Each year, The Quadrangle compiles a list of the most influential seniors on campus, creating our own version of the Time 100. Those selected represent the very best and brightest Manhattan University has to offer and highlight the significant impact of these seniors’ contributions over their years on campus. This year’s list was voted on by students in the wider campus community and ultimately decided by The Quadrangle’s staff. The ten following seniors constitute this year’s final Quad 10
Interviews Compiled by Grace Cardinal, Angelina Persaud, Kayla Werth, Laili Shahrestani, Mary Haley, Victoria Schiller, Angelina Perez, Barbara Vasquez and Brooke Della Rocco.
Colin Ratner:
Whether students know him around campus as the executive vice president of the student body, “Red Bull man” or from his always-friendly smile, Colin Ratner made himself a known presence on Manhattan University’s campus.
A communication major with a media production concentration and marketing minor, Ratner made sure to push himself to get involved and serve other students at every opportunity he could find. Involved in SGA, Manhattan Media Network, Student Engagement and multiple honor societies, Ratner ultimately credits Student Government with being his most transformative experience.
“Most transformative, hands down, has to be SGA,” Ratner said. “Shoutout [to] Jazi Riley for getting me involved. It changed my life forever, and it changed the trajectory of where I saw myself going, and how I saw myself and how I worked and all this stuff, but it was such an amazing opportunity to work with SGA for the last two years.”
A Connecticut native and legacy student, Jasper pride has been a central aspect of Ratner’s life from a young age.
“My grandfather, my mom and my uncle went here, so I had the opportunity to apply to Manhattan without [it] costing anything,” Ratner said “It ended up probably being the best decision of my life to come to this school. Not only were the opportunities great to grow as a person and to learn about what makes up Colin Ratner, but it gave me such a great opportunity to meet so many different types of people from so many different backgrounds.”
The legacy Ratner leaves on this campus will be slow to fade, thanks in part to a personal philosophy he’s held throughout his undergraduate years. He hopes other students will hold the same message close as they travel through their own MU journeys.
“What you put in is what you get out of this place,” Ratner said. “If you put in 110% effort, I guarantee that 110% of that is going to come back to you. If you put in 95, if you put in 70, if you put in 50, that’s what’s going to come back to you. Treat people right, and they will treat you right.”
Dominique Whyte:
On Sept. 4, 2021, Dominique Whyte shifted her entire life from Manchester, Jamaica to pursue her dream of engineering at a university in New York. Since then, she has made her mark on Manhattan University and the people she’s encountered both personally and professionally.
At first, Whyte didn’t realize that she was accepted into the university, until she called the admissions office and realized that not only was she accepted into the chemical engineering program, she also received a scholarship for her freshman year. Whyte reflected on her most memorable experiences at MU being the mentor program and the Black Student Union bonfire events she attended during her freshman year that helped her acclimate to living in a new country.
“I was still kind of new to the area at the time, to the school, to America, to New York,” Whyte said. “I think that was my first time being like, ‘I can have friends here. It’s really chill’. I didn’t feel like an outcast or out of place. I felt at home.”
Professionally, Whyte is thankful to MU’s New York Water Environment Association (NYWEA) for helping her attend her first professional conference for WEFTEC, which allowed her to network and obtain her first internship junior year and current full-time job after graduation.
She also reflected on the advice she would give to her freshman year self: stay authentic to who she is and surround herself with people who uplift her.
“The interactions are different between people back in Jamaica, and here,” Whyte said. “I was trying to change myself to fit that interaction. Now as a senior, I’m more comfortable being myself, and I’ve formed stronger, deeper bonds by being myself.”
She also encouraged new students to take advantage of the academic resources on campus, such as the writing center, and to also branch out and speak with professors to broaden their interests and network.
Looking back on her four accomplished years, Whyte said she’ll miss the challenges and friendships she’s formed through her chemical engineering classes and professors.
“I think I’ve learned at least a little thing from every one of them,” Whyte said. “As hard as it was, I’ll miss my chemical engineering classes because they cemented my love for the degree. I will tell anyone to go for a chemical engineering degree.”
Following graduation, she will be pursuing a full-time job with Arcadis, with whom she interned during her junior year.
Olivia Corsino:
When deciding to attend MU, Corsino felt as if this was where she was meant to be.
“I really liked that it was so close to the city but also still has a campus, so it was kind of that thing where you got that feeling that’s where you’re supposed to be.” Corsio said. “I’ve met some of my absolute best friends here at Manhattan and I’ve just loved it since it’s such a tight knit community.”
