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President Shapiro Receives Honorary Degree from Columbia
Updated 05.29.08
Outgoing Barnard College President Judith Shapiro
was recognized for her 14 years of successful leadership and
many contributions to the advancement of women's education
on Wednesday, May 21 when she was presented with an honorary
doctorate of laws from her alma mater, Columbia
University, where she received her Ph.D in anthropology
35 years ago. Next month Shapiro will relinquish her role
as president of Barnard College, but thanks to her
dedication and strength of leadership, her presidential legacy
will benefit many more generations of women, at Barnard and
beyond.
Columbia University President Lee Bollinger ticked
down the long list of Shapiro's contributions to Barnard College
and the University community. "Under Judith's leadership,
Barnard's excellence has grown in many ways, ensuring its
unique role as a premier women's college that also offers
students and faculty the opportunity to be part of one of
the world's great research universities," he said, in
an earlier statement.
Shapiro is credited with tripling the college's endowment
and doubling its applicant pool. In addition, she increased
funding for faculty research and spearheaded the building
of the award-winning, eco-friendly Nexus campus center that
will serve both the College and the Morningside Heights and
Harlem communities. Perhaps most importantly from an academic
standpoint, Shapiro initiated the review that resulted in
the groundbreaking "Ways of Knowing" curriculum
that has become the touchstone of Barnard's teaching philosophy,
and has influenced how other colleges and universities approach
their own curricula. Shapiro also established the Barnard
Summit, a prominent public forum addressing issues of women's
advancement that has gathered distinguished panelists from
a variety of disciplines, such as former U.S. attorney general
Janet Reno, activist Marian Wright Edelman,
and General Claudia Kennedy, the first female three-star
general. "You have nurtured the Barnard community, strengthening
ties with alumnae and positioning Barnard as a prominent force
for the empowerment of women worldwide," said Bollinger
in praise of Shapiro.
Shapiro's actions as president have benefited both Barnard
College and Columbia University students, Bollinger remarked.
"We are a greater academic community on both sides of
Broadway because of what you have accomplished," said
Bollinger. "As a result, the relationship between Columbia
and Barnard has both deepened and broadened, and both institutions
are much the better for it. As you leave your post this summer,
know that those who follow you build upon your extraordinary
accomplishments."
Columbia University conferred seven honorary degrees and
one Medal for Excellence at Wednesday's commencement ceremony,
which began at 10:30 a.m. In addition to President Shapiro,
the 2008 honorary degree recipients included: founder and
chairperson of BRAC, one of the world's largest non-government
anti-poverty organizations, Fazle Hasan Abed, Doctor
of Laws; Grammy-winner Emanuel Ax, Doctor of Music;
influential modern dancer Alicia Graf, Medal for Excellence,
awarded annually to an outstanding graduate of the University
under the age of 45; Jerome L. Greene Foundation President
and CEO Dawn Greene, Doctor of Laws; Broad Institute
founding director Eric Lander, Doctor of Science; William
Rand Kenan Jr. Professor of History Emeritus at the University
of North Carolina William Leuchtenburg, Doctor of Letters;
and pioneering engineer and Barnard alumna Gertrude Neumark
'48, Doctor of Science.
In addition to the honor bestowed by Columbia, Shapiro also
received a Medal of Distinction from the College at Barnard's
commencement on Tuesday, May 20. After the four other Medalists,
including tennis great Billie Jean King, editor-in-chief of
The New Yorker David Remnick, and Harlem activist
Dr. Thelma Davidson Adair, received their respective
honors, Chair of the Board of Trustees and Pulitzer Prize-winning
writer Anna Quindlen '74 surprised Shapiro by presenting
her with her own Medal of Distinction, the highest honor given
by the College. "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."
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