On Saturday, May 23, 2026, HJ International Graduate School for Peace and Public Leadership (HJI) held its 50th Commencement in New York City to celebrate the class of 2026.
Dr. Andrew Wilson, Professor of Scriptural Studies, served as Mace Bearer and led the procession into the room where the graduation ceremony was to take place. HJI President, Dr. Thomas Walsh, gave the opening remarks, welcoming all graduating students, friends, and family in attendance for this special occasion. Following the opening remarks was the invocation offered by Imam Alhassan Kamagtey, Resident Imam of the Ghanaian Community Bronx, and fellow HJI Doctor of Ministry Alumni ‘25. His prayer asked for the graduates to be strengthened as instruments of peace for their communities and throughout the world.
The National Anthem was sung by Mr. Raoul Joseph, and a commemorative video celebrating HJI’s 50th commencement was shown. The greetings and congratulations from the first graduating class of HJI/UTS of 1977 were expressed to the class of 2026. The commemorative video can be viewed here.
Serving as emcee, Mr. Steven Boyd, Dean of Enrollment Management and Student Life, guided the order of the program. Rev. Demian Dunkley, Member of the Board of Trustees, gave the special remarks in a recording specially prepared for the occasion, offering his congratulations to the graduating class and recognizing the recipient of the HJI’s Honorary Doctorate of Human Letters, Honors Causa, Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett, for her accomplishments and dedication to the field of Religious Freedom.
Rev. Dunkley also shared that now more than ever, the world “needs leaders who can combine wisdom with compassion, conviction with humility, and truth with love,” and that “the future belongs to the people who can build bridges, protect human dignity, strengthen families, and help reconnect humanity with the deeper spiritual values that we all long for and cherish to experience.”
Dr. Michael Jenkins, Member of the Board of Trustees and HJI Alumni of HJI’s first Commencement held in 1977, read the Honorary Degree Citation, and Dr. Thomas Walsh conferred the honorary doctorate to Dr. Swett. Dr. Franco Famularo and Dr. Jenkins, Members of the Board of Trustees, then placed the doctoral hood upon Dr. Swett.
HJI honors Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett for her contributions to religious freedom and human rights and is presented with this honorary doctorate.
Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett serves as President of the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice, established in 2008 to continue the legacy of her father, the late Congressman Tom Lantos, who served as Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and was the only Holocaust survivor ever elected to the US Congress.
Under her leadership, the Lantos Foundation has become a distinguished and respected voice on key human rights issues ranging from advancing the rule of law and freedom of religion and belief globally, to fighting for Internet freedom in closed societies to combating the persistent and growing threat of antisemitism and Holocaust denial.
Dr. Swett is the former Chair and Vice Chair of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) and teaches courses on human rights and American foreign policy at Tufts University. She has served as Co-Chair of the International Religious Freedom Summit since its inaugural gathering in 2021.
She currently serves as Co-Chair of the Board of the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea (HRNK) and the Budapest-based Tom Lantos Institute, as well as on the Board of the Human Rights Foundation and Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation. Dr. Swett also serves on the Advisory Board of UN Watch, the annual Anne Frank Award and Lecture, and the Warren B. Rudman Center for Justice, Leadership and Public Policy.
Afterwards, Dr. Katrina Swett delivered the commencement address. The full speech can be read here.
Dr. Katrina Swett gave words of encouragement and inspiration:
“I today would likewise exhort you to seek out the way in which you can use the talents and knowledge you have acquired to serve a greater purpose than your own advancement. Each of us has a true chance of greatness—not necessarily in the realm of worldly acclaim but in higher realms where it ultimately matters more.”
“With your values and beliefs held close to your hearts, your commitment to serving others firmly anchored in your lives, and a healthy reserve of moral ambition to call upon if needed, I believe and hope for all of you that indeed the ceiling and visibility will be unlimited.”
The Honorable Richard Swett, Former Member of Congress of New Hampshire and Former U.S. Ambassador to Denmark, and, most importantly, husband of Dr. Katrina Swett, was invited to give remarks.
He shared that HJI has graduates who can live up to the burdens that the world is requiring them to carry. The Honorable Swett gave words of wisdom to have humility, respect, and to build peace and an architecture of trust to communities and the world.
He also expressed his pride in his wife’s accomplishments and wished all the graduates to succeed in their calling.
The class of 2026 was represented by 15 graduates. Dr. Keisuke Noda, Associate Provost, presented the Master Degree and Certificate Candidates.
Dr. Drissa Kone, Associate Professor of Conflict Resolution and Ministry, presented the Doctoral Degree Candidates.
HJI President, Dr. Thomas Walsh conferred the degrees and offered the congratulatory remarks. He offered his congratulations to all graduates and appreciation to all in attendance especially to Honorary Doctorate recipient, Dr. Katrina Swett and her husband Hon. Amb. Richard Swett for being a part of HJI’s Religious Freedom Conference, convened August 2025.
President Walsh reminded the audience of the institution’s ultimate goal to contribute to building a world of universal and lasting peace and that it is the aspiration of HJI’s founders and also the founders of the world’s great religions. The full speech can be read here.
“Our deepest desire as faculty and staff is for our graduates to go on to enjoy meaningful and rewarding careers and vocations in areas that serve the public good, making an impact on the wider society. As you go forward to fulfill your aspirations, drawing on knowledge, wisdom, and experiences you have acquired during your time here at HJI, we want only the very best for each of you.”
“In a world that often seems to lose sight of the value of religion and the theological arts, you stand in a unique position. You recognize that while often taken for granted, religion remains a powerful, if not the most powerful force in our world, undergirding, like the roots of a great tree, our understanding of so much of what makes life meaningful: the birth of a child, a marriage, the passing of a loved one, appreciation for the dignity of each human being, the distinction between right and wrong, the companion of the conscience.”
Class of 2026 graduate responses were delivered by Mr. Robert Duffy, representing the Master Degree in Religious Studies, and Dr. Bruce Clarke, representing the Doctor of Ministry program.
Twelve students were inducted into the Theta Alpha Kappa, the national honor society for the field of religious studies by the Chair of the Master of Arts in Peace Studies Program and Professor of Peace and Development, Dr. Thomas Ward.
Ms. Myla Bravo was presented with the Distinguished Service Award. The Public Leadership Award was given to Dr. Kalifa Dembele.
Musical offerings were performed by Dee D and Mr. Raoul Joseph, and the benediction offered by Ms. Susan Bouachri, Master of Divinity student, closed the 50th Commencement of HJI.
Watch HJI’s 50th Commencement here and click here to view the print program. Additional photos can be viewed here.
Congratulations to the class of 2026!
Graduates of Class 2026
Doctor of Ministry
Robert “Bruce” Clarke
Kalifa Fabrice Dembele
Wendweson Fikire
Master of Arts in Religious Studies
Lorraine Baughman
Myla Bravo
Robert Duffy
Rudolf Faerber
Robert Mansur
Master of Arts in Peace Studies
Venus Augustin
Sophal Chamroeun
Richell Jalipa
Lydia Kaforau
Daniel Meadows
Chulapadma Senaratne
Certificate of Unification Leadership
Shawna Lewis