Editor's Note: The following story first appeared in the Oswego Palladium-Times, written by Gianna Cowell of SUNY Oswego's Class of 2026.

Don’t get intimidated by Ivy League or private school graduates, because SUNY Oswego graduates have high chances of getting great jobs.

That’s the message that businesswoman Constance Schwartz-Morini, SUNY Oswego Class of 1990, plans to deliver to graduates during her Commencement speech on Saturday, she said in a recent interview. She didn’t disclose exactly what she’ll say in her speech, but did talk about her general message.

“Work hard, pay attention to the small details, and follow up,” said Schwartz-Morini, CEO of SMAC Entertainment, a talent management firm and Emmy-nominated production company she co-founded with Michael Strahan in 2011. “Cherish every moment, nurture your relationships, stay in touch with the school, and give back however you can.”

Schwartz-Morini executive produces scripted and unscripted film and television projects. She will be one of three commencement speakers on Saturday. She will speak at the School of Business ceremony at 12:30 p.m. at the Deborah F. Stanley Arena and Convocation Hall in the Marano Campus Center on the SUNY Oswego campus.

Schwartz-Morini graduated from SUNY Oswego with a bachelor’s degree in marketing. She will be rewarded an honorary doctorate degree in humane letters at graduation. She originally joined SUNY Oswego as a pre-law student.

“Dr. (James) Molinari, who is retired now, was my marketing 101 professor, and that changed the trajectory of my career,” said Schwartz-Morini. “I then went on to join the American Marketing Association.”

Schwartz-Morini said she has seen significant changes in the 35 years since she graduated.

“When I graduated, you got a job,” she said. “You didn’t travel Europe, or backpack. You just got a job. I didn’t have real experience or internships.”

Schwartz-Morini originally thought advertising was her dream career, but when she failed to type fast under pressure, she registered with a headhunter.

“The first job out of school was a holding company, which had nothing to do with what I wanted. It was a great experience because I learned how to work in an office and learn basic word processor skills,” she said. “And then after eight months, I went back and said I really need to get out of here. The NFL position opened and I went and nailed it.”

After getting her start at the NFL and spending 10 years serving in various roles across television programming, sponsorship, events, marketing and player engagement, she joined The Firm, a film and television production and talent management company based in Santa Monica, California. She created its strategic marketing and sponsorship division.

“I’m so honored to be coming back and giving the commencement speech as well as getting an honorary doctorate,” Schwartz-Morini said. “I’ve gotten really emotional writing my speech because sitting where you sit right now in the blink of an eye it goes so fast, and we didn’t realize it.

“My best friends to this day are the girls that I met in my three years (at SUNY Oswego). Three of us lived together in New York City for a decade, and both of them followed me to L.A. It’s the bond that you create at that school that is like nothing I’ve ever seen before,” said Schwartz-Morini, who splits her residence between New York City and Los Angeles now, but is originally from Yonkers.

At SMAC, Schwartz-Morini and her team manage co-founder Michael Strahan, along with Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders, Erin Andrews, Tony Gonzalez, Wiz Khalifa, Common, Curt Menefee, Terrell Owens, Diana Flores, DK Metcalf, Michael Griffin, Brie Garcia, Nikki Garcia, Jordan Schultz, Shante Broadus, October Gonzalez, and Stefon Diggs. One of her newest clients is Travis Hunter, the Heisman Trophy- winning two-way player taken second in the NFL Draft. She’s the first female representative to secure a top five highest paid coach contract in NCAA history.

For nearly a decade, she managed Snoop Dogg, helping him launch the Snoop Youth Football League (SYFL), from which participants have continued their playing careers at Division I institutions, and more than a dozen have made it to the NFL.

Schwartz-Morini has also launched several consumer products businesses. She is co-founder of Michael Strahan™ and Michael Strahan Daily Defense, a new skin and shave collection.

Schwartz-Morini will celebrate her time back at Oswego by attending a dinner with President Peter O. Nwosu, and following up with a Press Box reservation for sports and wings.

OTHER SPEAKERS

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences will listen to Ambassador Erastus Ekitela Lokaale, permanent representative of the Republic of Kenya to the United Nations, at its 9 a.m. ceremony.

Pioneering ESPN SportsCenter anchor and Hall of Fame broadcaster Linda Cohn of Oswego’s Class of 1981 will speak at the 4 p.m. ceremony for the School of Communication, Media and the Arts and the School of Education.

Along with Schwartz-Morini, Cohn will also be awarded an honorary doctor of humane letters degree.

Those unable to attend in person can watch a live stream on SUNY Oswego’s YouTube channel, youtube.com/sunyoswegovideo.