Denise A. Battles (left; SUNY Geneseo photo/Matt Burkhartt) and Joelle Weaver (photo provided).
SUNY Geneseo has announced its speakers for the 2025 undergraduate and master’s degree ceremonies.
Denise A. Battles, PhD, president of SUNY Geneseo, will address SUNY Geneseo’s undergraduate Commencement this year on Saturday, May 17, at separate ceremonies at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. in the Ira S. Wilson Ice Arena in the Merritt Athletic Center.
Joelle Weaver, MS, a principal in the Honeoye Falls-Lima (NY) Central School District, will speak at Geneseo’s Graduate Hooding Ceremony for master’s degree recipients on Friday, May 9, at 6 p.m. in Brodie Hall’s Alice Austin Theatre.
Denise Battles is the outgoing president of SUNY Geneseo, a role she has held since July 2015. During her nearly decade-long tenure, she led the College through a global pandemic; oversaw significant improvements to the campus facilities and physical plant; advanced diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging efforts; launched a bold vision to become the nation’s first equity-centered honors college; and helped position Geneseo for a vibrant future.
A native of Central New York, President Battles earned her bachelor’s degree in geology from Colgate University and a PhD in geology from UCLA. She has held faculty and senior leadership roles at institutions nationwide, including Georgia Southern University, the University of Northern Colorado, and the University of North Carolina Wilmington. A nationally respected higher education leader, President Battles has served in top roles for multiple academic associations, including the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges and the American Council on Education’s Council of Fellows. Her scholarship focuses on science education and gender equity in STEM, and she has served as a principal investigator on several National Science Foundation grants.
Joelle Weaver has more than 15 years of experience in education administration and 23 years in education. As the principal of Manor Intermediate School in the Honeoye Falls-Lima district, Weaver has played a key role in fostering a learning environment that prioritizes academic excellence, social-emotional growth, and student well-being.
Weaver holds a Master of Science in education administration from the University at Albany and a Certificate of Advanced Study (CAS) in education administration from the State University of New York Brockport. An accomplished educator and presenter, she has shared insights at the International Habits of Mind Conference in both 2024 and 2025. A National Board Certified teacher, she has training in behavior management, including restorative practices, applied behavior analysis, and trauma crisis intervention, ensuring that students receive the support they need to thrive in a safe and nurturing environment.