ASR’s Christina Liviakis Gianopulous was honored to be a commencement speaker at the 2026 SUNY Maritime Winter Commencement ceremony on Friday, January 23, 2026.  A copy of her speech is below. You can view the graduation ceremony here.

Good morning Admiral and Mrs. Okon, members of the College Council, faculty, alumni, families—
and above all, a very good morning to our graduates. Congratulations!

I am deeply honored to be here with you today and especially honored to stand before you as a member of the College Council.

Today marks the completion of your academic journey here at SUNY Maritime. But more importantly, it marks the beginning of a professional journey that will challenge you, reward you, and open doors you may not yet even imagine.

When you enter the maritime field, you are not just stepping into another commercial sector—you are entering a public trust. The work that we do moves nearly 80% of global trade. You will help ensure that food reaches the hungry, that medical equipment reaches the sick, and that energy, raw materials, and essential goods arrive where and when they are needed.

Much of this work happens out of sight, but its impact is everywhere. Ships don’t operate in isolation. They connect countries and underpin the modern world in ways most people never see—but that all of us in this room understand deeply. Whether your work is onboard or on shore, you will be part of an industry that quite literally keeps the world functioning.

With that reach comes responsibility. Competence matters. Integrity matters. And this institution has prepared you for both. It is more than your training, your academics, or your sea time. It is SUNY Maritime’s commitment to loyalty, valor, and leadership—and nearly 150 years of maritime tradition—that has helped shape not just what you know, but who you are as professionals.

You are entering this industry at a truly extraordinary moment. Long-standing global policies are shifting. New technologies are developing at a dizzying pace. The rules of the game are changing—and you will be part of the generation helping to define what comes next.

Domestic attention on shipping is more focused than it has been in decades. We don’t yet know if that attention will translate into sustained investment and long-term change. But we do know this: our national maritime workforce shortage is real. That means you are starting your careers at a time when your skills will be in demand, your training will set you apart, and your voice will matter more than ever.

This is an industry built on two things: change and relationships. I’ll start with change and come back to relationships.

The idea that change is the only constant is as true today as it was 2,500 years ago, when the ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus famously wrote that we never step into the same river twice. What he meant is that everything is in motion — the water is always flowing, the river is always changing, and so are we.

I wish I could say I dusted off ancient Greek philosophy just for this speech—but in truth, in my office we do turn to the ancient Greeks for their perspective pretty regularly. Usually, it’s when one of us is staring at a new regulation, a new technology, or a new compliance requirement — and wondering how, exactly, we’re going to make it all work.  We always remind each other it’s the same river but it’s not.  It’s the same ship but it’s not.

After twenty years in this industry, I am still learning every single day. And that’s not a weakness — it’s a requirement.  So while your formal schooling may end today, don’t leave behind your curiosity and your willingness to learn. They will be two of the most powerful tools you carry with you as you build your careers—and your success. And I can promise you- you will never be bored!

The industry you are inheriting today is vastly different from the one many of us found. And that change is not just technological or regulatory.

Organizations like WISTA, Women Offshore, and the Organization of Black Maritime Graduates have helped lead another important kind of transformation. They have pushed our industry to be more open and more reflective of the world we serve.

Through its tremendous outreach and leadership, SUNY MARITIME has helped more people see themselves in this industry — and see shipping as a place where they truly belong and where they can build meaningful, lasting careers.

When we talk about the well-documented return on investment from SUNY Maritime, it is not simply financial. It can be generational- creating long-term opportunity, economic mobility, and lasting impact for families and communities. Expanding access to careers in shipping means expanding access to the American Dream.

I know this because it is the essence of the story of our company, American Ship Repair.  If you’ll indulge me for a moment, I’d like to share the story of our founder, Nick Gianopulos, because few people understood how to navigate change and relationships in the marine industry better than he did.

Born in Greece, Nick was the son of an olive farmer. His mother encouraged his love of engineering and helped to secure him a spot at the merchant marine school in Piraeus.  He would work all day and then go to school at night.  After 5 years, he proudly graduated with a degree in marine engineering and went to sea. Unfortunately, his career was cut short due to World War 2 when he was drafted into the Greek Navy.  During the war his ship was torpedoed, and he was later captured by the Nazis and taken to a makeshift prison camp on the island of Crete.

One night he saw an opportunity to escape the camp so he did what any good mariner would do and started running towards the port.  Upon arrival and thanks to some small miracle, he discovered that there was a vessel that was crewed by his classmates from the merchant marine academy.  His classmates jumped into action and gave him a dirty boilersuit so that he could pose as a crewmember.  They smuggled him onboard and sailed away before the Nazis could find him, saving his life.

After the war, he went back to sailing- this time on American built Liberty ships and eventually made his home and business in Brooklyn- not so far from where many of those very Liberty ships were built.

He built his life, and eventually his company, one relationship at a time.

In an industry defined by constant change, he understood that success was never just about the equipment or the bottom line, but about trust, integrity, and showing up for people. That philosophy became the foundation of American Ship Repair.

75 years later I am proud to say that continues to be our North Star.

I wanted to share his story with you today because, in the end, it was not a ship, a company, or some new technology that had the greatest impact on his life. It was his classmates. It was his community.

That is something this institution understands deeply.

Long after the memories of today’s ceremony fade, what will endure are the people who stand beside you.  It is the shipmates who step in when it matters most, the, the mentors who guide you, and the classmates and your fellow alumni who become your lifelong network.

Wherever this profession takes you, you will never go alone. You leave here not just with a degree, but as part of a maritime community that will support you, challenge you, and stand with you throughout your career.

And to the families who stood behind these graduates, who worried every day if you had eaten enough or wore a coat in the middle of the winter… who woke up in the middle of the night while you were on summer sea term and wondered “what time is it there?” Congratulations to you! This victory is yours too and your support is an integral building block of this community.

Graduates- Carry this with you as you leave here.
Invest in one another.
And remember that in maritime, no one succeeds alone.

Congratulations to you all! Fair winds and following seas!