LIM College held its 86th annual Commencement exercises at David Geffen Hall, Lincoln Center, on May 9. Nearly 500 students received master’s, bachelor’s, and associate degrees at the event, which included a keynote address from Luisa Herrera-Garcia, Chief Officer of Development and Production Sourcing at Alexander Wang.
Herrera-Garcia, who is a member of the LIM College Class of 1988, received a Distinguished Achievement Award as well as an honorary Doctor of Commercial Science degree. Herrera-Garcia told the graduates, “Greatness comes with a great deal of humility and hard work. Remember the importance of working as a team and always lead with empathy. Being humble can be your greatest asset. If you spend most of your time being passionate about what you do, respect and admiration will follow.”
She continued, “Never measure your success by someone else’s progress. We all have different paths and journeys in this business and just because you don’t get there fast, it does not mean you are not on your way.”
In his address to the Class of 2025, LIM College President Ron Marshall talked about the importance of having “grit,” defined as the combination of passion and perseverance, saying, “Some of you, like me, are the first in your families to pursue a college degree. Some of you came halfway across the world. Some of you worked jobs—maybe more than one—while you earned your degree.”
President Marshall continued, “We may never know the depth of challenges you have faced, but we do know that you have persevered through it all. Grit is going to set you apart from others who have not discovered their passion, let alone had that passion fuel their every action day after day.”
Velissa Vaughn, who earned a Master of Professional Studies degree from LIM in 2016 received the Shining Star Alumni Award. Vaughn is the Owner and Founder of JXV Collective, as well as the founder of H.E.R. Tunnel, formerly known as @WNBATunnel. Brandon Smithwrick from the Class of 2018 received the Rising Star Alumni Award. Smithwrick is Director of Content at Kickstarter.
Emaan Choudry of Portland, Oregon was the undergraduate Class of 2025 student speaker, noting, “As we step into an industry that reinvents itself daily, we do so with the confidence that we belong—not as spectators, but as the next generation of leaders, innovators, and changemakers. Whether we’re launching brands, redefining marketing strategies, curating luxury experiences, or carving out entirely new career paths that don’t even exist yet, we are ready. Our college experience has tested us, shaped us,
and occasionally humbled us—but it has also prepared us. Now, it’s our turn to set the trends, break the rules, and redefine what’s possible.”
Jade Black of Montreal, Canada was the graduate Class of 2025 speaker. She recalled her decision to earn a master’s degree at LIM.
“I vividly remember sitting at my desk at my 9-5 accounting job, feeling a lack of purpose and a yearning for creativity. I was halfway through my CPA designation, wondering how I could pivot when my entire academic career led me down this path. ‘What story do you want to tell when you look back on this moment?’ This question lived rent-free in my head, until one day, when I realized that life isn’t just about finding the ‘right’ path. It’s about creating a story you’ll be proud to tell. That decision led me to LIM College, surrounded by some of the most brilliant and creative minds I’ve ever met,” said Black.
Dr. O’Rita Johnson was posthumously awarded the Adrian G. Marcuse Award for Teaching Excellence. Named in honor of LIM College’s president from 1972-2002, this award is given to a faculty member who performs in exemplary fashion in the classroom and consistently embodies the College’s core values. The much-beloved Dr. Johnson, who passed away earlier this year, was the Assistant Director of LIM’s Math Center and a faculty member in the Arts & Sciences department. Dr. Johnson’s son was present on stage to accept the award.
LIM College’s 2025 Commencement ceremony is available for on-demand viewing at: https://www.limcollege.edu/commencement
