#JasperGrads2018

Undergraduate Valedictorian

An international studies and government double major with a concentration in Africa and the Middle East, Battocchio will be the first student veteran to receive the Carty valedictory medal. She is the past president of Manhattan University’s Student Veteran Organization, having shepherded the group from its formative stages, when there were less than 40 student veterans on campus to the present day, with more than 100 student veterans attending Manhattan University.

Battocchio is a member of Sigma Iota Rho, the international studies honor society, a member of Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Political Science Honor Society, a member of Manhattan University’s Pen and Sword Society, and has been hired as one of five national policy liaisons by Student Veterans of America. She has interned on Capitol Hill with United States Senator Richard Blumenthal and for United States Senator Charles Schumer in his New York City office.

“I'm so grateful to be where I am today,” Battocchio said. “Thanks to the Manhattan University community and especially the Student Veteran Organization for not only being a support system but a family these last few years. I'm so proud of the entire class of 2018 and I look forward to seeing what the future has in store for us all.”

A 2008 high school graduate in her hometown of Bethel, Connecticut, Battocchio enrolled in a nearby institution for a year of college before she decided to seek other opportunities. That opportunity came in the form of the United States Marine Corps, where she served six years. Entering as a Private First Class, Battocchio earned several promotions as a Marine, served in the Air Wing in Japan, and as Marine Security Guard at United States Embassies around the world, before she was honorably discharged as a Sergeant in 2015.

She enrolled at Manhattan University in the fall of 2015, receiving a portion of the University’s Yellow Ribbon funding. Her transition from military to civilian life was made easier thanks in large part to the University’s diverse community and the Warriors at Ease program that assists student veterans in their transition to college and civilian life.

In addition to being an academic standout, Battocchio has helped guide the Student Veterans Organization, which marches annually in the New York City Veteran’s Day Parade, has become a recognized chapter of Student Veterans of America, and organizes an on-campus Student Veterans Lecture Series open to all.

After her academic career in the northwest Bronx is complete, Battocchio plans to attend graduate school at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service’s Security Studies Program.

Graduate Valedictorian

For the past four years, Krishnan, a student in Manhattan University’s organizational leadership program, has been a workforce development specialist at Richmond Community Services, an organization that supports and advocates for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She is the organization’s lead specialist for training and developing more than 700 employees, and creates and conducts trainings to ensure the organization’s compliance with New York State regulations.

The first in her family to earn a master’s degree, Krishnan has served in operations and developmental roles throughout her career, bringing a passion for coaching and developing people to better an organization. She has worked to mentor young adults and has volunteered in various geographic locations across the globe.

“To be a valedictorian is the greatest honor and achievement of my life yet,” Krishnan said. “I cannot think of a better way to make my family proud and none of this would have been possible without the help and support of my family, classmates, colleagues at work and the SCPS faculty. I could not have asked for more supportive and encouraging people to help me through this journey.”

Krishnan received her bachelor of arts degree from York University of Pennsylvania in 2004 with a major in communications, emphasis on public relations, with a minor in speech communication.

Lieutenant General Maryanne Miller will deliver the keynote address during Manhattan University’s Undergraduate Commencement and will receive an honorary Doctor of Science degree.

Lt. Gen. Maryanne Miller is the chief of the Air Force Reserve, at the U.S. Air Force headquarters in Washington, D.C., and commander of the Air Force Reserve Command at Robins Air Force Base in Warner Robins, Georgia. As chief of Air Force Reserve, she serves as principal advisor on reserve matters to the secretary of the Air Force and the Air Force Chief of Staff. As commander of Air Force Reserve Command, she has full responsibility for all U.S. Air Force Reserve units around the world.

General Miller was commissioned in 1981 as a distinguished graduate of the ROTC program at The Ohio State University. She is a command pilot with more than 4,600 flying hours in numerous aircraft. The general has commanded two wings and held numerous staff positions at the unit, air staff and joint staff levels. Prior to her current assignment, she was the deputy director of partnership strategy for the director of strategic plans and policy on the Joint Staff at the Pentagon. She is the first female citizen Reserve Citizen Airman to achieve the rank of lieutenant general, the first female chief of Air Force Reserve and the first female commander of the Air Force Reserve Command.

Charles J. Murphy ’69, will serve as the keynote speaker at the University’s Spring Commencement on Wednesday, May 16 for graduate students. Murphy will also receive an honorary Doctor of Science degree.

Murphy ’69 is a professor of management practice at New York University’s Stern School of Business. He joined the Stern faculty as an adjunct professor of finance in 1998 and became a clinical professor of finance in 2009.

Murphy began his career as an electrical engineer at Sikorsky Aircraft and subsequently American Electric Power. He started his financial service career at the First Boston Corporation as an equity security analyst in 1976. He eventually went on to become global head of investment banking, global head of equities and a member of the executive board of CS First Boston. He continues to provide senior advisory and consulting services to several financial service organizations.

He has been a chartered financial analyst since 1979 and was a member of the Board of Trustees of Manhattan University and the executive committee of the Boston University Wall Street Council. He is a former director of Fuel Cell Energy.

Murphy earned his B.E.E. from Manhattan University in electrical engineering, and his M.B.A in finance and his postgraduate degree in accounting from NYU’s Stern School of Business.