Trailblazing Law Enforcement and Military Leader Tells Grads: ‘You Are Capable of Making Change Happen’

Regina Rush-Kittle, the deputy commissioner of the state of Connecticut’s Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, gave the keynote address and received an honorary degree at the afternoon Commencement ceremony for graduates of the University’s College of Business and Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Justice and Forensic Sciences.

May 28, 2019

Regina Rush-Kittle, a groundbreaking leader with more than 30 years of experience in law enforcement and in the military, urged graduates of the University’s College of Business and Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Justice and Forensic Sciences to recognize the importance of diversity and inclusion.

"The product we make together as a team is richer, more inclusive, and more valuable to the community than one that would be created without the diverse input from many sources," said Rush-Kittle, the deputy commissioner of the state of Connecticut’s Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security who delivered the keynote address during the University’s afternoon Commencement on Wednesday. "In the workplace, as well as in life as a whole, we are better when we work together."

Rush-Kittle, who was the Middletown Police Department’s first African-American female patrol officer, spent 30 years with the Connecticut State Police, becoming the first African-American woman to serve as sergeant, lieutenant, major, and commanding officer of a barracks.

"You are capable of making change happen. You are capable of creating a more diverse and inclusive world."Regina Rush-Kittle

"When looking at snapshots from an organizational chart of the members of that organization or of the leadership team, if a prospective candidate for employment has to ask themselves, 'Why is there no one here who looks like me?' she said. "Perhaps it is time for change."

While serving in dual law enforcement and military careers, she was deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. While completing a tour of duty in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2009, she was awarded the Bronze Star Medal. She said her family and friends provided the support she needed to pursue her dreams, and she encouraged the Class of 2019 to recognize those who helped them along the way.

"Always recognize those who have supported you throughout our life," she urged graduates, inviting them to rise and applaud their friends and family members in the audience. "You may not have made it to where you are today without them, and you may not get much further without their continued support."

In concluding her message to graduates, Rush-Kittle read an excerpt of a poem by her sorority sister Wanda Seldon, telling them that they are more than enough, even if their earlier life experiences were not perfect.

"I am confident that you will have a positive impact on the world around you," she said. "You are capable of making change happen. You are capable of creating a more diverse and inclusive world."

As part of the ceremony, Rush-Kittle was awarded an honorary Doctor of Criminal Justice degree. Michael Toner, a distinguished shipbuilding executive who spent 40 years Electric Boat, was awarded an honorary Doctor of Business Administration degree. A member of the University’s Board of Governors, Toner is a dedicated volunteer who has tirelessly supported the University and St. Edmund’s Retreat, a leading Catholic retreat center in Mystic, Connecticut.

"I want us to wake up every single day of our lives and know that we are building something incredible, that we are creating a masterpiece from the ground up."Sri Lakshmi Goriparthi ’19 M.S.

Parker Johnson ’19, a criminal justice major, told her fellow graduates that they have transformed over the past four years.

"We’ve witnessed growth in ourselves that we didn’t think possible, and we’ve challenged ourselves every step of the way to push boundaries and exceed expectations," she said. "However, what we will remember from our time at the University lies in the experiences we’ve had, friends we’ve made, and memories we will cherish long after today is over."

Sri Lakshmi Goriparthi ’19 M.S., an alumna of the University’s graduate degree program in healthcare administration, urged her classmates to step out of their comfort zones.

"Every second, every step of the way from where we are right now until we cross the finish line, depends on us and our unwavering will to achieve our dreams and make the right choices along the way," she said.

"I want us to have a vision of how we want our lives to be. I want us to wake up every single day of our lives and know that we are building something incredible, that we are creating a masterpiece from the ground up."

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