challenge my assumptions and grow into someone who is not just career-ready but also socially conscious and values-driven,” and she plans to bring this perspective to her new role as an OB-GYN physician assistant in New York City.

Jorge A. Rivera
Springfield, New Jersey
“Small population, big impact” is exactly what Jorge A. Rivera, who majored in visual and sound media with a concentration in TV production, was looking for when he chose Seton Hall – and the New Jersey native made an impact.

During his four years at Seton Hall, Rivera served as the Director of Programming for SHU TV, where he directed a team of 30 broadcasters and panelists during an 8-hour live-show on election night; produced, coordinated and directed a landmark professional-level broadcast covering the Inauguration; and developed Campus Nightly, the club's signature weekly news program.

Rivera’s Seton Hall experience extended beyond South Orange. As the assistant news director for WSOU 89.5 FM, he traveled to Seattle, Washington during the fall 2024 semester for the College Broadcasters, Inc. National Conference to represent the radio station. And, as an Italian minor, Rivera studied abroad in the Life and Languages in Rome program, where he spent the summer living with a host family in Italy while honing his Italian language skills and attending cultural excursions to the Vatican, Naples, Pompeii, Sorrento and more.

“Studying abroad in Rome was by far the greatest experience Seton Hall gave me,” said Rivera, who said he “learned a country and culture on an intimate level in just 30 days,” both inside and outside of the classroom.

Erich Sanders
Cresskill, New Jersey
During his time at Seton Hall, Erich Sanders developed his intellect, opened his heart and developed new perspectives on the world as he pursued both a B.A. in Catholic Theology at Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology and a B.A. in Philosophy in the College of Arts and Sciences. Sanders said that Seton Hall “provided a spiritual home for me throughout my college years and the relationships I’ve formed with my classmates have helped me to all while forming lifetime friendships and memories.”

“Above all, my time at Seton Hall has helped me to grow in my Catholic faith by providing a spiritual community that encouraged me to continue to learn more about my faith and live it out in all parts of my life,” said Sanders, who served as a sacristan with Campus Ministry; volunteered with DOVE; sang with the University Choir; and was editor-in-chief of The Heart of the Hall, the student publication of the Office of Mission and Ministry. 

Since graduating in December, Sanders has been working as an English Teacher at MEK Review, a local tutoring and test prep company in Bergen County, New Jersey. In the fall, he will be attending Boston College with full funding from the Lonergan Institute to pursue a joint M.A. in Philosophy and Theology.

Jackson Shank
Kansas City, Kansas
“Of all the colleges I’ve been to and people that I’ve talked to who have gone to other schools, I have never felt like I got more out of my college experience than my time at Seton Hall,” said Shank, who came from Kansas City. “This place is special.”

According to Shank, a Visual and Sound Media major, attending Seton Hall was the best choice for his ideal career path. “I feel that I am in a prime location and have had incredible success throughout my time here,” said Shank, who participated in Pirate Sports Network and WSOU, and was recently named the Center for Sports Media’s 2025 Student of the Year. 

When it comes to academics, Shank appreciated that Seton Hall’s core curriculum and liberal arts programming provided a wide educational scope, which he believes prepared him well for life beyond South Orange. After graduation, Shank will work as a correspondent for the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference while pursuing a full-time position with a team or network.

Adam Shirley
Greenville, South Carolina
“Seton Hall has shaped me into someone who believes I can create change in the world,” said Adam Shirley, a Criminal Justice and Africana Studies double major. An outstanding member of the MLK Scholarship Association (he served as president, social justice chair and scholar during his four years), Shirley was also a Staff Writer for The Diplomatic Envoy, a representative for Africana Studies in the College of Arts and Sciences' Dean’s Undergraduate Student Cabinet (DUSC) and traveled to Morocco through Seton Hall’s Study Abroad program.

Thanks to the guidance of professors, mentors and faculty, Shirley said, “I’ve been able to step into leadership roles I once never imagined.” Shirley is “especially proud” of helping the MLKSA refocus after the pandemic as student president, launching the L.E.A.D. program to educate scholars on Dr. King’s “three evils,” reviving the Minority Pre-Law Society with some incredible students to meet the needs of our students and communities and helping lead the Palestinian Student Association through one of the most emotionally intense and politically challenging times. 

