The University of Scranton Confers Graduate Degrees

The University of Scranton conferred 642 master’s degrees and 35 doctoral degrees at its post-baccalaureate commencement ceremony in the Byron Recreation Complex on campus on May 30, 2009. 

Leo Moskovitz, who retired as president of First National Bank of Jermyn after 40 years of service, received an honorary degree at the ceremony.

“You chose to pursue your degree at a very particular kind of institution: a Catholic and Jesuit institution. You studied at a place where we understand learning in a context larger than the acquisition of information and skills,” said University of Scranton President Rev. Scott R. Pilarz, S.J. “The expertise you have acquired at Scranton has, I hope, inspired you to labor along with the world’s creator to heal, to teach, to conduct your business and your lives not only with competence, but with compassion, especially for those who are most vulnerable among us.”

Graduates represent 39 states, including Alabama, California, Colorado, Florida, Louisiana, New Jersey and New York. Master’s degree programs with the most graduates are curriculum and instruction, educational administration, occupational therapy, rehabilitation counseling, school counseling and MBA.

Outstanding graduates recognized at the ceremony for their academic achievement were: Katherine Anne Ferraro, Westminster, Colo., physical therapy; Lori Leigh Wilt, Waynesboro, Va., Educational Administration; Robert John Simko, Bloomsburg, nurse anesthesia; Laura Anne Bell, Vienna, Va., Educational Administration; Suraj Saraswat, Toledo, Ohio, biochemistry; Jennifer Ann Counselman, Charlotte, N.C., curriculum and instruction; Christopher Paul Truszkowski, Long Valley, N.J., software engineering; Rebecca Leah Brogadir , Norwood, Mass., educational administration; Sarah Kate Chajka, Camillus, N.Y., occupational therapy; Jamie Leann Ottinger, Vail, Ariz., curriculum and instruction; Candace Marie Dexheimer, Lake Ariel, marketing; Bryne Lewis Allport, Chenango Forks, N.Y., theology; Kim Dao, Binghamton, N.Y., rehabilitation counseling; Paula M. Baillie , Waverly, English;  Leslie Anne Gossage, Clarks Summit, reading education; Rebecca Lynn Haggerty, Clarks Green, human resources administration; Christine Lee Richards, Archbald, chemistry; Jessica Grizzanti , Peckville, secondary education; Sean Ryan Egan, Olyphant, history; Adel Abdulkareem Almomen, Scranton, finance; Amy Elizabeth Martin, Scranton, curriculum and instruction;  Joyce Knabel Fiore, Dunmore, adult health nursing; Joseph Michael Sank, Wilkes Barre, health administration; Alysia Yenalevitch, Edwardsville, elementary education; Jill Crompton Sandutch, Ebervale, family nurse practitioner; Michael Geoffrey Burns, Edwardsville, management information systems; Randy J. Stark , Larksville, operations management; Debra A. Pavlico, Dallas, community counseling; Marcus Edward Sowcik, Shavertown, special education; Carol A. Huffman, East Stroudsburg, school counseling; and Joseph Patrick O'Connell, York, accounting.

For a list of graduates, visit:

matrix.scranton.edu/news/images/summer2009/2009_CGCE_Commencement.pdf.