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Thursday, January 15, 2026
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Student Spotlight: Commencement Speaker Diana Janna Núñez Reyes
January 15, 2026
Diana Janna Reyes Núñez, Lehman’s January 22 commencement speaker, has long been drawn to storytelling and literature. Born in the Dominican Republic, she gravitated toward English and creative writing after immigrating to the U.S. as a young child. “Spanish was my first language, English my second, and poetry my third,” she said.
Already recognized for her talents in high school, she entered Ithaca College eager to pursue her writing. The path to a degree, however, took some sharp turns and difficult detours. She paused her education to care for family members, then weathered grief, her own health struggles, and financial instability. Since enrolling at Lehman in Fall 2024, she has balanced full-time coursework with jobs on and off campus.
Amid these challenges, a focus on creative practice has helped Núñez refine her writing and move forward. At Lehman, she has won awards for her poetry and literary criticism. “My education has given me the tools to strengthen my craft and solidify my writer’s voice,” she said.
She expects that most of the audience on January 22 may relate to her college experience. “I applied to be the commencement speaker because I wanted the opportunity to share my story,” she said, “not as a singular success, but as a reflection of the resilience, sacrifice, and perseverance that define so many Lehman students.”
With her eyes already on the future, Núñez is applying for full-time roles in New York City’s arts, culture, and education sectors and continuing to write. “I am excited to keep going—submitting to fellowships, publishing my work, and ultimately pursuing an MFA in poetry,” she said.