WSN Commencement Issue 2014

COMMENCEMENT

2014

WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS

COMMENCEMENT 2014

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college of nursing

steinhardt school of culture, education and human development

school of continuing and professional studies

college of arts and science

global liberal studies

gallatin school of individualized study

SILVER SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK

STERN SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

POLYTECHNIC SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING

TISCH SCHOOL OF THE ARTS

ALL- UNIVERSITY COMMENCEMENT

COMMENCEMENT 2014

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4 WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | COMMENCEMENT 2014 | NYUNEWS.COM

COLLEGE OF NURSING

STEINHARDT SCHOOL OF CULTURE, EDUCATION AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

Radio City Music Hall offered perfect acoustics for the 2014 Steinhardt commencement. Associate dean for Student Affairs Patricia Carey opened the ceremony, after the parade of students filled their seats to the sounds of a bagpipe band and the traditional “Procession of the Nobles.” Carey introduced dean Mary Brabeck, who addressed the graduates for the last time as dean. Her speech focused on stories, ranging from Homer’s

“The Odyssey” to the 140-character stories one tells on Twitter, urging the soon-to-be-alumni to offer their skills to make better life stories for themselves and others. Student speaker Grace Song delivered a speech about empathy and finished her address by turning around to take a selfie with the audience. Performances by the Dancing Educators and the Steinhardt Singers served as an entertaining intermission. As the graduates walked on

stage to receive their degrees, the screens above them flashed congratulatory tweets, and even a marriage proposal, from members of the audience who hashtagged #Steinhardt2014. The procession closed with the Steinhardt Singers’ rendition of “New York, New York.” They were accompanied by some of the new graduates and distinguished faculty on stage who kicked their legs in full Rockette fashion behind the singers.

New York City Center took on an air of celebration as family and friends gathered to watch their loved ones graduate from the College of Nursing. Graduates waved to family members in the balcony and cheered loudly as dean Eileen Sullivan-Marx congratulated them on their accomplishments. The commencement ceremony, which honored undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students, focused on staying true to values while moving forward in the changing world of health care. The CEO of the National League of Nursing, Beverly Malone, was the keynote speaker, and she encouraged students to view this new stage of their lives as a journey and to always bring purpose, power and passion with them. Undergraduate student speaker Alyssa Relos challenged her fellow classmates to remember who they are and why they chose this career when presented with seemingly impossible challenges, reminding them to leap forward wholeheartedly even when they are most afraid. Her parting wish for the class of 2014 was to “see things that startle you, feel things you’ve never felt before and live a life you are proud of.” The ceremony ended with the graduates and present faculty members reciting the Florence Nightingale pledge together.

MONDAY, MAY 19 | 9:30 A.M. | NEW YORK CITY CENTER

BRYNA SHUMAN

MONDAY, MAY 19 | 10:30 A.M. | RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL

407 BACHELOR DEGREE GRADUATES


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PASSION IS WHAT WE ALL START OUT WITH, THAT FIRE IN THE PIT OF OUR STOMACHS TELLING US THAT WE ARE TOTALLY DEDICATED TO MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF OUR PATIENTS AND FAMILIES. I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU NOT TO LET THAT GO.

— Beverly Malone, CEO of the National

League of Nursing

“YOU LISTEN TO FIND THAT KERNEL OF INSIGHT THAT WILL ORGANIZE ALL THAT YOU HEAR INTO A COHERENT WHOLE. IT USED TO BE THAT ALL KNOWLEDGE WAS TRANSMITTED VIA STORIES … ALL OF THESE STORIES HELP YOU MAKE MEANING. TODAY AS YOU SHAPE YOUR GRADUATE STORY WILL YOU USE YOUR KNOWLEDGE … TO HELP US UNDERSTAND AND EMBRACE OUR FRACTIOUS WORLD? I WISH YOU INSPIRATIONAL STORIES THAT MOTIVATE YOU TO CREATE A BETTER WORLD, A LARGER, MORE CARING HUMAN COMMUNITY.

— Mary Brabeck, dean

RACHEL KAPLAN/WSN

FELIPE DE LA HOZ/WSN

FRANCISCO NAVAS

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NYUNEWS.COM | COMMENCEMENT 2014 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS 5

With central themes of diversity and community, the speeches of the College of Arts and Science’s commencement ceremony could not have been more fitting for such an enormous and varied graduating class.

Imam Khalid Latif, the recipient of the Alumni Distinguished Service Award, inspired the new graduates and the entire audience — families, current students and faculty — as he recounted his 9/11 experience, living on-campus in

Goddard residence hall at the time. Along with dean Gabrielle Starr and dean for Humanities Joy Connolly, Latif reiterated the importance of collaborating despite differences in background or culture to foster a meaningful community as

students have done during their time at NYU. To end the ceremony, the NYU Musical Theater Ensemble sang excerpts from Jay Z’s “Empire State of Mind” and a classic arrangement of the alma mater.

