Class of 2025 Commencement Ceremony
Acclaimed journalist Adam Nagourney ’77 received an honorary degree and higher education leader Jeffrey Putman ’96 received the President’s Award for Distinguished Alumni.
On Friday, May 16, Purchase held its 53rd annual commencement ceremony at the Westchester County Center in White Plains, NY.
Degrees were conferred on 771 members of the Class of 2025.
This year acclaimed journalist Adam Nagourney ’77 received an honorary doctor of letters degree and higher education leader Jeffrey Putman ’96 received the President’s Award for Distinguished Alumni.
Senior Class Speaker Joshtinia Maynard, a psychology major from Brooklyn, NY, offered remarks on behalf of the class and Brigid Mack, a vocal performance major from Wynantskill, NY, performed the National Anthem.
The all-alumni Top Shelf Party Band performed throughout the ceremony, featuring lead singers Paul Maddison ’04 (Studio Comp) and Abby Payne ’03 (Jazz Studies); Pianist Dan Golden ’07 (Studio Comp); Bassist Robert Pawlings ’07 (Jazz Studies); and Drummer Kenny Shaw ’06 (Jazz Studies).
Adam Nagourney ’77
Honorary Degree Recipient
Adam Nagourney, a journalist for more than 45 years, is a national and political reporter for the New York Times. First hired in 1996, he served as the paper’s metropolitan political correspondent, chief national political correspondent, Los Angeles bureau chief, and West Coast culture reporter, returning to cover national politics in 2023.
Nagourney is the author of two books, The Times: How the Newspaper of Record Survived Scandal, Scorn and the Transformation of Journalism, published in September 2023 by Crown Books and Out for Good: The Struggle to Build a Gay Rights Movement in America, published in 2001 by Simon & Schuster.
Before joining the New York Times, he worked at USA Today, the New York Daily News, and the Gannett Westchester Newspapers in New York, covering national, state, and local news.
Nagourney grew up in Larchmont, NY, where he graduated from Mamaroneck High School in 1972. He graduated from Purchase College in 1977 with an economics degree.
Jeffrey Putman ’96
Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient
Dr. Jeffrey Putman serves as the Vice President for Academic & Student Affairs for all five of the SUNY Downstate schools and colleges. In his role, he provides overall coordination of services for students and serves as the deputy Chief Academic Officer.
In addition, Dr. Putman serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry. He previously served as Vice President for Student Affairs & Dean of Students (2013–2017) and as Assistant Dean for Student Affairs (2006–2013) at SUNY Downstate.
Prior to Downstate, Dr. Putman served from 1996–2006 in multiple Student Affairs roles at Purchase College, including as Interim Dean of Students and Assistant Dean for Student Affairs & Ombudsperson.
He earned his Doctor of Education in Higher & Postsecondary Education from Teachers College, Columbia University in 2011, a Master of Education and Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration also from Teachers College, Columbia University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Purchase College, where he serves as President Emeritus of the Purchase College Alumni Association.
“I was proud to honor our students and welcome their friends and families who have supported them throughout their academic careers,” says President Dr. Milagros “Milly” Peña. “I am confident that the knowledge, intellectual curiosity, creativity, and skills that our students have gained during their time at Purchase will lead them to a lifetime of personal and professional fulfillment.”