Groundbreaking Lawmaker To Address Groundbreaking USJ Class

WEST HARTFORD, CT — The University of St. Joseph Class of 2022 — the school's first co-ed class — will welcome a groundbreaking speaker for the groundbreaking commencement ceremony next month.

During its 87th Commencement ceremonies on May 14, USJ will be welcoming U.S. Rep. Jahana Hayes to address the graduates. She also happens to be an alumnae of USJ.

Hayes was elected to the U. S. House of Representatives in November 2018, making her the first African-American woman and the first African-American Democrat ever to represent the state of Connecticut in Congress. She first garnered widespread recognition while teaching history and serving as co-adviser for a student-service club at John F. Kennedy High School in Waterbury.

In 2016 she was selected as the Connecticut Teacher of the Year, and then earned the distinction of National Teacher of the Year. In her national role, Hayes traveled the country and the world as an ambassador for public education, engaging stakeholders in policy discussions meant to improve outcomes for students.

Hayes has been an advocate for equitable access to educational opportunities for all students and families.

She is a graduate of a number of Connecticut schools; at the University of Saint Joseph she earned an M.A. in Education with a concentration in Curriculum and Instruction in 2012. In 2017, she was recognized with USJ’s Distinguished Alumni Award.

"We are proud that Congresswoman Hayes is a graduate of the University of Saint Joseph. She is a model of what we want for every one of our graduates: that they embrace opportunities for service and leadership in their lives and engage in the hard work that is required in the pursuit of excellence. I know that she will inspire our students to set the highest goals for themselves as they look ahead to their future plans," USJ President Rhona C. Free said.

The significance of the first inaugural co-educational class of traditional undergraduates can't be overlooked, she added.

“In the fall of 2018, when we welcomed to campus the men who are receiving their bachelor’s degrees this May, we expected that their numbers would allow us to expand our academic majors and co-curricular activities for all students, men and women,” Free said. "What we didn’t know was that these individuals, who took something of a risk in joining our first coeducational class, would so quickly become integral members of our campus community: giving tours, running events, taking part in activities, participating in internships, excelling in the classroom, and otherwise reflecting the university's Core Values through their actions. What could have been an enormous cultural shift for our University has instead become a continuation of our best traditions while opening up wonderful opportunities for our future."

This year’s Commencement — for both undergraduate and graduate students — is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. on May 14 in the XL Center in Hartford.