Commencement 2025 Speakers
Mickalene Thomas
Tuesday, May 20
1 – 3 p.m.
Freedom Mortgage Pavilion
Mickalene Thomas is a celebrated multidisciplinary artist best known for her vibrant, rhinestone-adorned portraits of Black women. Her bold practice—spanning painting, photography, collage, video, and installation—explores the complexities of Black female identity, beauty, and empowerment within the context of the Western art historical canon and the African Diaspora. Drawing on sources ranging from art history to popular culture, Thomas reclaims and reimagines spaces where Black women have historically been excluded or misrepresented.
Beyond her studio practice, Thomas is a Tony-nominated co-producer, educator, curator, and mentor dedicated to uplifting emerging artists and diversifying the art world. She curates exhibitions around the globe, often spotlighting underrepresented voices and challenging dominant narratives in contemporary art. In 2023, she made history as the first Black queer femme artist to have a scholarship endowed in her name at the Yale University School of Art—her alma mater—cementing her influence not only as an artist but as a changemaker in arts education. Thomas’s work is featured in major museum collections worldwide, including the Museum of Modern Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art, and the Smithsonian, reflecting her powerful contribution to shaping contemporary visual culture.
Aaron Chang
Wednesday, May 21
10 – 11:30 a.m.
Freedom Mortgage Pavilion
Aaron Chang, FACHE, is President of Jefferson Health – East Region. Joining the organization in October 2023, Chang brings vast experience in the academic, nonprofit, and private sectors, along with a passion for improving community health.
As President, Chang is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of Jefferson’s three New Jersey acute care hospitals in Cherry Hill, Stratford, and Washington Township, recently ranked among the top 10 in New Jersey on U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Hospitals” list and recipients of “A” grades in the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Report.
A results-oriented executive, Chang comes to Jefferson from Catholic Health in New York, where he was President of Sisters of Charity Hospitals and Central Market Leader. In that role, Chang had oversight of two acute care hospitals and led care continuum initiatives across a portfolio of post-acute facilities, physician enterprise clinics, and ambulatory sites.
During his tenure with Catholic Health, Chang led his team in quality work that earned them Leapfrog “A” status, opened new programs, such as the Clearview Inpatient Chemical Dependency Treatment Center to combat the opioid epidemic, and was recognized for emergency preparedness efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic. He also established the facility’s first Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee.
The South Jersey community will benefit from Chang’s prior operational leadership expertise in cardiac catheterization labs, as Jefferson recently received NJ state certification to offer a specialized treatment, Percutaneous Coronary Intervention, for certain heart attack patients.
Chang’s previous career achievements include serving as Dignity Health’s Market Chief Operating Officer for St. John’s Hospitals in California, and Associate Administrator for UHS-Palmdale Regional Medical Center in California.
Chang earned a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition Science with an emphasis in Biochemistry from the University of California, Davis. He also holds a Master of Science in Healthcare Administration from California State University, East Bay, and is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.
A native of California, he resides in Moorestown, NJ, with his wife and two daughters.
Amy Mansue
Wednesday, May 21
3 – 4:30 p.m.
Freedom Mortgage Pavilion
Amy B. Mansue has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Inspira Health since August 2020. With nearly 40 years of experience in the health care industry, Amy has built a distinguished career, spanning leadership roles in both the public service space and within prominent New Jersey hospitals and health systems.
Throughout her career, she has remained deeply committed to strengthening the health care workforce. In recognition of the vital role nurses play in delivering outstanding patient care, Amy has led initiatives focused on workforce development and professional growth. Additionally, she has led Inspira Health in building a culture where team members feel respected, supported, and empowered to succeed.
Amy holds both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in social welfare from The University of Alabama.
Jacquelyn A. Suárez
Thursday, May 22
10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Freedom Mortgage Pavilion
Jacquelyn A. Suárez, RLAW ’15, was named Commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) on September 18, 2023, making her the first Hispanic commissioner to lead the DCA. Commissioner Suárez is committed to the Department’s ongoing mission to provide residents, local governments, businesses, and community development organizations with financial support, administrative guidance, and technical assistance to help improve the quality of life for New Jersey families.
As Commissioner of one of the State's largest departments, she is responsible for a $1.485 billion operational budget and oversees more than 1000 employees. Commissioner Suárez spearheads a variety of departmental initiatives, including ending veteran homelessness in NJ, expanding shared services, developing homeownership opportunities, and creating a pipeline for public sector employment. Before her appointment as Commissioner, Suárez served as the Director of the Division of Local Government Services since 2021.
Brisa De Angulo
Thursday, May 22
3 – 4:30 p.m.
Freedom Mortgage Pavilion
Brisa De Angulo, RLAW ’12, is founder and CEO of A Breeze of Hope Foundation. Additionally, Brisa is co-founder of the Brave Movement Global and the Movimiento de Valientes Latin America, sister movements that seek to end child sexual violence and improve and promote legislation that protects the best interests of children. Brisa is a member of the Lancet Commission on Violence Against Women and Children, one of the most rigorous and prestigious academic journals in the world. Brisa is also a member of the leadership council of the Global Women's Institute at George Washington University, and is part of the To Zero coalition against child sexual violence.
As a lawyer, psychologist, and human rights activist, she dedicates her life to improving access to justice and healing for survivors of childhood sexual violence. Brisa, herself a survivor, uses her story and expertise to elevate survivor voices, provide effective and trauma-centered direct services, and drive forward public policy and legislation that safeguards children and ensures their access to justice and healing.
With 18 years of experience working with survivors, and 22 years working with early childhood development, Brisa’s insights have created a remarkably effective set of interventions. Her center for child survivors of sexual violence in Cochabamba, Bolivia implements these interventions on a daily basis, serving more than 500 children every year.
Additionally, Brisa is the petitioner and key witness in Caso De Angulo vs Bolivia, a landmark case before the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. The High Court’s 2023 ruling in her case sets new standards for legislation pertaining to sexual violence, government responses to child survivors, and State responsibility to train all personnel at the national level who work with child survivors. The case is binding on 25 Countries in Latin America and impacts over 180 million children.
As the Court noted in its judgement, “Brisa is a person more profoundly concerned with attaining protection and guarantees of non-repetition for the countless children presently drowning than with her own suffering.” The judges further emphasized Brisa’s courage in refusing all monetary reparations and settlement attempts from the State in favor of her demands for concrete action to protect all girls and boys everywhere. During the past year, Brisa has led A Breeze of Hope’s expansion into Colombia, Honduras, Argentina, Chile, and Peru. Brisa and her team are mobilizing local attorneys and professionals to increase legislative and policy protections for child victims.
Brisa has received many international awards for her impactful work, including:
- 2023 - Lifetime Achievement Award
- 2023 - Champions of Justice Award
- 2020 - Elevate Prize
- 2020 - Distinguished Partner of Women, Peace & Security
- 2019 -The Compass of Consciousness
- 2019 - World of Children Award
- 2018 - CNN Heroes
- 2018 - BBC Outlook Inspirations Award
- 2017 - With and For Girls Award
- 2017 - Eastern University Distinguished Alumni Award
- 2016 - Together for Girls, 16 Heroes,
- 2016 - Premio Vidanta—1st Prize,
- 2016 - Women of Peace Award
- 2015 - Futures Without Violence Global Impact Award
- 2014 – Premio Departamental Autonomo Cochabamba
- 2013 – Mary Philbrook Public Service Award