Here's Every Columbia 2024 Class Day Speaker We Know (So Far)
With Commencement, class days, and general graduation festivities around the corner, here's who we expect to speak to our graduates in celebration of their accomplishments.
Columbia Commencement is right around the corner in May and with it comes the special school-specific celebrations known as Class Days or school ceremonies. #Columbia2024!
During this year's Commencement ceremony, we'll hear President Minouche Shafik on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, at two Commencement ceremonies that will also be broadcast live for those unable to make it to campus.
Schools across Columbia will also host ceremonies and speakers of their own. We're keeping track of those speakers, as they are announced, in the running list below. The list will be updated as we hear more throughout April and May!
Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation
Andrés Jaque
Andrés Jaque, dean and professor at Columbia GSAPP, will speak at the school's ceremony on Saturday, May 11, at 3:30 p.m. on the South Lawn.
James Ijames
Pulitzer Prize-winning and Tony Award-nominated playwright, director, and educator James Ijames will address the School of the Arts Class Day ceremony on Wednesday, May 15, at 7 p.m. in Lerner Hall, Roone Alredge Auditorium.
Robert Reffkin
Robert Reffkin (BUS’03), founder and CEO of Compass, will speak at Columbia Business School's recognition ceremony for MBA candidates on Sunday, May 11, at 11:30 a.m. on the South Lawn.
Poppy Harlow
Poppy Harlow (CC'05), journalist and CNN anchor, will deliver the keynote for Columbia College’s Class Day on Tuesday, May 14 at 8:30 a.m. on the South Lawn.
Lanny Smoot
Disney Imagineer Lanny Smoot (SEAS'77, SEAS'78) has been chosen to address Columbia Engineering's Undergraduate Student Class Day on Monday, May 13 at 11:45 a.m. on the South Lawn.
Kittu Kolluri
Kittu Kolluri, founder and managing director of Neotribe Ventures, has been chosen to address Columbia Engineering's Graduate Student Class Day on Sunday, May 12 at 3:00 p.m. on the South Lawn.
Nim Tottenham
Nim Tottenham (BC'96), professor and chair of Psychology at Columbia University, will be the speaker at the PhD convocation for the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences on Sunday, May 12 at 8 a.m. on the South Lawn.
Joseph R. Slaughter
Joseph R. Slaughter, associate professor of English and Comparative Literature at Columbia University and executive director of the Institute for the Study of Human Rights, will be the speaker at the MA convocation for the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences on Sunday, May 12 at 11:00 a.m. on the South Lawn.
Ian Bremmer
Ian Bremmer, renowned political scientist, will be the featured speaker at SIPA’s graduation ceremony, taking place on Monday, May 13 at 7:30 p.m. on the South Lawn.
Amira Hass
Amira Hass, Haaretz correspondent, will speak at Columbia Graduate School of Journalism's graduation ceremony on Wednesday, May 15 at 12:00 p.m. in Lerner Hall, Roone Arledge Auditorium.
Kristen Clarke
Kristen Clarke (LAW'00), Assistant Attorney General, will speak at the Law School's ceremony on Monday, May 13, 2024 at 3:30 p.m. on the South Lawn.
Monica Bertagnolli
Monica Bertagnolli, MD, Director of the National Institutes of Health, will speak at the Mailman School of Public Health's Class Day ceremony on Tuesday, May 14 at 4:00 pm at The Armory.
Ann Kurth
New York Academy of Medicine President Ann Elizabeth Kurth will speak at Columbia Nursing’s graduation ceremony on Tuesday, May 14, at 10:00 a.m. at The Armory.
Gregory Wawro
Gregory J. Wawro, professor of Political Science and director of the Political Analytics program, will speak at the first School of Professional Studies ceremony, which will be held on Friday, May 10 at 8:30 a.m. on the South Lawn.
Kristine Billmyer
Kristine Billmyer, professor of professional practice and Strategic Communication program director, will speak at the second School of Professional Studies ceremony, which will be held on Friday, May 10 at 12:30 p.m. on the South Lawn.
Thomas Parham
Thomas Parham, psychologist and president of California State University, will receive Teachers College's Medal for Distinguished Service, and will speak at the Teachers College convocation ceremony for the departments of Counseling & Clinical Psychology, and Human Development, which will be held on Tuesday, May 14 at 10:00 a.m. at United Palace Theater.
Deborah W. Brooks, on behalf of Michael J. Fox
Actor and philanthropist Michael J. Fox will receive Teachers College's Medal for Distinguished Service and Deborah W. Brooks, Michael J. Fox Foundation’s CEO and co-founder, will accept the medal on his behalf. Fox will speak at the Teachers College convocation ceremony for the departments of Biobehavioral Sciences, Health Studies and Applied Educational Psychology, and International and Transcultural Studies, which will be held on Tuesday, May 14 at 2:30 p.m. at United Palace Theater.
Amy Edmondson
Amy Edmondson, Novartis Professor of Leadership and Management at Harvard Business School, will receive Teachers College's Medal for Distinguished Service, and will speak at the Teachers College convocation ceremony for the departments of Math, Science & Technology, and Organization & Leadership, which will be held on Tuesday, May 14 at 7:00 p.m. at United Palace Theater.
Judy Arnhold
Judy Arnhold, a filmmaker and artist who examines the relationship between ecology and the human condition, will receive Teachers College's Medal for Distinguished Service, and will speak at the Teachers College convocation ceremony for the departments of Arts & Humanities, Curriculum & Teaching, and Education Policy & Social Analysis on Wednesday, May 15 at 5:00 p.m. at United Palace Theater.