Class of 2024 Speakers

Commencement Speaker

Dr. KMarie King
Doctorate of Humane Letters, honoris causa

We are honored to welcome back to St. Joseph's University, New York, one of our distinguished alumnae, Dr. KMarie King ’94, M.D., M.S., MBA. Dr. King currently serves as the esteemed chair and chief of surgery at the Albany Medical Center, where she holds the distinction of being the first Black female chair of surgery at an academic health science center in the United States.

A true trailblazer in her field, Dr. King's journey to this esteemed position is marked by exemplary achievements and dedication to advancing the field of surgery. After earning her Bachelor of Science in Biology from SJNY’s Brooklyn Campus in 1994, Dr. King earned a medical degree from Washington University in St. Louis. She completed her residency training in general surgery and a research fellowship in surgery at the University of Pittsburgh, followed by a fellowship in hepatobiliary and pancreas surgery at the prestigious Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, where she also earned a master’s degree in biomedical science.

In addition to her impressive medical credentials, Dr. King is also a veteran of the U.S. Army, having served with distinction during Operation Desert Storm. She additionally holds a master’s degree in business management from Brandeis University, illustrating her multifaceted approach to leadership and innovation.

Dr. King's contributions to the field of surgery are vast and impactful. She has garnered recognition for her groundbreaking research in liver and pancreatic cancers, with over 100 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters to her name. Her dedication to academic and professional excellence is further evidenced by her involvement in various organizations, including serving as a trustee of WMHT Public Media in Troy, New York, and holding leadership positions in such esteemed surgical societies as the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract, the Society of Surgical Chairs and the Society of Black Academic Surgeons.

Recognized for her outstanding leadership, Dr. King was named a fellow in the prestigious Hedwig van Ameringen Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM) Program for Women, solidifying her position as a role model and mentor for aspiring surgeons, particularly women and underrepresented minorities in medicine.

As we celebrate the achievements of the Class of 2024, we are privileged to have Dr. King as our distinguished commencement speaker, inspiring us with her remarkable journey and an unwavering commitment to excellence.

Brooklyn Campus

Caitlin Caporal
Valedictorian

Brooklyn Campus’ Class of 2024 valedictorian Caitlin Caporal is astonished with just how far she’s come since beginning her journey at St. Joseph’s University, New York. 

After being homeschooled for nearly four years, the political science major has thrived at St. Joseph’s and graduates with a 4.0 GPA and as a member of the national honor society Kappa Gamma Pi. In the fall of 2021, Caitlin quickly began making the most of her time at the University. She excelled inside the classroom and out, joining student clubs and getting involved in campus activities.

She took on political science as a major because she craved to better understand the world and her place in it. Having expanded her knowledge of complex social and political issues,  Caitlin aims to apply her education toward fighting for human rights and justice in the world.

Caitlin looks forward to launching her career and to gain further life experience through travel. She considers herself a lifelong learner, and notes that her journey for knowledge doesn’t end at St. Joseph’s. 

“To my fellow graduates, I hope that as you go forth into the world, you always remember to keep your mind open to gaining further knowledge,” said Caitlin. “I was taught that everyone can learn something from one another. So, make sure to keep an open mind and continue to educate yourself on important matters of this world.”

Long Island Campus


Melissa Guercio
Valedictorian

Long Island Campus' Class of 2024 valedictorian Melissa Guercio represents St. Joseph's University, New York's five pillars in all that she does.

A passionate intellect with a 4.0 GPA, Guercio graduates this May with a B.S. in Chemistry, as well as minors in biology, mathematics and physics. Her dedication to intellectual rigor is made abundantly clear through Guercio’s membership in the Delta Epsilon Sigma and Gamma Tau Delta honor societies, and being named to the dean’s list each semester. 

Guercio’s involvement on campus includes many service-related activities, such as being the Green Team secretary since 2022, a peer tutor for the past seven semesters, a volunteer with several high school science programs hosted by the University, and a Patchogue River clean-up team member.

She also represented SJNY in serving a prestigious internship at Brookhaven National Laboratory, and she completed research with St. Joseph’s and presented in the University’s annual Student Research Symposium. 

A member of the honors program at St. Joseph’s, Guercio accepted a Ph.D. candidacy in Stony Brook University's Department of Chemistry this fall, where she received a full scholarship and will serve both as a teacher and research assistant.

Guercio will share her valedictory address with her fellow classmates at the Long Island Campus Toast to the Graduates event Thursday, April 25, at 4 p.m. in the McGann Conference Center.