Press Room | Columbia News

Commencement Exercises and Graduation Ceremonies Take Place May 14–19

Media contact: Nick Obourn, 212-854-8336, no2201@columbia.edu

NEW YORK, May 10, 2010—Former President Bill Clinton and U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder join other distinguished figures as speakers at more than 20 events celebrating the commencement exercises of Columbia University’s 256th academic year. Events take place between Friday, May 14, and Wednesday, May 19.

Commencement Day Details

WHEN: Tuesday, May 18, beginning at 10:30 a.m. with the academic procession. That night, from dusk until after midnight, the spire of the Empire State Building will be lit in blue and white in honor of Columbia’s graduates.

WHO: University President Lee C. Bollinger presents the commencement address to more than 35,000 students, family members, faculty, staff and guests. Approximately 12,000 students are graduating.

MEDIA: Campus access and seating is granted to media registered with Nick Obourn, no2201@columbia.edu. Check in at the Amsterdam Avenue gate at West 116th Street. Gate opens at 8:30 a.m. Click here for a map of Morningside Heights. The Broadway gate is closed and no parking is permitted on campus. Television crews must be in place by 9:00 a.m. Mult box is provided. View a live Web cast here.

Class Days, Graduation Ceremonies, Notable Speakers

Columbia’s 13 graduate schools, and its three undergraduate institutions—Columbia College, The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, and the School of General Studies—each host separate special events. Some events are Web cast and archived. To learn more, click here or call 212-854-8336. Speakers include:

Paul Ingram, the Kravis professor of business management at Columbia Business School, speaks at the school’s Executive MBA Recognition Ceremony, 10 a.m., May 15, Roone Arledge Auditorium, Lerner Hall, Morningside Heights campus (Closed to media)
Todd Stitzer, former chief executive officer of Cadbury, speaks at Columbia Business School’s MBA Recognition Ceremony, 12:30 p.m., May 16, South Lawn, Morningside Heights campus (Closed to media)
Paul Brandt-Rauf, dean of the School of Public Health at University of Illinois at Chicago, speaks at Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science Class Day, 4:30 p.m., May 16, South Lawn, Morningside Heights campus
Vikram Pandit, chief executive of Citigroup, speaks at the School of International and Public Affairs Commencement, 2 p.m., May 17, Riverside Church, 490 Riverside Dr.
Henry Pinkham, dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, speaks at the school’s PhD and MA Convocation, 2:00 p.m., May 15, South Lawn, Morningside Heights campus
Jacques Pépin, French chef and television personality, speaks at the School of General Studies Class Day, 9 a.m., May 16, South Lawn, Morningside Heights
Benjamin Jealous, chief executive of the NAACP, speaks at Columbia College Class Day, 9:30 a.m., May 17, South Lawn, Morningside Heights campus. (Gates open at 8:30 a.m.; camera call at 9 a.m.)
Eugene Robinson, columnist for The Washington Post, speaks at Graduate School of Journalism Day, 10 a.m., May 17, Miller Theatre, Morningside Heights
Brian T. Kelly, assistant professor of orthopedic surgery, New York Presbyterian Hospital, speaks at the Doctor of Physical Therapy Graduation, 1:30 p.m., May 17, Physicians and Surgeons Alumni Auditorium, 650 West 168th Street, First Floor
Bill Clinton, former U.S. president and head of the Clinton Foundation, speaks at the Mailman School of Public Health Graduation, 3:30 p.m., May 17, New Balance Track & Field Arena, 216 Fort Washington Ave., at 168th Street
Steven Alan Cohen, executive director of Columbia’s Earth Institute, speaks at the School of Continuing Education Class Day, 4 p.m., May 17, Roone Arledge Auditorium, Lerner Hall, Morningside Heights campus
Mark Wigley, dean of the Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation, speaks at the school’s Professional Degree Commencement at 12:15 p.m. for second professional degree recipients and at 1:45 p.m. for first professional degree recipients, May 18, St. Paul’s Chapel, Morningside Heights campus (Closed to media)
Emily Gerson Saines, movie and television producer, speaks at Occupational Therapy Commencement/Convocation and Awards Ceremony, 10:00 a.m., May 17, Physicians and Surgeons Alumni Auditorium, 650 West 168th Street
Michael Brown, the Paul J. Thorn Chair in Medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, speaks at the College of Physicians and Surgeons Commencement, 5 p.m., May 17, Physicians and Surgeons Alumni Auditorium, 650 West 168th Street, First Floor
Mary Jo Bang, poet, speaks at the School of the Arts Presentation of Diplomas, 2 p.m., May 18, Miller Theatre, Morningside Heights campus (Closed to media)
School of Nursing Graduation, 2:00 p.m., May 18, Riverside Church, 490 Riverside Dr.
Raymond Jefferson, assistant secretary for the Veterans’ Employment and Training Service, U.S. Department of Labor, speaks at the School of Social Work Graduation, 3 p.m., May 18, Levien Gymnasium, Dodge Fitness Center
Gail Collins, author and columnist for The New York Times, speaks at the Graduate School of Journalism Commencement, 3 p.m., May 18, Roone Arledge Auditorium, Lerner Hall, Morningside Heights campus
Frank Brightwell, executive director and founder of Somos Amigos, speaks at the College of Dental Medicine Graduation, 10:30 a.m., May 17, The New Balance Track & Field Arena, 216 Fort Washington Ave., at 168th Street
Eric Holder, U.S. Attorney General, speaks at Columbia Law School Graduation, 2 p.m., May 14, South Lawn, Morningside Heights campus
Fatima Oliveira Tsiouris, associate director for maternal and child health programs at the Mailman School’s International Center for AIDS Care and Treatment Programs, speaks at the Institute of Human Nutrition graduation, 11 a.m., May 19, Roone Alredge Auditorium, Lerner Hall, Morningside Heights

