Commencement 2024 Speakers

Andrea Holland ’01, founder of Holland Communications, LLC, will address SUNY Geneseo’s undergraduate Commencement this year on Saturday, May 18, at separate ceremonies at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. in the Ira S. Wilson Ice Arena in the Merritt Athletic Center.

Erik Larson ’10, ’11 MS will speak at Geneseo's Graduate Hooding Ceremony for master’s degree recipients on Friday, May 10, at 6 p.m. in Brodie Hall’s Alice Austin Theatre.

Andrea Holland has more than 20 years of experience as an executive coach, leader, and speaker. Through Holland Communications, she has helped executives become more successful leaders at major brands such as American Airlines, the US Olympics, and Dale Carnegie. She has also worked with regional clients such as Wegmans Food Markets and the United Way. At Geneseo, she earned a bachelors of arts in communication and minored in public relations.

Holland is an accomplished speaker and champions causes that promote equity for BIPOC, women, and LGBTQ+ communities. She specializes in helping people connect with their own stories to increase self-awareness and develop the confidence, skills, and outcomes that change lives.

Holland gives back to the community through service as vice president of the Rochester Women’s Business Council and as a board member at Huther Doyle, the University of Rochester Medical Center’s Home Care Foundation, and the East House Foundation. She is also a member of the sketch comedy troupe EstroFest.

Erik Larson earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting from Geneseo and is a financial analyst with more than 10 years of experience focused in municipal bond credit research and fixed income investments. He holds a chartered financial analyst designation and is a certified public accountant. He joined Goldman Sachs in 2018 as a vice president in the Asset Management Division, where he focuses on evaluating municipal bond investments for client accounts and mutual funds.

Larson started his career in 2011 as an auditor with EY in New York, where he focused on auditing the financial statements of hedge funds and banks. Larson also worked at AllianceBernstein, where he most recently held a similar role in municipal credit research, and has served as an adjunct lecturer at CUNY John Jay College, teaching Introduction to Accounting.

Senior Orators

Katlin McNeil ’24, from Canandaigua, NY, will speak at the morning ceremony. She is graduating with a double major in history and English and a minor in medieval studies. Her campus involvement includes three years with Residence Life, and she is currently serving as the assistant resident director for Writers House in Seneca Hall. She has also served as the assistant coordinator for Geneseo’s Safe Zone training program. McNeil plans to pursue a PhD in medieval history after leaving Geneseo. 

Aman Manghi ’24, from Mumbai, India, will speak at the afternoon ceremony. He is pursuing a double major in economics and finance and participating on the men’s varsity soccer team. As a Global Ambassador, he collaborates with the Geneseo Study Abroad office to promote study abroad programs among the student community. This spring, he was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa National Honor Society. Manghi brings a diverse perspective to his endeavors, blending athletic dedication with global engagement and scholarly achievement.