Wagner College held commencement ceremonies for its Class of 2023 on Thursday, May 18, for those earning master’s degrees, post-master’s certificates and the doctor of nursing practice degree, and on Friday, May 19, for all those earning bachelor’s degrees. Both ceremonies were held on the Sutter Oval in front of Main Hall.
Class of 2023, by the numbers
- 386 bachelor’s degrees
- 149 graduate degrees, consisting of:
- 133 master’s degrees
- 6 post-master’s certificates
- 10 doctorates in nursing practice
COMMENCEMENT SPEAKERS: GRADUATE DEGREES
Guest speaker: Curtis Wright
A native Arkansan, Curtis Wright has devoted his professional life to the affairs of college students. He has an extensive background in residence life, diversity education and creating co‐curricular experiences that complement the educational mission of the academy.
Wright is currently vice president for student affairs at Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans, Louisiana. At Xavier, Wright oversees multiple areas: Residence Education, Health and Wellness, Campus Police, University Athletics, Student Life, Auxiliary Services, Veteran Affairs, and Inclusion and Social Justice. He has also served Xavier as interim vice president of enrollment management, walking alongside admissions, financial aid and the registrar's office.
Prior to this role, Curtis Wright served in various roles — including dean of campus life and chief diversity officer — at Wagner College. He came to Wagner after working in multicultural affairs at New York University and in minority advocacy, student activities, Greek life and residence education at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
Curtis Wright serves as an external reviewer for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges and is a member of the Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities, the American College Personnel Association and the National Association of Student Affairs Professionals. In December, he testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pension’s Subcommittee on Children and Families about ways to support student mental health in the transition from high school to college.
A proud first-generation college student, Curtis Wright holds a bachelor of arts degree in sociology from the University of Arkansas, a masters in adult education from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, and completed coursework (ABD) toward a doctorate in higher education management at the University of Pennsylvania, where he studied the intersection of desperation and privilege and the role that strategic community partnerships play between college campuses and the communities in which they reside.
Student speaker: Reality Anderson
Reality Anderson was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, where she is a devout member of “the greatest church this side of the Jordan: Trinity United Church of Christ.” Anderson currently serves as a graduate residential coordinator in the Office of Residential Education here at Wagner College, where she has earned her master’s degree in media management. She was awarded a bachelor of science degree in strategic communication by Morgan State University, where she had the honor of serving as the 76th Miss Morgan State.
COMMENCEMENT SPEAKERS: BACHELOR’S DEGREES
Guest speaker: Lou Anarumo ’90
Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo ’90 is entering his 12th season as an NFL coach, and his fifth with Cincinnati, after joining the Bengals in 2019 as defensive coordinator.
During the Bengals’ 2021-22 postseason run to a Super Bowl LVI contest against the Los Angeles Rams, Anarumo’s defense led all NFL teams in the postseason in interceptions (eight) — the most by any NFL team in a single postseason since Green Bay in 2010 — as well as total tackles (155) and passes defensed (23).
Anarumo previously served as the defensive backs coach for the New York Giants (2018) and the Miami Dolphins (2012-17).
Wagner is one of six colleges where Anarumo has worked as an assistant coach — a list that includes Purdue, Harvard, Marshall, the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and Syracuse — before breaking into the NFL.
A Staten Island native, Anarumo earned his bachelor’s degree in special education from Wagner College in 1990. While in college, he served as head junior varsity coach at his high school alma mater, Susan Wagner High School, where he had previously played quarterback. Anarumo served as the part-time running backs coach at Wagner College in 1990.
Lou Anarumo and his wife, Fran, have three children: Madison, Louis and Christopher.
Lou Anarumo will be awarded a doctor of humane letters degree, honoris causa.
Student speaker: Emma Luxemburg
Emma Luxemburg is a senior theater performance major and government and politics minor from South Windsor, Connecticut. At Wagner, she has participated in over 10 student organizations and was elected to the executive board of four. Aside from student organizations, Luxemburg has participated in over 10 shows, both on and off the stage, between Wagner College Theatre productions on the Main Stage and Stage One and through Completely Student Productions. Luxemburg is immensely grateful for the endless opportunities she has had at Wagner and the community of faculty, staff, professors and friends that Wagner has given her.
