Goodwin University Schedules Commencement June 12 at Rentschler Field

Actress/author Bern Nadette Stanis to receive honorary degree

by Philip Moore

East Hartford, CT (06/09/2025) — Goodwin University has scheduled its 2025 Commencement ceremony for Thursday, June 12, at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Connecticut. The ceremony will begin at 4 pm as an estimated 312 students receive their certificates and associate, bachelor's, and master's degrees. A separate hooding ceremony for the master's degree recipients will be held earlier that day. President Mark Scheinberg will deliver remarks to the graduates and provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Michael Pardales will serve as master of ceremonies.

This year's Commencement caps off Goodwin's year-long 25th Anniversary celebration, tracing the school's inception as the Data Institute, its growth as Goodwin College, and its present status as a non-profit, career-focused university with presences in both East Hartford and Bridgeport.

At the ceremony, actress/author Bern Nadette Stanis will receive an honorary degree in Humane Letters from the University and address the graduates along with their families, friends, and faculty. Best known as the quick-witted "Thelma Evans" in the groundbreaking sitcom "Good Times" (1974 to 1979), she was the first African American female teenager to be cast in a full family show. Ms. Stanis secured her place in television history by reshaping the perception of a young Black girl in the minds of viewers throughout the country. Thelma personified a ghetto girl from Chicago's inner-city projects living a life full of hopes and dreams and possessing intelligence, self-respect, dignity, and grace. The actress currently continues her notable career as Nee Nee Duncan on Carl Weber's "The Family Business" and "The Family Business New Orleans." An author as well, Ms. Stanis has written several best-selling books including "Situations 101, Relationships: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly," "Situations 101, Finances: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly," "The Last Night, A Caregiver's Journey Through Transition and Beyond," and her latest book, "Good Times, Ain't We Lucky We Got 'Em: Memoir of an American Sweetheart."

Also receiving honorary degrees at the ceremony:

Community Organizer and Political Consultant Janice Flemming-Butler

Janice Flemming-Butler is the founder of Voices of Women of Color (VOWOC), an outreach and engagement firm uniting stakeholders to move projects forward. A veteran community organizer, political consultant, and lobbyist, she focuses on building relationships that lead to stronger, more resilient communities. Raised in Hartford's South End, Ms. Flemming-Butler began her career as an organizer for Hartford Areas Rally Together, drawing on her personal experience in advocating for affordable housing access. She was recruited to serve as Director of Organizing for the Blue Hills Civic Association and went on to earn degrees in Women's Studies and Legal Studies from Trinity College. During that time, the idea for VOWOC was born. VOWOC helps community members understand complex issues and empowers them to engage meaningfully with executives, agency leaders, and elected officials. A strategic thinker with deep community roots, Ms. Flemming-Butler focuses on real-time data collection. Recently, VOWOC completed over 500 surveys as part of the Connecticut DOT's Greater Hartford Mobility Study. With her expertise in utilities and infrastructure, Ms. Flemming-Butler was appointed by Governor Malloy as commissioner of the Metropolitan District Commission. There, she shifted conversations from a macro to a micro level, advocating for policy discussions that focused on community-level impacts. Her experience with state and federal level policy on the progress of neighborhood projects led her to start Strategic Outreach Solutions, the first and only Black woman-owned lobbying firm in Connecticut. As a consultant, lobbyist, and mentor to emerging leaders, she remains committed to building a more equitable future for all residents.

Developer and Entrepreneur Harry James

East Hartford native Harry James is a developer and entrepreneur whose impact extends far beyond the town borders, having built a thriving home construction business that helped shape the landscape of the region. His career accomplishments include the construction of more than 2,500 homes and the development of a hydroelectric plant, a testament to his forward-thinking spirit. Mr. James' philanthropic spirit matches his entrepreneurial drive, noted by his donation of 12.6 acres of land to the town of East Hartford to support the development of Burnside Avenue. With his beloved late wife, MaryAnn, he created Crystal Ridge Winery in South Glastonbury, which has become a destination for locals and visitors.

Philanthropist Alan Lazowski

Alan Lazowski co-founded LAZ Parking in 1981 while attending the University of Connecticut. Since then, it has grown into the largest privately held parking management, transportation, and mobility company in the country. Mr. Lazowski is a respected philanthropist focusing on charitable and social justice efforts. In 2009, he created the LAZ Parking Charitable Foundation and is the founding chair of Voices of Hope, which collects and shares the experiences of Holocaust survivors. He is co-chair of the campaign for the Dodd Center for Human Rights at the University of Connecticut. In 2015, President Obama appointed him to the United States Holocaust Memorial Council, the governing board of trustees of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. He serves on the national boards of the NAACP, the Anti-Defamation League, Conscious Capitalism, and the advisory council of the Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream. He serves on local and regional boards, including The Bushnell, the Hartford Economic Development Corporation, the Goodwin College Foundation, the Jordan Porco Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and the Chabad House of Greater Hartford. Mr. Lazowski is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Thomas and Bette Wolff Family Entrepreneurship Award from the University of Connecticut, the NAACP Civil Rights Award, the Anti-Defamation League's Torch of Liberty Award, the Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame Award, and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Hartford Business Journal.

Goodwin's 2025 student speaker will be Jayanna Eneida Rodriguez, who will receive her bachelor's degree in Human Services. Jayanna began her journey in human services at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when she enrolled at Goodwin University. Starting college at such a challenging and uncertain time revealed her inner strength and resilience. During this period, she discovered a deep passion for helping others - especially those facing adversity - leading her to pursue a career in human services. Jayanna's commitment to supporting vulnerable populations has been shaped by both her lived experiences and her hands-on work in the field. As an intern at the Connecticut Alliance of Foster and Adoptive Families (CAFAF), she contributed to outreach efforts, community engagement, and event planning aimed at supporting foster and adoptive families across the state. Under the guidance of seasoned professionals, she gained valuable insights into the systems that affect children and families, while strengthening her skills in communication, advocacy, and collaboration. Along with interning at CAFAF, Jayanna interned at the Hospital for Special Care's Outpatient Autism Center, where she supported children and families navigating the complexities of autism spectrum disorder. This experience deepened her understanding of neurodiversity and highlighted the importance of individualized, compassionate care. Throughout her educational and professional journeys, Jayanna has remained steadfast in her mission to uplift others. Her resilience, empathy, and dedication continue to guide her as she prepares for a meaningful and impactful career in human services. She lives by the words of Booker T. Washington: "Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome."

The National Anthem will be performed by Shailyn Metcalfe, who is graduating with her associate degree in Nursing. She looks forward to working as a labor and delivery nurse while pursuing her dream of becoming a midwife. She looks forward to providing the same quality of care to her future patients that she received from midwives during the birth of her children. Shailyn has been singing since before she could even form words. Along with her husband Sean, she performs in a local cover band, Three57. Shailyn is honored to be performing the National Anthem for Commencement 2025.

Note: members of the media are invited to attend. Gate A is recommended for easiest access. Please direct questions to Philip Moore, Senior Director of Marketing and Communications, at pmoore@goodwin.edu. For more information about Goodwin's Commencement ceremonies, visit goodwin.edu/commencement.

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