On Saturday, May 31, 2025, HJ International Graduate School for Peace and Public Leadership (HJI) held its 49th Commencement in New York City to celebrate the class of 2025.
Special remarks were offered by Rev. Demian Dunkley, FFWPU Continental Director, North America, and Member of the HJI Board of Trustees. “I believe we came here, to this great school, to go deeper and dive deeper into our own sense of purpose and to show up boldly, courageously, and surrender to a higher will.”
In recognition for her exemplary leadership and advocacy for peace, the Doctor of Humane Letters was awarded to Dr. Saken Yacoobi, Educator and Founder of the Afghan Institute of Learning, and former recipient of the Sunhak Peace Prize. Afterwards, Dr. Yacoobi delivered the commencement address.
Dr. Yacoobi shared words of encouragement and inspiration:
“It is you that is going to make this world a beautiful place. It is you that is going to transform lives. It is you that is going to bring peace…Let me tell you, peace is something that we can all bring together collectively. As an individual, no one can bring peace. We can bring peace in a nation, and in the world, just if we all work together side by side.”
She continued “Your religion is a pillar that you can hold on to and it will make you continuously grow and learn. God is the only one that can help you to achieve your success. And for that purpose, again, Mother Moon and Father Moon gave us a great concept. They said that ‘we are all one family.’”
Dr. Yacoobi also touched on the challenges her organizations have faced and their victories. “They counted on us to hold their hand because we promised we were going to help. So we said yes. We developed a curriculum and we set up University Meraj. Meraj means getting to the highest point, reaching to God with knowledge, being humble, and being wise.”
Dr. Yacoobi concluded, “I am sure with your education, that was very thoughtfully developed, you can do many, many things in this world…I wish you all the best and I will constantly congratulate you from the bottom of my heart.”
The class of 2025 was represented by 21 graduates. In his congratulatory remarks, Dr. Thomas Walsh, President, stated “Our HJI mission is reflected in our name, one that highlights our commitment to peace and public leadership. Peace, as our graduates know, is understood very comprehensively or holistically. At its core, peace is an ideal that describes a set of relationships; our relationship with God, our relationship with humanity, and relationship with the natural world, our environment.”
After sharing upcoming developments for HJI, Dr. Walsh stated “As our Founders understood so well, religion, spirituality and faith are absolutely essential for peace. This principle underlies so much of what we do at HJI…Keep the fire burning for your alma mater. Be confident that all of us here at HJI stand ready to continue to support you. Please maintain your commitment to serving the wider world, creating peace through principled public leadership.”
The class of 2025 graduate responses were delivered by Ms. Sancha Samara Ogden Christian, representing students in the master degree programs, as well as Dr. Katarina Connery and Dr. Mika Deshotel on behalf of the Doctor of Ministry recipients.
Ten students were inducted into Theta Alpha Kappa, the national honor society for the field of religious studies, by Dr. Thomas Ward, Director of the Peace Studies Program.
Dr. Shota Iwasaki was presented with the Distinguished Service Award. The Public Leadership Award was presented to Rev. Barbara Robertson.
Congratulations to the class of 2025!
Watch the recording here. Additional photos can be viewed here.
DMin Graduate Dissertations:
Katarina Connery – In Her Image: Effect of a Personal Relationship with Heavenly Mother on Self-Worth in Motherhood
Mika Deshotel – Unified Voices: Exploring Intergenerational Collaboration in a Unificationist Worship Model
Alice Fleisher – Spiritual Life Formation and Growth Education for Young Adults within FFWPU-USA Opportunities and Limitations
Alhassan Kamagtey – Muslim Marital Counseling: Views, Perceptions and Experience of Yankasa Muslim Community in The Bronx, NY, USA
Magnus Larsson – The 90-Degree Leader: Bridging Faith and Reason for Meaningful Relations and Personal Growth
Ron Pappalardo – The God Effect: Exploring the Long-Term Influences of Elicited Mystical Experiences
MA Theses:
Mitch Dixon – The Suffering God: Exploring Divine Suffering in Contemporary Theology
Mary Marshall-Moriarty – A New Paradigm for the Relationship between Human Beings and the Natural Environment: From Divergent Influences to Integration and Harmony, and the Contribution of Dr. Sun Myung Moon and Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon
Wassa Traore – Women’s Participation in Peace Processes: Case Study: Liberia