Marianapolis Alumni Stephanie Baron Dollar ’93 and Stacey Baron Ardini ’95 to Deliver 2025 Commencement Address

THOMPSON, CONN. – Marianapolis alumni Stephanie Baron Dollar ’93 and Stacey Baron Ardini ’95 will deliver this year’s commencement address on June 1, 2025, to the Class of 2025.

 

Stephanie Baron Dollar ’93 is a proud Marianapolis alumna. As a senior at Marianapolis, Stephanie was the captain of the girls' basketball team and recipient of the Patrick S. Hardy Memorial Award. She holds a BS in Marketing from Fairfield University and an MBA from Mercer University.

 

Stephanie began her professional career at Marianapolis, where she served as Dean of Admissions before embarking on a distinguished 17-year tenure at the Women's Basketball Coaches Association. There, she managed professional education programs and served as NCAA liaison for Division II women's basketball and the NCAA Playing Rules and Officiating Committee.

 

Currently, Stephanie serves as Deputy Athletic Director for Internal Administration and Operations, Senior Woman Administrator, and Deputy Title IX Coordinator for Athletics at the University of Massachusetts Boston, where she oversees 20 NCAA Division III sports programs, ensures Title IX compliance, directs human resources including labor negotiations, and serves on the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Committee.

 

Stacey Baron Ardini graduated from Marianapolis in 1995, where she was class valedictorian, captain of the girls’ basketball team, and recipient of the Marianapolis Alumni Merit Award. She holds a bachelor of arts in government & sociology from Bowdoin College with highest honors and a law degree from Boston College Law School.

 

Stacey was trained as a lawyer at Goodwin Proctor in Boston and has served as in-house counsel for The TJ Maxx Companies and Clarks Shoe Company. She currently serves as Vice President of Intellectual Property & Marketing Law for The Ann Taylor, Talbots & Chico’s family of brands.

 

Stacey and her husband, Drew, have three children, Maggie, Allison, and Jack, and a dog, Harry. Outside of her career, Stacey loves summers at the beach in Maine, watching her kids play sports and beating her Dad, Charlie, in tennis.

 

In their address, Stephanie and Stacey will focus on the importance of connection, community, and belonging.

 

When asked about what Marianapolis means to them, Stephanie and Stacey shared, “We are deeply honored to be returning to campus as this year’s Commencement speakers. Marianapolis will always feel like home to us, and, as sisters and alumni, we look forward to celebrating the achievements of the Class of 2025. It is a privilege to be a part of this significant milestone in the students’ educational journeys, and, in particular, to be back at Marianapolis to help celebrate 50 years of graduating girls.”