Corsino has gone above and beyond when it comes to extracurricular involvement around campus. Throughout her time at MU, she has taken on many leadership roles with organizations including PRSSA, Student Government and Pen & Sword, among many others. Corsino is also a member of Epsilon Sigma Pi and works as a business and math tutor in the Academic Success center.
“I’m super proud of how much I’ve been able to meet other students,” Corsino said. “I really pride myself on knowing I’m someone that people can go to…It makes me feel good knowing that I have people like that who trust me and want my advice in that aspect.”
Corsino has also been a part of the Jasper Dancers since her freshman year. This year, she holds the position of Jazz Capitan. One of her favorite memories from attending MU was made alongside the team when traveling to Daytona, Florida to compete at NDA Nationals with the team.
Post graduation, Corsino will be attending Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN, where she will pursue her masters in marketing. In her future, she hopes to work in the marketing field of the entertainment industry.
“Right now my goal is to work in marketing in the entertainment industry, hopefully like television companies,” Cornsio said. “That’s my dream, because I love reality TV and I’ve always wanted to work with that. I also have a backup plan if working in the marketing field doesn’t work out, I would love to go back and get my Ph.D. and then hopefully be a business school professor.”
Adam Ruiz:
Adam Ruiz will be graduating with a degree in civil engineering, and has left an immense impact on the Manhattan University community throughout his past four years as a Jasper.
Ruiz originally set out to pursue a degree in computer science, but had a change of heart right before starting his freshman year. His gut feeling to switch to an engineering path allowed him to achieve several accomplishments within the field.
Throughout his junior and the beginning of his senior year, Ruiz served as the president of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). During his time as president, he launched “Operation Christmas Child” on campus, an initiative where individuals pack care packages full of essentials for children in need during the holiday season.
Ruiz has also participated in a number of ASCE Student Steel Bridge competitions throughout his time at MU, and designed a bridge from his sophomore to senior year. In 2023, he and his teammates ended up placing second in the entire region, and were able to land a spot at nationals. This milestone pushed Ruiz to always strive for the best, and never allowed for any of his dreams to seem too big.
After commencement, Ruiz plans on attending graduate school to receive his master’s in civil engineering. In the long run, he is aiming to work in an environment surrounded by individuals who push him to learn more and always encourage him to grow.
“I always want to be somewhere where there’s people around me that can teach me that I’m not putting myself somewhere where I think I know everything,” Ruiz said. “My idea of success is not monetary. It’s defined by who I’m around and who can lift me up.”
Throughout the past four years, Ruiz has learned a lot about what it means to push yourself to become the best version of you, and how to go above and beyond what you think is possible. Ruiz hopes that incoming freshmen will take his advice on never being limited to what people say they can and can not achieve.
“If you don’t ever start anywhere, and you just think ‘I’ve never done this before, people think we can’t do this,’ then you’re lost,” Ruiz said. “If you’re afraid to do something, do it anyway. Being afraid of whatever it is you’re anxious about, is more of an indicator you should do it.”
Victoria Coglianese:
A mechanical engineering major, with minors in both business and mathematics, Victoria Coglianese has become very involved with the Manhattan University community.
She prides her time as a member of the women’s rowing team, which originally started as a part of athletics and later transitioned into a club. While it was considered a part of MU athletics, Coglianese was a student on the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), representing her sport and her teammates.
Additionally, over her four years, she has become very involved with the American Institute of Astronautics and Aeronautics (AIAA), an engineering club that stimulates her knowledge in mechanical engineering. Her most notable accomplishment might be when she was presented with the Society of American Military Engineers Scholarship in recognition of outstanding leadership and high ethics in 2024.
Looking towards the future, Coglianese mentioned she is open to opportunities, but is excited to potentially take some time to travel.
“Right now, I’m looking to go back home to Texas [and] spend some time with my family,” Coglianese said. “I’m open to any opportunity that comes my way with engineering and my career. I’d really like to travel as soon as I can.”
While reflecting on her time at MU, Coglianese feels particularly grateful for the impact the university has left on her.
“I think college just gave me that opportunity to grow, genuinely,” Coglianese said. “I’ve challenged myself a lot with the things that I chose to do, whether it was my major [or] my sport, and I’m just very grateful for that.”
Through the connections she’s made in athletics and engineering, Coglianese is grateful for the supportive community she has built around her. She graduates in May and leaves underclassmen with a piece of advice.
“Honestly, put yourself out there,” Coglianese said. “Try everything that interests you, you never know what something can lead to. You never know what connections you can make and what experiences you can have. Just be very open-minded.”
Kathy Vu:
Kathy Vu is soon to graduate and leave her time at MU behind her. Though her undergraduate experience has come to an end, Vu’s past few years at the university have been invaluable.
