Professor Emeritus James Halpern will deliver the Saturday Undergraduate Commencement Address at SUNY New Paltz on May 17

SUNY New Paltz will welcome Professor Emeritus James Halpern, founder of the Institute for Disaster Mental Health at SUNY New Paltz, back to campus on May 17, 2025, where he will deliver the Commencement Address at the Saturday Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony and receive an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters degree, the highest form of recognition offered by the State University of New York.

“In the 43 years that I taught, advised and mentored SUNY New Paltz students, I have been impressed with their work ethic, their achievements, their compassion and how they look out for each other,” Halpern said. “I am proud that so many of our alumni have accomplished much, not only for themselves, but for their communities and a world so much in need of repair.”

Halpern has a well-earned reputation as an international leader in the study and provision of mental health support for both civilians and responders in the wake of major traumatic events.

As the founding director of the Institute for Disaster Mental Health (IDMH) from 2004-2016, Halpern oversaw the Institute’s growth into an internationally recognized hub for education, professional development, research and applied practice. As director, Halpern helped develop curriculum, train professionals and graduate students alike during multiple trips abroad and was frequently invited to give presentations for health, mental health, emergency management organizations, among many other accomplishments.

IDMH continues to build on Halpern’s groundbreaking work to this day, having expanded its on-the-ground deployments to hurricane-afflicted regions including Puerto Rico, Florida and Texas, and recently contributing a Mental Health Needs Assessment report touted by Governor Kathy Hochul as a key next step to supporting New York State’s first responders.

He has also provided direct service to disaster survivors and served in a leadership role at both large-scale national and local disasters and is a recipient of the American Red Cross Lifetime Mission Leader Award. He has remained engaged with his scholarly work in retirement and is currently working on a new edition of one of his textbooks.

Halpern has been a valued member of the New Paltz campus community since he joined the Department of Psychology in 1973. He previously served as Faculty Grand Marshal at Commencement 2016.

 

About Commencement 2025 at SUNY New Paltz

This year’s Undergraduate Commencement Ceremonies will be held on Saturday, May 17, and Sunday, May 18, 2025, on the Old Main Quad on the SUNY New Paltz campus. Both ceremonies will begin at 10 a.m.

The Saturday Ceremony honors graduates of the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, and the Sunday Ceremony honors graduates of the School of Business, School of Education, School of Fine & Performing Arts and School of Science & Engineering.

The Graduate Commencement Ceremony will take place on Friday, May 16, at 6 p.m., also on the Old Main Quad.

More information about SUNY New Paltz Commencement 2025 can be found here.