After graduation, Shirley intends to get a master's degree before attending law school and hopes to one day work in criminal and civil rights law.

Shayne Simmons
Danbury, Connecticut
“Seton Hall gave me everything I was looking for in one place: a tight knit community rooted in servant leadership, rigorous academics, and the chance to compete at a high athletic level,” said Shayne Simmons, a Master of Public Administration student and student-athlete for Seton Hall Men’s Swim and Dive. “From my first campus visit, I could see it was a place where my passions would all flourish alongside mentors and friends who value excellence and service.”

As a student in the 3+2 B.A. Political Science/Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.), Simmons said that Seton Hall is proof that that you reap what you sow. “Through rigorous coursework, hands on research and mentors who challenged me to lead, I learned to translate ambition into tangible service,” said Simmons, who was a Faculty Senate Sustainability Committee member and vice president of the International City/County Management Association (ICMA). “Whether coordinating campus food security projects or competing in the pool, Seton Hall equipped me with the skills, confidence and values to serve others effectively long after graduation.”

Following graduation, Simmons will work as both a development director at Boys and Girls Club and a research assistant for Al-Munir Consulting.

Ningberi Zinabou Tchontchoko
Newark, New Jersey
A biochemistry major from Togo Bassar, West Africa, Tchontchoko chose Seton Hall for its pre-health opportunities, particularly the Pre-Medical/Pre-Dental Plus Program. Paired with small class sizes, an appealing university culture and the Martin Luther King Leadership Program, Tchontchoko was confident that Seton Hall would be a good fit for her.

“At Seton Hall, students are really valued for who they are, and everyone is always willing to help,” said Tchontoko, who gave back to the Seton Hall community by working as as a tutor-in-residence for the Academic Resource Center. “By coming to Seton Hall, an individual becomes part of a family where everyone is invested in helping them succeed and become the best version of themselves.” 

During her time at Seton Hall, Tchontchoko researched Transmembrane Proteins in Extracellular Vesicles and the Biomarker Potential for Ovarian and Prostate Cancer and was an active member of Health Science Amplified (HSA).

In addition to receiving the Outstanding Academic Achievement Award from the State of New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education, Tchontchoko is also graduating Summa Cum Laude. Following graduation, Tchontchoko will be attending the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

Alexandra (Allie) Waggoner
Moorestown, New Jersey
The first women's swimmer in Seton Hall History to qualify for NCAA Swimming championships, Allie Waggoner, a communication major with a minor in public relations, embodied the spirit of a Seton Hall Pirates student-athlete — being a student first. Beyond her incredible achievements in the pool, Waggoner was a three-time member of the Big East All-Academic Team, four-time member of the All-Big East Team Dean’s List and a member of Chi Alpha Sigma, Lambda Pi Eta Communication and of Delta Alpha Pi International Honor Societies. She was also an active member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

The most meaningful part of Waggoner’s Seton Hall experience was the close-knit community she's built. “Seton Hall is a place where you can really find your people. It's big enough to offer great opportunities, but small enough that you're not just a number,” said Waggoner.

 “Whether in the classroom or through athletics, I've always felt supported and inspired to reach my goals,” she said — but arguably, she’s exceeded them. As team captain of the Women's Swimming and Diving program, Waggoner holds five school records and is the BIG East Conference record holder in the 1650 freestyle. A four-time Seton Hall Athlete of the Year, Waggoner is also a six-time BIG East Champion and was named the BIG East Most Outstanding Women's Swimmer twice during her career.

Waggoner was recently accepted into the Disney College Program, and will move to Orlando, Florida, in 2025 to begin an internship working in Walt Disney World's parks and resorts.

Victoria White
Matawan, New Jersey
“While any university experience is what you make of it, Seton Hall makes it especially easy to thrive,” said Victoria White, an elementary and special Education major with a speech-language pathology concentration, who also studied social and behavioral sciences.

At Seton Hall, White served as the president of the American Sign Language and Deaf Culture Club and was the University’s first student teacher to earn hours in a School for the Deaf. “This experience has not only allowed me to network with educational speech-language pathologists but has also allowed me to explore an entirely unique aspect of teaching that I wouldn't have experienced otherwise,” she said.