As an active accounting major, Vu’s left her mark on multiple business related clubs and organizations at MU, including her roles as co-president of Beta Alpha Psi, vice president of the accounting society, member of the Women in Business club and more. Through Beta Alpha Psi, she was able to accomplish things she was truly proud of.
“This past January I had the opportunity to compete at the Beta Alpha Psi mid-year conference in Atlanta where we presented in “Best Practices: Impacting Inclusiveness in Your Chapter,” Vu wrote to The Quadrangle. “Our chapter placed 2nd in that category. It was truly an honor to represent our university at that conference and highlight all of the efforts that we put into our chapter.”
Her involvement in different organizations on campus is one thing Vu found especially impactful at MU.
“I truly believe that I would not have the opportunities and have the people that I have in my life if I didn’t step out of my comfort zone and join a few clubs,” Vu wrote. “I have met some of my best friends through my club involvement. I’ve learned a lot about my major through the different professional events that the business school organizes, and it’s allowed me to build my professional network.”
Vu first chose to attend MU because of her family history at the institution– with her aunt, uncle, cousin and brother attending the school before her, she decided to follow in their footsteps. However, post-graduation, she plans to attend Fordham University in pursuit of a master’s in accounting.
“I am very excited to start my career and put all I’ve learned at Manhattan University into practice,” Vu wrote. “MU has taught me how to put myself out there and be a leader.”
With her experience at MU, Vu has one piece of advice to offer to undergraduate and incoming students.
“Try and have a positive mentality,” Vu wrote. “I remember how overwhelming it was trying to balance classes, getting involved in clubs, and still having time for yourself. It can be very easy to be hard on yourself but just remember to slow down and enjoy where you currently are. The next chapter will come but you can never get the current chapter back.”
Elizabeth Kalaj:
With her involvement on campus ranging to all corners of student life, Elizabeth Kalaj is a friendly face who has truly left her mark on Manhattan University.
A psychology major with minors in religion and environmental studies, Kalaj spoke about how important it was for her to fully immerse herself in a variety of clubs and extracurricular activities throughout her four years at MU. Kalaj is involved in psychology club, Pen and Sword Honor Society, Campus Ministry and Social Action, Residence Life, Sigma Delta Tau, Student Government and more. Kalaj has also worked in creative roles, including with The Quadrangle and Lotus Magazine.
“I try my best to dip my toes into all the different little worlds within the campus,” Kalaj said. “I’ve kind of tried everything at least once and see what sticks.”
Although Kalaj has had many memorable moments and successes over the course of her four years, she shared two of what she felt were her greatest accomplishments.
“The one that is more measurable was probably coordinating this year’s Kairos retreat,” Kalaj said. “We really had to step up to help preserve the traditions of the retreat and make sure it still ran this year, and it ended up being the most proud and successful thing to see how it touched so many different people, some that I knew and some that I didn’t…Another one of my best accomplishments is just for myself. After my freshman year when I wasn’t super involved I wanted to transfer out and instead stuck through. I think my biggest accomplishment was just giving myself and Manhattan the chance to embrace each other.”
These past four years have allowed Kalaj to truly embody what it means to be a Jasper.
“If you put into it the time and effort to appreciate the community, find people you feel are meant for you, branch out, and gain new opportunities, all those things come to you when you put yourself out there and chase after them,” Kalaj said. “Be open enough to be aware of accepting the things around you because there are so many good things offered all the time. I owe so much of my life to this campus and this community and it has provided me with such a safe and encouraging space to flourish and discover myself.”
Post-grad, Kalaj plans to stay in New York City in hopes of being involved in the field of social work.
Grace Dillon:
Grace Dillon has certainly kept herself busy over her four years at MU.
Dillon has been a dedicated breaststroker on Manhattan’s Division I swim team for the past four seasons, and this year, stepped up as a team captain.
Dillon’s athletic impact has stretched beyond just her own team. With the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), Dillon has worked as graphic design chair during her junior and senior years. These experiences have given her some of her most fond memories.
“I’ve particularly loved going to MAACs with swimming,” Dillon said. “It’s just always a fun experience, ttraveling, being with everybody on the bus there and back, and just the energy that we all bring is really special. And I’ve loved that every single year.”
Outside of athletics, Dillon feels as though she has “worn quite a few hats.” She has been a part of multiple performing arts organizations, playing the flute and piccolo since her freshman year for MU’s orchestra, and does music ministry for weekly mass at the Chapel of De La Salle. Dillon is also the historian for the 95th class of the Pen and Sword honor society.
