|
PRESIDENT SHAPIRO LEADS HER FINAL BARNARD COMMENCEMENT, ACCEPTS SURPRISE MEDAL OF DISTINCTION
updated
05.21.08
New York,
NY—During her fourteenth and final commencement as president
of Barnard College, Judith R. Shapiro, who will retire her
post this June, told members of the Class of 2008 that she
was one of their own. "As a class, you will always hold
a special place in my heart. After all, I am graduating from
Barnard right along with you. If you are willing to accept
me as a fellow member of the Class of 2008, I might even show
up for reunions," said Shapiro, who addressed an enthusiastic
crowd of approximately 5,000 graduates, family members, faculty
and staff of Barnard College.
Keynote
speaker Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg praised Shapiro's extraordinary
leadership and her constant presence in the Barnard community,
commenting that both will be missed. "Both the graduates
and President Shapiro are moving on after today's ceremony,"
said Bloomberg. "The Barnard community will miss your
leadership, your exuberance, and your famous gin martinis."
The Mayor also mock-chastised Shapiro for having the famous
Nora — her beloved ebony poodle — with her at all
times. "Despite the 'no dogs' allowed policy, she still
managed to have the run of the campus," remarked Bloomberg,
as the audience laughed.
Shapiro
presented the Barnard Medal of Distinction, the College's
highest award, to Mayor Bloomberg, along with three other
recipients: tennis great, living legend, and social activist
Billie Jean King; Pulitzer Prize-winning writer and editor-in-chief
of The New Yorker David Remnick; and lifelong Harlem
advocate and chief organizer of Harlem's Head Start program,
Thelma Davidson Adair.
Chair
of the Board of Trustees and Pulitzer Prize-winning writer
Anna Quindlen '74, an active alumna for two decades and trustee
since 1983, surprised the president by presenting an additional
Medal of Distinction—to Shapiro, herself.
Quindlen
praised Shapiro's 14 years of service and thanked her for
the lasting impact her tenure has created. She cited several
of the numerous successes that have occurred under Shapiro's
leadership, including the tripling of Barnard's endowment,
the addition of new faculty chairs, and the creation of the
eco-friendly Nexus building.
"Barnard
women, past and present, are proud to share in your sisterhood,"
said Quindlen. "We do not honor you by presenting you
with this medal. Because of all you have done to elevate the
reputation of this college we love so well, you honor us by
accepting it." Shapiro seemed momentarily stunned when
she received the honor and paused to thank the school and
Quindlen before resuming her commencement duties.
Shapiro
congratulated the newly minted graduates with warmth and enthusiasm.
"You rock!" she exclaimed. "We are immensely
proud of you. You are 597 awe-inspiring women." She reminded
the graduates they are part of a "great chain of Barnard
being" and urged them to use the "vast and wonderful
support network of Barnard alums."
After
thanking the families, faculty and staff for supporting the
outgoing students, Shapiro reflected on the fact that this
will be her last commencement speech at Barnard. "I thought
about reading all my prior speeches," she joked. Instead
Shapiro touched upon a handful of past themes such as the
importance of community-building, the vital tools of the Nine
Ways of Knowing, and civic engagement and political responsibility.
|
