As Commencement Approaches, Two Students Reflect

Brian Teague: Business School graduate student commencement speaker

As director of operations at Michael’s House Sober Living, an after-care facility for men who struggle with substance abuse disorder, Brian Teague, MPA ’19, came into the Master in Public Administration program with a mission.

“I wanted to find out how the public sector is addressing the public health crisis of opioid addiction,” Teague says. “I really wanted to see what the difference is when it comes to public versus private response and figure out if there’s an opportunity to generate partnerships along the way. I’ve had a lot of opportunities to see what the response is, not just here but also in the EU thanks to my travel seminar to Ireland.”

He will give the graduate student speech at the Sawyer Business School Commencement on Sunday, May 19.

“My speech isn’t necessarily a call to action or a personal anecdote. It just comes down to all of us feeling proud of all our accomplishments,” he says. “The effort of getting a degree is a collective effort. It’s not necessarily about individual achievement, it’s about collaboration and honoring that collaboration that got us to this point.”

Malik Richard: Business School undergraduate student commencement speaker

Malik Richard, BSBA ’19, exudes confidence as he winds up his undergraduate studies. Despite the Boston winter weather—which was, indeed, a shock to a man who hails from Anguilla, a British Overseas Territory in the Caribbean—his time at Suffolk “was definitely worth it all.”

What’s not confusing is the confidence that Richard displays as he winds up his time as an undergraduate. Despite the Boston winter weather—which was, indeed, a shock—his time at Suffolk “was definitely worth it all.”

He held multiple leadership positions: as a resident assistant, president of the Caribbean Student Network, teaching assistant, vice president and cofounder of the Fundamental Brotherhood Society, and cofounder of the student group Unspoken Feelings.

“Those roles have helped me almost more than anything,” says Richard. “My Suffolk journey definitely had hurdles, but I learned that perseverance and optimism can make sure that you accomplish anything.”

All those leadership positions also convinced Richard to return to Suffolk in the fall to start a Master’s in Business Administration, with a possible concentration on nonprofits.

The 2019 Sawyer Business School Commencement takes place on Sunday, May 19, 2019, at 9 a.m. at the Rockland Trust Bank Pavilion. Learn more.