Outside of Seton Hall, White also volunteered for the Global Learning Center, helping students and pursuant individuals from other countries develop their skills in spoken English. 

White feels thoroughly prepared for her post-graduate schooling and career and said that Seton Hall has prepared her to continue her studies while simultaneously shaping her into a well-rounded educator. “With my student teaching experiences and coursework in speech-language pathology prerequisites, I’ve gained the knowledge and confidence needed to take the next step,” said White, will be attending Kean University’s two-year Speech-Language Pathology program following graduation.

“I’m deeply grateful to the professors at Seton Hall who have devoted their lives to teaching and to the field of speech-language pathology,” she said. “Their passion, expertise and commitment to student success have inspired me and given me the assurance that I’m ready to meet the challenges of graduate school, guided by the strong foundation they’ve helped me build.”

Reilly Williams   
Little Silver, New Jersey
A passionate student leader and healthcare advocate, Reilly Williams served as co-president of the Student Nurses Association, a 2024 New Jersey Sharing Network Health Sciences Scholarship recipient, a member of Sigma Theta Tau and received a 2025 Petersheim Academic Symposium Travel Scholarship while studying nursing at Seton Hall. 

“Our clinicals are amazing and I’ve learned so much,” said Williams. “We learned how to critically think and treat not just disease but potential complications, while focusing on the whole person.” According to the Catholic Studies minor, her coursework further opened her eyes to the dignity of the human person and the importance of holistic healthcare — an “obvious intersection” of her two educational programs.

Holistic healthcare is important to Williams, a servant leader who has witnessed underdeveloped healthcare systems volunteering in El Salvador with DOVE and while studying abroad in Mexico for Nursing. “I realized that, in America, we are so often focused on ourselves,” recalled Williams, “but Seton Hall prepared me to help people in the hospital and beyond while recognizing the need for health reform and service throughout the world.”

Williams said that Seton Hall allowed her to meet people from so many backgrounds, whether in her nursing courses at the Interprofessional Health Sciences (IHS) campus, while studying abroad in Mexico or Italy, or being a student leader on-campus and a sister of Kappa Kappa Gamma. “After being at Seton Hall, I know how to understand people, and know that I don’t have to agree with everyone to treat them with kindness.” After graduation, Williams will join a nurse residency program at University of Pennsylvania working in a bone marrow transplant unit.

Esther Williamson
Lakeside, Montana
“Seton Hall is a university that prioritizes academic growth and excellence while emphasizing leadership through service,” said Williamson, a Doctor of Physical Therapy graduate who was recently inducted into the American Council of Academic Physical Therapy (ACAPT) National Physical Therapy Student Honor Society. “We are resilient and are not afraid to overcome obstacles and challenges to better our lives and communities.”

Williamson is passionate about language learning, and outside of her required coursework for the 3+3 B.S./D.P.T. program, she studied Spanish and Chinese at Seton Hall, founded the Languages and Cultures Club, consulted for Seton Hall’s languages department on a grant project developing healthcare-specific language programs and presented on language learning in both the Spanish for Healthcare Providers course and at the Petersheim Academic Expo. 

According to Williamson, who also worked part-time consistently throughout undergraduate and graduate school, “I was committed to academic excellence while maintaining a strong work ethic in my employment.” Over her six years at Seton Hall, she worked in multiple departments on campus including as an office assistant for PC Support Services, teaching assistant for a microbiology lab for nursing majors, and as a graduate assistant for the Division of University Advancement.

“I have learned so much while at Seton Hall: technical skills, critical thinking, research methods and appraisal, evidence-based practice, cross-cultural communication, leadership and compassionate care, said Williamson, who will be working in an inpatient rehabilitation hospital in New Jersey following graduation. “One of the things that drew me to Seton Hall was the value of servant leadership, and as a graduating Doctor of Physical Therapy, I feel truly prepared to be a servant leader in my field.”

#SetonHall2025 

Graduating Pirates, show us how you’re celebrating! Share a favorite memory, a family gathering or that perfect cap-and-gown photo using #SetonHall2025 on social media before, during or after your ceremonies — you just might see your moment featured on Seton Hall’s official channels! 

Categories: Campus Life, Education