Hon. Francesca E. Connolly ’82 Urges Graduates to Lead with Integrity and Purpose at Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University Commencement

The Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University celebrated the Class of 2026 on Thursday, May 21, at its 48th Commencement Ceremony, at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, New York. The Honorable Francesca E. Connolly ’82, Associate Justice of the Appellate Division of the New York State Supreme Court, Second Judicial Department and a proud Pace Haub Law alumna, delivered an inspiring commencement address and received the Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, the highest honor conferred by the Law School.

This year’s commencement ceremony speakers highlighted resilience, service, and the limitless possibilities of a legal education. The Law School conferred 261 Juris Doctor degrees, 18 Master of Laws (LLM) degrees in Comparative Legal Studies, 11 LLM degrees in Environmental Law, and 1 Doctor of Juridical Science degree. In addition, 59 Advanced Certificates were awarded, and 6 students earned joint degrees, including 5 JD/Master of Environmental Management degrees with the Yale School of the Environment and 1 LLM/MA joint degree with the University for Peace. Among the graduating class were 53 Flex JD graduates who balanced the demands of law school alongside careers, families, and other responsibilities.

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During her commencement address, Justice Connolly reflected on her own journey from Pace Haub Law student to one of the state’s most respected jurists, encouraging graduates to embrace perseverance, integrity, humility, and compassion throughout their careers.

“Success in this profession does not require perfection,” Justice Connolly told graduates. “It requires persistence. It requires preparation. It requires integrity. And most of all, it requires a belief that you are capable of much more than you imagine right now.”

Success in this profession does not require perfection. It requires persistence. It requires preparation. It requires integrity.

Justice Connolly shared personal stories about overcoming financial hardship, working multiple jobs while pursuing her education, and discovering confidence through her experiences in moot court at Pace Law. She described preparation as “the antidote to fear” and urged graduates to remain grounded in integrity and public service as they enter the legal profession.

“The true measure of your career will be the doors you open for others: the clients you steady, the voices you amplify, the injustices you confront, the communities you strengthen,” she said.

In his remarks, Dean Horace E. Anderson Jr. reflected on the significance of the occasion as the Law School marks its 50th anniversary year and emphasized the enduring strength of the Pace Haub Law community.

“This year, as we celebrate 50 years of Pace Haub Law, you are joining a community that spans generations,” Dean Anderson said. “Fifty years of alumni who have gone on to lead, to serve, to advocate, and to shape the law in meaningful ways.”

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Dean Anderson also highlighted Justice Connolly’s extraordinary career, noting that she became the first Pace Haub Law graduate appointed to the Appellate Division, Second Department, and later served by designation as an Associate Judge of the New York Court of Appeals.

“Your law degree is not a script. It is not a narrow path,” Dean Anderson told graduates. “It is a key—one that opens doors you cannot yet see.”

The Class of 2026 student address was delivered by Daniel Khieninson ’26. The Dean’s Award, the Law School’s highest honor for academic excellence, service, and leadership, was presented to three outstanding graduates: Rebecca Parlante, JD, Emily Katherine Lombardi, Flex JD, and Zander Graham, LLM. The Barbara C. Salken Outstanding Professor of the Year Award was presented to Jessica Miles, Full-Time Faculty, and Jared J. Hatcliffe, Adjunct Faculty Award. The Student Bar Association President, Rachel Gillian Greene, delivered closing remarks.

Watch Judge Connolly's Commencement Speech: