BU’s 140th: Another Unforgettable Commencement

Members of the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine Class of 2013—along with faculty, family, friends, and others from the GSDM community—were among the some 20,000 guests attending the 140th Boston University All-University Commencement, held Sunday, May 19, at Nickerson Field.

Boston University President Robert A. Brown opened by pausing to reflect on the Boston Marathon bombings and their direct connections to the BU community. BU Student Lu Lingzi GRS 14 was killed in the bombing and her friend Zhou Danling MET 14 was seriously injured. Brown expressed reverence and appreciation for the courage of the 25 members of the BU professional and student community who helped in rescue efforts.

Wendy Kopp, founder of the program Teach for America, delivered the Class of 2013 Commencement Address. Teach for America addresses the problem of unequal education by training recent college graduates for teaching positions in low-income communities. In her address, Kopp reminded graduates that they are now “stewards of BU’s long legacy of promoting social justice.”

Provost Jean Morrison told the commencement gathering that posthumous degrees would be awarded to marathon victim Lu Lingzi GRS 14 and Binland Lee CAS 13, who perished in a house fire in Allston three weeks before.

Ms. Kopp, actor Morgan Freeman, chemical engineer and biotechnology pioneer Robert S. Langer, and United Methodist Church Bishop Peter D. Weaver STH 75 were awarded honorary degrees.

Presented by President Robert A. Brown, Mayor Thomas M. Menino HON 01 received the Boston University Medallion for service to the community.

Brown also presented the highest teaching honors to three faculty members. The Metcalf Cup and Prize for Excellence in Teaching was awarded to Deborah Vaughan GRS 72, School of Medicine professor of Anatomy and Neurobiology and assistant dean for admissions. John Finnerty, a College of Arts & Sciences associate professor of biology, and Carol Jenkins, a School of Education associate professor of curriculum and teaching were awarded Metcalf Awards for Excellence in Teaching.

More coverage of the 140th Boston University All-University Commencement can be found at BU Today.