Pardee Celebrates Class of 2026 in 12th Convocation Ceremony
The Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies at Boston University celebrated the accomplishments of the Class of 2026 at its 12th convocation ceremony on May 16th, 2026. The ceremony honored the school’s undergraduate and graduate degree recipients.
Dean Scott Taylor greeted graduates alongside their families and friends, congratulating them on a range of accomplishments, including conducting research on six continents, earning prestigious fellowships, and taking on leadership roles in student organizations. Eighteen students earned honors in their major, with thirty-four graduating cum laude, seventeen magna cum laude, and seven summa cum laude.
Scott looked to what awaits students after graduation, going on to say,
“You are stepping into meaningful, high-impact roles in the U.S. and around the world. Some of you will return to the public sector in your home countries. Some are commissioning as officers in the military. Others are continuing their education in International Affairs at peer institutions or attending law school. Some will be working in the tech sector or working with NGOs that empower youth, or supporting immigrants and strengthening communities. Many of you will be pursuing careers in management consulting, policy research, and risk analysis—advancing global causes across sectors and industries.”
Several awards were presented by Associate Dean Kaija Schilde and faculty members, including:
- The Sharat Kumar Nambiar Memorial Foundation Prizes to Madison Larae Keefer, Grace Leslie Catlin, and Jasmine Hsiaowei Lee for academic excellence, presented by Professor Jessica Stern. This prize is awarded to graduate and undergraduate students who have demonstrated the highest levels of academic excellence in courses taken at the Pardee School and Boston University.
- The Ambassador Hermann Eilts Thesis Awards to Jacob Bolutife Rivelli for his MA paper “Linking the Chain Through Flexibility: Global Value Chains and Job Security in Africa,” and Mia Isabela Knezevic for her BA paper, “From Silence to Speaking Out: The Evolution of Victim Support and Public Reckoning with Conflict-Related Sexual Violence during the Yugoslav wars in Bosnia & Herzegovina (1993-2025),” presented by Professor Rachel Brulé.
- The Carole A. Chandler Citizenship Awards to Jack Henry Whitten for his service as a Pardee Dean’s Ambassador, Editor-in-Chief of the Pardee Atlas Journal of Global Affairs, Social Chair of the Pardee Graduate Council, and teaching fellow, and to Isabella Simone Chaparro Will for her role as a Pardee Dean’s Ambassador, Front Office Assistant at 121 Bay State Road, and as Executive of Marketing for Pardee’s Urban Refuge initiative, presented by Ambassador Mark Storella.
Schilde also took a moment to congratulate the Pardee Honors candidates who took part in the year-long intensive thesis research program. This year, the candidates presented their research in Pardee’s First Public Defense Forum which allowed them to share their work with both faculty and the larger Pardee community. Candidates included, Amerah Abderrazzaq, Cristell Bacilio. Elle Froemelova, Myla Indigaro, Mia Knezevic, Isabella Leblanc, Jasmine Lee, Jessica Lee, Aiden Long, Bella Moreno, Olivia Price, Daria Romaniuk, Fabian Salvador, Megan Sheehan, Roshan Sivaraman, Leo Solomon, Sophia Sorcigli, and Haoqing Yang.
Jacob Bolutife Rivelli then gave the Pardee student address, where he shared his journey that led him to Pardee, from the pride his family feels of their Nigerian heritage to a job he didn’t love, but solidified his passion for public service. He went on to reflect on the colleagues and friends he found at Pardee, and the shared drive they all felt in making the world a better place. He went on to share words of inspiration to his class,
“Whatever’s next is out of our hands, and we should embrace where life leads us. Civil Rights leader, W.E.B Du Bois, has some words that reassure me when life feels uncertain and daunting. He said, ‘Believe in life! Always, human beings will progress to greater, broader, and fuller life.’”
Next, Associate Dean Tim Longman presented the faculty awards:
- The Gitner Family Prize for Faculty Excellence to Professor Alexander de la Paz for his commitment to teaching, mentorship, and student success.
- The Adil Najam Prize for Advancing Public Understanding of Global Affairs to Professor Jeremy Menchik for his academic and public engagement as the Director of CURA: The Institute on Culture, Religion and World Affairs.
In his acceptance speech, de la Paz shared his favorite stories of students and moments of discovery he happily facilitated. These stories included Saanvi Thakur’s work in humanitarian engagement with armed groups in civil war, Tatiana Azouri’s development of a model of the diplomatic self, students who took his class “Laws of War”, and his many students in IR 271. He concluded,
“Students, it has been a great privilege teaching and learning from you all. More generally, it is a great privilege to be at a place like the Pardee School that values teaching.”
Professor Paul Hare assumed the podium to read out the names of the graduating class, with Associate Dean Kaija Schilde and Professors Min Ye, Jeremy Menchik, and Jack Weinstein offering their congratulations as they walked across the stage.
Dean Taylor returned to the podium to give his graduation speech and closing remarks. Here, he reflected on bravery in the face of a global audience, and advocating for change when the risks are severe. He went on to say,
“Whether or not we conflate “bravery” and “courage” in our everyday parlance, I think both values should resonate deeply with us as students of international affairs. For ours is a time for bravery and courage: In the face of tyranny; in the face of intimidation; in the face of Nationalism and Xenophobia; in the face of threats to academic freedom. We must have the courage to stand up.”
He drew from the actions of notable figures, including Mandela, John Lewis, Madame Gisele Pelicot, Ahmed el Ahmed, and medical volunteers in Gaza, to Pardee’s own Professors Menchik and Slobodian, whose acts of bravery should inspire this graduating class of future world leaders. As he closed his speech, he said,
“In these moments, draw on the values instilled by your families, and honed at BU and Pardee. Draw upon our shared commitment to advance human progress; it’s not merely a slogan. To advance human progress, you have to stand up for your fellow human beings, with bravery and courage.
The next stage of your journey begins today. Go forth courageously. We will be rooting for you.”
Graduates then joined their friends and families for a reception, ending the ceremony.