PATCHOGUE AND BROOKLYN, NY – April 20, 2006 – St. Joseph’s College (SJC), New York, welcomes three esteemed speakers to its 90th commencement exercises: · Jim McCann, Founder and Chair, 1-800-Flowers, will be the keynote speaker for the Patchogue Campus commencement exercises on Tuesday, May 30, 2006 at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, NY at 6:00 p.m. · Jean Leon, ’77, RN, MPA, Executive Director, Kings County Hospital Center and Senior Vice President, Central Brooklyn Family Health Network, will address the Brooklyn Campus’ School of Adult and Professional Education on Thursday, June 1, 2006 at the St. Joseph’s College, Brooklyn Campus Mall, 239 Clinton Avenue, Brooklyn, NY at 5:00 p.m. · Johanna Duncan-Poitier, Deputy Commissioner, Office of Higher Education, NYS Education Department, will be the keynote speaker for the Brooklyn Campus’ School of Arts and Sciences commencement on Friday, June 2, 2006 at the St. Joseph’s College, Brooklyn Campus Mall, 239 Clinton Avenue, Brooklyn, NY at 4:00 p.m.

Jim McCann is founder, chairman and CEO of 1-800-Flowers.com. Mr. McCann opened his retail store in 1976 and successfully built his own chain of flower shops in the New York metropolitan area. After acquiring the 800-Flowers phone number, Mr. McCann renamed the company in 1986 and launched 1-800-Flowers.com on the Internet in 1992. He is a published author and award-winning public speaker.

Mr. McCann is a member of the board of directors of Willis Group Holdings Limited, GTECH Holdings Corp. and the National Retail Federation. His awards and honors include Entrepreneur of the Year, Advocate of the Year Award and the Retailer of the Year Award. Jean Leon, ’77, RN, MPA is currently the executive director of the Kings County Hospital Center and senior vice president of the Central Brooklyn Family Health Network. In this capacity, she is responsible for the budget of and oversees all operations relating to facilities.

Ms. Leon received her undergraduate degree in health administration from St. Joseph’s College and an MPA from New York University’s School of Public Administration. Beginning her career as a Registered Nurse, she holds certification in Quality Assurance and Nursing Administration and has lectured and consulted extensively in health care. She is a member of the National Association of Health Care Quality, the American College of Health Care Executives and the International Society for Quality Assurance in Healthcare Organizations. Ms. Leon has also been the recipient of many awards, including the New York State Quality Assurance Health Care Professional Award in 1995.

Johanna Duncan-Poitier serves concurrently as deputy commissioner for both the New York State Education Department’s Office of Higher Education and Office of the Professions. She has more than 25 years of experience providing educational leadership, steering organizational change, directing innovative public programs and creating cultures of collaboration to drive performances.

Ms. Duncan-Poitier is widely recognized and has received numerous accolades for her accomplishments with State and national awards, including the Member Achievement Award from the National Council of Licensure, Enforcement and Regulation (CLEAR); the New York State Governor’s Work Force Champions Award; the Governor’s Outstanding Leadership Award; and the President of the United States Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, Engineering and Mentoring.

About St. Joseph's College

St. Joseph’s College has been dedicated to providing a diverse population of students in the New York metropolitan area with an affordable education rooted in the liberal arts tradition since 1916. Independent and coeducational, the College provides a strong academic and value-oriented education at the undergraduate and graduate levels, aiming to prepare each student for a life characterized by integrity, intellectual and spiritual values, social responsibility, and service. With campuses located in the Clinton Hill area of Brooklyn and in Patchogue, Long Island, the College offers degrees in over 21 majors, special course offerings and certificates, affiliated and pre-professional programs through its School of Arts and Sciences and its School of Adult and Professional Education. Graduate degrees are also offered including an Executive MBA, a Master of Science in Management, a Master of Science Degree with a Major in Nursing, a Master of Arts in Literacy/Cognition and a Master of Arts in Infant/Toddler Early Childhood Special Education.