As a digital media art major with minors in digital media arts and humanities (DASH program) and music, Dillon has carried the skills she’s learned in the classroom to clubs and traditions across campus. She was the assistant web editor for LOTUS magazine during her junior and senior years, and designed the Manhattan Madness shirt this past fall of the Lady Liberty holding up a Jaspers “J”.
“The madness shirt was definitely my biggest accomplishment,” Dillon said. “I’d entered the contest two or three times before that, and then this year, it finally happened. I was very proud of the design, and it’s always really fun being able to walk around and see everyone wearing little J’s up liberty, and they might not even know that I’m right behind them and that I made the shirt!”
Currently, Dillon is an intern with Manhattan University athletics, where she does graphic design for their social media and other promotional work. After graduation, she plans on being a freelance graphic designer.
“I’ll definitely remember how tight knit everything was, how much I love the small campus vibe, all of my friends, and everything I’ve learned from anyone who’s mentored me in athletics,” Dillon said.
Quinn Nagle:
Quinn Nagle has worn many hats over her four years at Manhattan University, and all have contributed to her commitment to making a meaningful impact on campus.
As a chemical engineering major with minors in chemistry, mathematics and environmental engineering, Nagle hasn’t shied away from challenges.
Throughout her time at Manhattan, Nagle immersed herself in student life and leadership roles. Over four years, Nagle served as vice president of the New York Water Environmental Association (NYWEA), student representative and later president of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) and vice president of the School of Engineering for Student Government. She was also involved in Sigma Delta Tau, Omega Chi Epsilon, psychology club and SWE (Society of Women Engineers).
“I really wanted engineering, something that wasn’t encouraged at my high school, to be more than just classes,” Nagle said. “So I immersed myself in everything I could here.”
Nagle also reflected on the research she participated in with one of her professors.
“That was a big deal to me,” she said. “I worked with a grad student on a project analyzing how Midtown Manhattan’s congestion pricing could affect carbon emissions and public transit usage. I handled the emissions modeling, and it was really humbling but rewarding work.”
Outside of academics and leadership, Nagle credits the relationships she developed at MU for the success she has had here. The Arches program, a first-year learning community, helped her meet her best friends. While she admits MU wasn’t always the perfect fit for her, the people here made the experience unforgettable.
“I came from Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey—a tiny town with only 60 people in my graduating class,” Nagle said. “I didn’t want to feel like just a number. Manhattan gave me the city, the program I wanted, and a small campus feel. And the people I met made it all worth it.”
As she prepares to move forward, Nagle reflects on the deeper lessons she’ll carry with her.
“This place made me realize how many different kinds of people are out there—and how much you grow by being open to them,” Nagle said.
Post-grad, Nagle will begin a position as an assistant project engineer for the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, working in their green infrastructure unit.
Jazi Riley:
Senior political science and philosophy major Jazi Riley has been actively involved in leadership since her freshman year at Manhattan University.
As the first in her family to attend college, Riley joined the Emerging Leaders Program, a student development initiative. In her time at MU, Riley also worked closely with SAAC, Model UN and more.
During Riley’s sophomore year, she achieved one of her most recognized and impactful accomplishments: running for and winning the position of SGA President, a role she would go on to serve in for two consecutive terms.
“My first term was difficult to navigate, but we managed to get through it together,” Riley wrote to The Quadrangle. “I served as student body president under three different university presidents: Brother Daniel Gardner, Milo Riverso, Ph.D., and Frederick Bonato, Ph.D. Throughout all the changes, I was just trying my best to keep morale up, and I hope that’s what people saw in me.”
As her time at MU comes to a close, Riley reflects on a college journey marked by growth, resilience and constant change.
After graduation, Riley will join the New York City Urban Fellows Program as one of just 25 young leaders selected from across the nation. Beginning in September, Riley will be placed within a New York City agency, working directly with public sector leaders on real-world policy initiatives.
“MU helped prepare me from the application to the interview,” Riley wrote. “My writing skills, which I strengthened through the Branigan Summer Research Program and Model UN, allowed me to craft a policy proposal that was concise, thorough, and reflected the core skills Kakos emphasizes. My experiences in programs like the Arches Freshman Program also gave me valuable community-building and organizing experience, which helped shape my statement.”
As she prepares to close this chapter of her life, Riley takes in the little moments that have come to define her college experience.
“I will miss the talks and lectures, office hours with my favorite professors, hanging out in the quad with everyone when the weather is nice, watching the weather in Van Cortlandt Park change from my window and the sausage, egg, and cheese on an everything bagel from Zaros,” Riley wrote.