A Special Tribute to All Those Who Supported Me Throughout My Time at Caldwell University

As I fondly reflect upon my time at Caldwell University, I would like to express my sincerest gratitude to all those who contributed—each in their own unique way—to making my experiences so special and fulfilling. From my loving and supportive family to my fellow students to my professors within and outside of the art department to faculty and staff in all departments to the Sisters of St. Dominic of Caldwell, these countless rewarding connections throughout my five years leading up to Commencement enabled me to create phenomenal opportunities and forge lasting friendships beyond what I could have possibly foreseen when I matriculated. I deeply regret that I’m unable to feature all of you, but you undoubtedly know who you are. As I continue my transition as a Caldwell alum, further my art endeavors and two part-time jobs, and explore compelling future possibilities, I’m profoundly thankful to carry so many of these relationships—which I now can’t imagine being without—into this next exciting chapter of my life. God bless you all! 🤝🟥🟨🙏🏻

With my family on Commencement Day

With my fellow exhibiting artists at the opening reception for "Connexum", the Kappa Pi alumni/student group exhibition at the Mueller Gallery on campus, which I fully curated, organized, and facilitated

With my classmate and friend who I shared the gallery with alongside my senior B.F.A. thesis exhibition, "Transfiguration", at the Mueller Gallery

With my fellow students from Art & Identity, an Honors Program course for which I created a scholarly paper on a work of art on view at the Montclair Art Museum and delivered a public presentation on site; additional Honors students (who attended to support us) and course instructor Dr. Jennifer Noonan also present

With several of my fellow Honors students at a ceremony recognizing the completion our Honors Projects, and thus the Honors Program

At an Eco Club pumpkin painting event; university president Dr. Jeffrey Senese also present

With my fellow members of the Caldwell chapter of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship

At a Campus Ministry Community Gathering pumpkin painting event

At a Halloween party; I am dressed up as Sir Thomas Cole, an original character who is a train conductor and time traveler

At a Halloween party

With a few friends (and a guinea pig)

With my cousin Madison Detore; we both received special awards at the 2025 Honors Convocation

At an award ceremony following the 2023 Research and Creative Arts Day; I placed in the top 40% of Honors presentations and visual art presentations for my Honors Project

With the main faculty of the Department of Visual Art & Design

Facilitating the artist talk for "Inspire 2023", the group faculty exhibition that I organized during my internships with the Mueller Gallery as Assistant to the Gallery Director

With the Sisters of St. Dominic during the special private presentation and showing of "Transfiguration"; to either side are "Prayer for Peace" and "Hallelujah", the two works from the show that I dedicated to the Sisters

With Sr. Gerardine Mueller, O.P., a 103-year-old Dominican Sister who founded what is now the Department of Visual Art & Design, as well as the first B.F.A. program in New Jersey; she taught my mom when she was a Caldwell student herself, and many years later, I interviewed her for my Honors Project, "Discovering the Spiritual in Contemporary Visual Art"

With Sr. Mary John Kearny, Sr. Kathleen Tuite, and Dr. Jeffrey Senese at the 2025 Honors Convocation

Receiving my Honors Program pin from Dr. Jennifer Noonan

Receiving my Honors Program from Honors Program stole from co-director Dr. Tara Harney-Mahajan