Karen E. Flores Named Graduate Valedictorian at Manhattan University

Manhattan University today announced that Karen E. Flores is the University’s Graduate School valedictorian for the Class of 2026. She will be the student speaker at the May 15 ceremony to be held on the University campus.

A native of the Bronx, Flores is the first in her family to complete a graduate degree and the third of five siblings to earn an undergraduate degree. Her impact on her family runs deep, as her two younger siblings have followed her lead and currently attend Manhattan University’s O’Malley School of Business (OMSB). Flores will receive a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Data Analytics, building on her undergraduate foundation as a Finance major with a minor in Economics.

Her path to Manhattan began at Talent Unlimited High School where her AP Statistics teacher – a Manhattan University alum – encouraged her to apply. While in high school, she also cultivated a love of music; she now has played the viola and violin for more than a decade.

That dual passion for music and finance found a natural home in her current role as a Finance Associate at the Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation. Closer to campus, she serves as a Graduate Assistant at OMSB, mentoring undergraduate and prospective students while aiding in the facilitation of campus-wide events. A pivotal moment in her academic journey came through a Stephen Thieke Research Fellowship, which sparked a deep interest in data analytics and ultimately shaped her graduate concentration.

Said Jimena Gonzalez-Ramirez, Ph.D., Associate professor of Economics and Finance at Manhattan,

“Having taught Karen as an undergraduate and worked alongside her during her Thieke Fellowship, I’ve seen firsthand the positivity, energy, and engagement she brings to everything she does. She has made the most of her time at Manhattan University through multiple research and collaborative projects and numerous recruiting events where she has shared her experience with prospective students, making her a proud Jasper in every sense.”

Flores embraced multiple dimensions of university life. She was a Quadrangle Newspaper Scholar, a James Patterson Scholar, and a member of the rowing team. She also competed in several national collegiate competitions, most notably the Chartered Financial Analyst Research Competition and the Marine Energy Collegiate Competition, where she spent three years contributing cost analysis and market valuation work to a renewable energy water turbine project built alongside a team of Manhattan engineers. That interdisciplinary collaboration reflects a core belief of Flores: that the most meaningful work happens at the intersection of different backgrounds and disciplines. She is a member of several honor societies, including Omicron Delta Epsilon, Epsilon Sigma Pi, and the Financial Management Association Honor Society.

Flores also served as a University Resident Assistant, Treasurer of Women in Business, and President of the Entrepreneurship Club. Of Mexican heritage, she is fluent in Spanish and has an elementary knowledge of Portuguese.

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About Manhattan University

Founded in 1853, Manhattan University is an independent Lasallian Catholic institution located in Riverdale, NY that embraces students of all faiths, cultures, and traditions. The mission of the University is to provide a dynamic student-centered educational experience that prepares graduates for lives of personal development, professional success, civic engagement, and service to their fellow human beings. Manhattan University offers programs that integrate a broad liberal arts education coupled with a concentration in specific disciplines in the arts and sciences with professional preparation in business and engineering, ensuring graduates will excel in their chosen fields. The University consists of the Kakos School of Arts & Sciences, the O’Malley School of Business, and the School of Engineering. For further information, please visit www.manhattan.edu.