Molloy University is proud to announce that journalist Jo Napolitano will serve as the keynote speaker for its 2026 Commencement, where she will also be awarded an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters in recognition of her impact on education and social justice.
Napolitano’s reporting has helped shape national conversations around immigration and access to education, bringing attention to the real barriers students face and the policies that can change their lives. As graduates prepare to celebrate this milestone, her presence adds a meaningful and timely perspective to the ceremony.
Over the course of her career, Napolitano has reported for some of the country’s most respected news organizations, including The New York Times, The Chicago Tribune, and Newsday. She currently writes for The 74, where her investigative reporting continues to influence policy and expand opportunities for students across the country.
In 2024, her reporting on barriers facing immigrant students sparked widespread change. The investigation revealed how enrollment policies were preventing older newcomer students from accessing public education. In response, 13 states and three major cities updated their policies, opening doors for students who had previously been turned away. The work earned Napolitano a Pulitzer Prize nomination and national recognition for advancing educational equity.
Molloy President James Lentini said Napolitano’s work reflects the kind of impact Molloy hopes its students will make in the world.
“Jo Napolitano embodies the values at the heart of Molloy University: truth, courage, and a deep commitment to social justice,” Lentini said. “Through her journalism, she has amplified the voices of those too often unheard and translated rigorous reporting into tangible change. Our Class of 2026 will be inspired by her story, her resilience, and her unwavering belief in the power of education to transform lives.”
Napolitano’s path to becoming a nationally recognized journalist is rooted in both academic excellence and personal determination. In 2016, she was named a Spencer Education Fellow at Columbia University, where she studied at Teachers College and the Graduate School of Journalism. Her book, The School I Deserve: Six Young Refugees and Their Fight for Equality in America, published in 2021, tells the story of refugee students who were denied access to a Pennsylvania public school. Today, it is taught at universities across the country, including Harvard, and continues to influence conversations among educators and policymakers.
Her personal journey is just as compelling as her professional one. Born in Bogotá, Colombia, Napolitano was abandoned as an infant and spent her earliest days in an orphanage before being adopted by a blue-collar family on Long Island. Raised by a single parent, she became a first-generation college graduate, earning her degree from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism.
She often shares that story with students as a reminder that setbacks do not define what is possible. Early in her career, she faced rejection from several competitive fellowship programs. Instead of giving up, she sought feedback, refined her work, and applied again, eventually earning the prestigious Spencer Fellowship.
As Commencement approaches, Napolitano’s story offers more than an impressive list of achievements. It is a reminder of what can happen when determination meets purpose, and it sets the tone for a celebration that will send Molloy’s newest graduates out into the world ready to make their own impact!
