Pardee School Celebrates 2016 Convocation
The Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies celebrated its Convocation with a ceremony that brought together students, faculty and family for a day that commemorated the achievements of the Class of 2016.
“I am sure you will all achieve greatness in the various fields you will go into, but let me say this to you — it is good to be great, but it is great to be good,” said Pardee School Dean Adil Najam. “I hope you will continue working not only to prove that you are smart, but to prove that as humans you are good and that you will create a planet which will be defined not just by its great but by those who are truly good.”
The convocation was held Saturday, May 14 at Boston University’s Walter Brown Arena. A beautiful warm day greeted the approximately 2,000 guests and 30 faculty members who celebrated the freshly-minted Pardee School alumni.
The 227 undergraduates and 45 graduate students will join the more than 9,000 alumni from programs currently under the purview of the Pardee School.
The Convocation ceremony included remarks from Najam, as well as the presentation of the following awards:
- The Carole A. Chandler Citizenship Award, to Charlott Sandor Johansen
- The CAS (College of Arts and Sciences) Prize for Undergraduate Academic Excellence, to Matthew C. Cronin
- The Pardee School Graduate Academic Excellence Award, to Mariana Echaniz Arciga
- The Pardee School Undergraduate Academic Excellence Award, to Michelle Abou-Raad, Kelley Gourley, Amal Hechehouche and Susanne Neher
- The Amb. Hermann Frederick Eilts Graduate Thesis Award, to Mariana Echaniz Arciga and Jocelyn Spottiswoode
- The Amb. Hermann Frederick Eilts Undergraduate Thesis Award, to Krishna Gall
- The Gerald and Deanne Gitner Family Prize for Faculty Excellence, to William Keylor
Awards were presented by Najam with assistance from Erik Goldstein, Professor of International Relations and History, and William Grimes, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.
Convocation also provided an opportunity to thank and honor Professor of International Relations and Political Science Strom Thacker, who is leaving the Pardee School to become Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty at Union College. Professor Emeritus of International Relations and Political Science David Scott Palmer delivered a tribute to Thacker.
“He has served Boston University with distinction over the past 20 years, rising through the ranks with a diverse array of articles, books, and grants relating to Latin American political economy and comparative democracy and development,” Palmer said. “Our Latin American Studies MA owes its existence to his forbearing craftsmanship.”
Associate Dean Grimes was assisted by Professor Joseph Fewsmith, Director of Undergraduate Studies, Professor Catherine Yeh, Director of the Center for the Study of Asia, Professor Michael Corgan and Professor Adela Pineda, Director of Latin American Studies, in the conferring of degrees.
Upon receiving their diplomas, graduates were given a commemorative coin featuring the Pardee School motto, “Advancing Human Progress,” and Boston University seal to mark the culmination of their academic efforts at the Pardee School.
“Please look at this as a memento and also as a reminder of the fact that you are the Pardee School,” Najam said. “You will define what the school becomes, you will carry its reputation and you will build its reputation. Therefore we entrust to you a part of ourselves today. Keep it with care.”
The ceremony also honored the students selected as members of the International Relations Honors Program. They are: Michelle Abou-Raad, Nour Al Kudsi, Jacob Barkin, Camila Camborda, Aabir Pablo Das, Krishna Gall, Rachel Goldstein, Kelley Gourley, Amal Hechehouche, Christopher Hourani, Lindsay Hover, Aidan Iverson, Colleen Keating, Susannah Keys, Abigail Klinedinst, Alec Lynde, Sara Mejias Gonzalez, Danielle Liberman. Jasmine Miller, Alexandra Neenan, Francesca Paranzino, Abigail Silber, Zahra Spencer, Michael Stinnett-Kassoff and Janki Viroja.
“The IR Honors program is a yearlong intensive research project,” said Grimes when conferring the degrees. “The students who have been selected to participate in this program are among the most academically accomplished in their class. The program culminates in a thesis defense before a panel of BU professors representing a variety of disciplines.”
After the ceremony, students and guests enjoyed a reception, photobooth and the opportunity to reflect on their rite of passage.
For more coverage of the Pardee School convocation ceremony, search the hashtag #PardeePride on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.