Join us on Wednesday, April 29, 2026  as we celebrate the achievements of the graduating CUNY School of Professional Studies Nursing students at our annual Nursing Convocation & Pinning Ceremony!

This special event honors the hard work, dedication, and perseverance our students have shown in their pursuit of excellence in nursing. We are excited to recognize their milestones and share this meaningful moment with their families and friends.

This year’s event will be offered in a hybrid format to allow for both in person and virtual attendance.

Guests will be permitted to attend in-person, but may be limited for capacity to only two tickets per graduate. Dress code for the event is business casual. All graduates will be provided with a link to the virtual livestream, so that they may share it with their friends and family.

Keynote Speaker
Assemblywoman Phara Souffrant Forrest

Phara Souffrant Forrest represents Brooklyn’s 57th Assembly District, which includes Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, and parts of Bedford-Stuyvesant and Crown Heights. A lifelong resident of the district and the daughter of Haitian immigrants, she is a proud graduate of Brooklyn’s public schools and later earned an associate’s degree in nursing from CUNY City Tech, followed by her BSN from the CUNY School of Professional Studies.

Her professional journey—from youth advocacy and working in public schools to serving as a maternal child field nurse—has deeply shaped her commitment to the well‑being of working‑class families across New York.

Since taking office, she has championed tenant rights, healthcare access, and reforms to the carceral system, including passing the Less Is More Act in her first term.

As a proud CUNY SPS alum returning to this community, Phara will also be receiving her pin at the ceremony—an acknowledgment of both her academic achievements and her continued dedication to public service.

BSN Student Speaker
Iqra Yaseen, Nursing

After a seven-year hiatus from academia, and following the completion of my Master’s in Public Administration, I felt a renewed calling to pursue a more hands-on role in helping others. This decision was deeply influenced by my personal experience as a postpartum mother, where I received exceptional care from nurses who were central to my recovery and overall well-being.

Their compassion and dedication inspired me to make a meaningful impact on patients’ lives in a similar way. Enrolling in the RN to BSN program at CUNY School of Professional Studies (CUNY SPS) provided the ideal opportunity to achieve this goal, offering the flexibility to continue working full-time while advancing my education through a high-quality, online learning. 

MSN Student Speaker
Davianne Silvera, Nursing Organizational Leadership

My experience at CUNY SPS has been both challenging and rewarding, offering a supportive, flexible learning environment that has allowed me to grow academically and professionally. The online format enabled me to balance graduate studies with working two jobs while remaining engaged with coursework and faculty. Working across the ICU, medical-surgical, oncology, and burn units, I saw firsthand how advancing my education would allow me to provide higher-quality, evidence-based care and make a greater impact on the patients and communities I serve. This motivated me to pursue the Master’s Nursing program at CUNY SPS, where I could connect theory with real-world practice.

I began my nursing journey with a strong desire to serve others, and these experiences continually reinforced the importance of education for both personal and professional growth. As an immigrant and first-generation graduate student, my path reflects resilience, dedication, and a deep belief in the transformative power of learning. 

The Nursing Convocation and Pinning Ceremony will be hosted in a hybrid format.

Location for In-Person Attendance

The in-person ceremony will be held at Baruch College's Vertical Campus, on the 14th floor in the Sandra and Lawrence Simon Conference Room. 

The main entrance to the Vertical Campus is at the corner of Lexington Avenue and 24th Street.

Location for Virtual Attendance

Those attending the ceremony via the livestream will receive a link to join the event from their graduate.