2023 Commencement

The graduates of the Class of 2023 began law school at a time of tremendous uncertainty. Many chose Albany Law School sight unseen and endured constant change. They took some of the final steps of their Albany Law journeys on May 19, 2023 at Saratoga Performing Arts Center during the school’s 172nd Commencement.

Overall, 202 graduates—172 JD, 17 M.S., and 13 LL.M.—crossed the stage with some  traveling from Oregon, Florida, Puerto Rico, and Switzerland.

FACULTY AWARDS
Professor Ava Ayers received the Faculty Award for Excellence in Scholarship.
Professor Patricia Reyhan received  
the Faculty Award for Excellence in Service.
Professor Alex Seita received the Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching.

In her final Commencement speech, President and Dean Emeritus Alicia Ouellette ’94 shared wisdom from her tenure as Albany Law’s leader and as a law student just like the hundreds in front of her.

 I started with ‘No, because,’” Ouellette remembered about her time trying to get through law school while starting her family. She had two children while attending classes. “My mentor challenged me to change my frame, to start from ‘Yes, if’ instead.”

“You, the Class of 2023 are the ‘yes if’ class. Facing extraordinary challenges, you could have given the no because, and stopped. You had every reason to put off law school; but you made it work. You had every reason to compromise, but you refused. Finding a way to get to yes, and launch your professional career,” she said. “This perseverance, this willingness to consider possibilities will serve you well in your careers. When presented with an opportunity to grow as a professional, I hope you’ll start with yes if, making room for the possibility that you can grow and achieve, just as you have done during your time as an Albany Law student.”

 The Commencement keynote speaker, Roberta ‘Robbie” Kaplan, offered further guidance to the graduating class.

 “When you wake up tomorrow and the next  day, and the day after that, persist as members of the profession, you will be entrusted with the responsibility to protect the constitution of this great state of New York and the Constitution of the United States of America. The people who stand the most to lose from the battles raging  today do not have the privilege of being here in this ceremony today. They need your help now, more than ever,” she said.