Commencement Awards

Strayer University is pleased to recognize outstanding students, alumni and faculty who are going above and beyond in all facets of their lives.

The Featured Student Award recognizes individuals who have earned top grades while excelling in their personal and professional lives. The Outstanding Alumni Award is presented to members of Strayer University's alumni body who have demonstrated exceptional leadership in their professional, public and personal lives since graduating. The Faculty Award of Excellence acknowledges an instructor’s valuable contributions to the online learning environment.

Michael Rozenberg credits Strayer University’s online courses with enabling him to complete his educational endeavor after many years. “Strayer University made it possible for me to fulfill a dream that has been more than 16 years in the making,” Mr. Rozenberg says. “In addition to fulfilling a personal goal, my children now understand the importance of earning a quality education. I want them to be able to say, ‘If Dad can do it, then so can we.’”

Today, Mr. Rozenberg uses the skills he acquired at Strayer University in his role as a technology architect for Aetna Inc. in Blue Bell, Pa. In this role, he is responsible for software architecture, systems design, and developing new organization-wide information technology strategies and solutions. He has received several professional awards from his employer for going above and beyond in his service to the company. Prior to joining Aetna, he owned and managed an information technology consulting firm in Cinnaminson, N.J.

Originally from Russia, Mr. Rozenberg also believes in giving back to his community. He is currently a volunteer official for charity hockey games and for the local sled hockey program, which gives children and adults with physical disabilities an opportunity to play the game.

Outside of work, Mr. Rozenberg enjoys sports, keeping up to date on the latest technology trends, and spending quality time with his wife and their three children.

Marcie Henry says online discussions with her fellow classmates have taught her many valuable lessons about her own career. “I have already applied a lot of the information I learned from my online graduate program directly to my human resources position at work,” Ms. Henry says. “My fellow classmates brought many years of industry experience to our discussions, which have helped me tremendously in my job.”

A resident of King George, Va., the Featured Student Award Winner now uses the skills she gained from Strayer University to help her in her role as a human resource generalist for the Central Intelligence Agency, where she has worked for 23 years. In this role, Ms. Henry is responsible for strategic planning, workforce analysis, identifying workplace training initiatives and leading retention efforts for her division.

Outside of work, Ms. Henry helps lead fundraisers through her church to raise money for local charities. She also helps manage a team to raise money for Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

In addition to earning a graduate degree, Ms. Henry earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 2004 from Strayer University.

In her spare time, Ms. Henry likes to decorate cakes, read, and spend time with her husband, two children and granddaughter.

Originally from Morocco, Abdelhamid Chefchaouni's academic endeavor has been more than 25 years in the making. "Although it took me many years to complete my degree, it was definitely worth all of the dedication and hard work," Mr. Chefchaouni says. "Earning my degree with a 4.0 grade point average is one of my greatest personal achievements."

Mr. Chefchaouni now applies the skills he gained at Strayer University in his position as a senior applications developer for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts in Orlando, Fla. In this role, he leads and develops information technology projects within the business technology department.

Mr. Chefchaouni has received several awards from his employer in recognition of his outstanding project delivery and customer service. He also holds several professional certifications, including the Certificate in Information Technology Project Management from Boston University.

Through his employer, Mr. Chefchaouni volunteers with the nonprofit organization, Give Kids the World Inc., which provides children with life-threatening illnesses a free vacation to Central Florida. He is also an adviser for the information technology advisory council at Valencia College in Orlando, Fla. In recognition of his community service, Mr. Chefchaouni was presented by a nonprofit organization and a federal agency on behalf of the President of the United States with The President's Volunteer Service Award in 2004.

In his free time, Mr. Chefchaouni enjoys reading, running, and traveling with his wife, and their two children.

As the first person in her family to earn a college degree, Se-Se Yennes recognized that a master’s degree with a focus on business would help her further her career. “I knew that by strengthening my business acumen, I could bring a strategic, operational and customer focused insight to the organizations that I support,” recalls the Outstanding Alumna.

Today, Ms. Yennes uses the knowledge she has gained through her professional experience combined with her Strayer University education to manage a team of nearly 100 people as the vice president of marketing in pharmaceutical acute care for Cardinal Health in Dublin, Ohio. In this role, she is responsible for developing and executing strategic marketing initiatives to raise visibility and awareness of the company’s pharmaceutical acute care services and product line.

Previously, Ms. Yennes worked for Johnson & Johnson, where her last position was as the global strategic marketing director. Ms. Yennes received several honors and awards, including the Johnson & Johnson Global Strategic Marketing Excellence Award in 2009.

Outside of work, Ms. Yennes enjoys exercising, playing the viola and serving as a mentor to others in her field.

At the start of every quarter, Dr. Tzipora Katz shares her philosophy on education to inspire her online students. "Education is discovery, not drudgery," she says. "I incorporate this philosophy in the online environment by encouraging students to share their own personal stories and to ask probing questions," says Dr. Katz, who also earned her postsecondary degree as an adult learner.

Dr. Katz is currently a manager of online faculty for Strayer University, supporting close to 200 faculty members in utilizing the University's online classroom technology. In addition, Dr. Katz teaches online courses in adult education, and education and the law. Prior to joining Strayer University, she worked as an adjunct professor at Drexel University in Philadelphia for five years.

An advocate of lifelong learning, Dr. Katz earned a bachelor's degree in digital communications and a master's degree in education from American InterContinental University. She also holds a doctorate in professional studies from Capella University.

A resident of Mount Holly, N.J., Dr. Katz enjoys spending time with her daughter and son. In addition, she is actively involved in rescuing stray dogs with her family.