Honorary Degrees, Medal for Excellence

Columbia grants eight honorary degrees at this year’s commencement. Recipients are:

Bernard Bailyn, Doctor of Letters
Jacqueline Barton, Doctor of Science
Geoffrey Canada, Doctor of Laws
C. Lowell Harriss, Doctor of Letters, posthumously
Joel I. Klein, Doctor of Laws
Tony Kushner, Doctor of Letters
Koji Nakanishi, Doctor of Science
Xu Bing, Doctor of Humane Letters

The Medal for Excellence, awarded annually to outstanding alumni under the age of 45, is presented to Ron Gonen (MBA ’04) and Dana Schutz (SoA ’02). For short bios of each recipient, click here.

Alumni Medalists

The University presents 10 Alumni Medals. Recipients are:

Kyra Tirana Barry, 1987 B.A. Columbia College
Roger R. Baumann, 1984 I.F. School of International and Public Affairs, 1985 M.I.A. School of International and Public Affairs
Brenda Johnson Gallagher, 1997 M.S. School of Social Work
Barbara Silver Horowitz, 1955 B.A. Barnard College, 1974 M.Ed. Teachers College
Gedale B. Horowitz, 1953 B.A. Columbia College, 1955 J.D. Columbia Law School
Hajime Kosai, 1996 M.B.A. Columbia Business School
Larry J. Lawrence, 1969 B.A. School of General Studies, 1971 M.B.A. Columbia Business School
Simon K. C. Li, 1970 M.S. School of Journalism
Maria E. Shiao-Di Francesco, 1986 B.S. The Fu Foundation of Engineering and Applied Science

Sara Shipley Stone, 1969 B.S. School of Nursing

Presidential Awards for Excellence in Teaching

Recipients this year include:

Sharon Akabas, Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Pediatrics
Michelle S. Ballan, Assistant Professor, School of Social Work
Linda F. Cushman, Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Population and Family Health
Frederik B.S. Paerels, Associate Professor, Department of Astronomy
Michael S. Sparer, Professor, Department of Health Policy and Management

About Columbia University

A leading academic and research university, Columbia University continually seeks to advance the frontiers of knowledge and to foster a campus community deeply engaged in understanding and addressing the complex global issues of our time. Columbia’s extensive public service initiatives, cultural collaborations, and community partnerships enrich campus life. They help define the University’s underlying values and mission to educate students to be both leading scholars and informed, engaged citizens. Founded in 1754 as King’s College, Columbia University in the City of New York is the fifth oldest institution of higher learning in the U.S.

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