Congressman Adriano Espaillat has been named the 2020 commencement speaker for Queens College’s 96th commencement ceremony on Thursday, May 28 at 9 a.m.
A Queens College alumnus, Espaillat, who grew up in Manhattan, graduated with a bachelor’s degree in political science in 1979.
In 2016, Espaillat became the first Dominican-American and formerly undocumented immigrant to be elected to Congress.
At the commencement ceremony, he will be presented with the President’s Medal, the college’s highest administrative award.
Queens College’s political science department previously honored Espaillat in 2017 with their Distinguished Alumnus Award.
After graduating from QC, Espaillat worked at nonprofit organizations that provided legal services to indigents, counseled families of crime victims and fought substance abuse.
He served as a member of the New York State Assembly and the New York State Senate before being elected to Congress.