When the SCPS graduates entered the grand ballroom of the Grand Hyatt New York, they were met with cheers from delighted family and friends. Dean Dennis Di Lorenzo set the tone of the evening by discussing the importance of “competing against yourself” to achieve long-term success and satisfaction. Keynote speaker Cathy Sandeen, who is vice president for Education Attainment and Innovation at the American Council on Education, discussed her compelling journey from a first-generation college student to a renowned policy expert. Sandeen advised graduates that “learning does not stop” for those who seek to evolve alongside the transformative job market. Following her encouraging words, student speaker Theresa Cardamone — who took a 38-year hiatus from formal education before enrolling in the SCPS Paul McGhee Division — addressed the crowd. She grippingly spoke of her unconventional path to receiving a college degree before urging graduates to reject the fears that stand in the way of making empowering choices. The ceremony ended as purple and white balloons were released from the ceiling in celebration of the graduates’ accomplishments. CHRISTINA COLEBURN

HANNAH TREASURE

MONDAY, MAY 19 | 5 P.M. | GRAND HYATT NEW YORK

TUESDAY, MAY 20 | 10 A.M. | RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL

SCHOOL OF CONTINUING AND PROFESSIONAL STUDIES

COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCE2,051 BACHELOR DEGREE GRADUATES

301 BACHELOR

DEGREE GRADUATES

WHAT DOES SUCCESS MEAN? ... FINDING BALANCE BETWEEN SATISFACTION AND DRIVE.

”— Dennis Di Lorenzo, dean

“OUR DEGREES ARE NOT ENDPOINTS IN AND OF THEMSELVES, BUT RATHER THEY ARE A PROMISE ON OUR PART TO NEVER STOP STRIVING. THEY REFLECT OUR COMMITMENT TO RELENTLESSLY IMAGINING WHAT DIFFERENCE MIGHT LOOK LIKE.

”— Connor Spencer, student speaker

JONATHAN TAN/WSN



Change, celebration and a look toward solving the problems that face our generation — from social equality to climate change — seemed to be instilled in each speech presented at the graduating ceremony of the Gallatin School of Individualized Study. Dean Susanne Wofford utilized musical references to demonstrate the essential role creativity has on political change. Ulrich Baer, vice provost for the Faculty, Arts, Humanities and Diversity, gave an inspirational speech which acknowledged that the graduating class is “a class of worldly students,” capable of being fully engaged and present in the world. Academy Award-winning screenwriter and Gallatin alumnus John Ridley described his personal college journey and how he only faced success in school when he was presented with concepts and subjects that inspired him. Ridley moved the audience as he tearfully gave the advice that, “Success are those times in life when you’re happy to be you.” The ceremony ended with a nostalgic performance from student Audra LaBrosse, who sung a fitting song with the lyrics “We are what’s happening,” a reminder of the journey the class of 2014 is about to embark on.

Despite the small number of graduates, the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts buzzed with excitement for Global Liberal Studies’ commencement ceremony. Family and friends were welcomed by dean Fred Schwarzback, who introduced keynote speaker Linda Mills, vice chancellor for Global Programs and University Life. Mills called the graduates “a new form of global leader, with the capacity to do it all, have a global mindset and become a 21st century diplomat.” Mills encouraged graduates to go forth in the world and use their skills to convert conflicts into peace. Valedictorian Michael Maisel said GLS is a degree in international storytelling, and he asked his classmates to always remember that universal truths exist despite cultural differences. In the presentation of the candidates, each graduate was given a personalized stole, embroidered with the flags of the countries in which they studied during their time at NYU.

TUESDAY, MAY 20 | 11 A.M. | RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL

TUESDAY, MAY 20 | 7:30 P.M. | AVERY FISHER HALL, LINCOLN CENTER

GLOBAL LIBERAL STUDIES

GALLATIN SCHOOL OF INDIVIDUALIZED STUDY


58 BACHELOR DEGREE

GRADUATES

BRYNA SHUMAN

DANA RESZUTEK

HANNAH LUU/WSN

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CULTURAL DIFFERENCES, IRONICALLY, UNDERLINE THE INHERENT SIMILARITIES IN THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE.

— Michael Maisel, student speaker

“ ”PEOPLE DON’T HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE THINGS THAT YOU DO, JUST LET THEM WITNESS ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU ACHIEVE. — John Ridley, Academy Award-winning screenwriter


STERN SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

NYUNEWS.COM | COMMENCEMENT 2014 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS 7

Cheers of celebration radiated throughout Avery Fisher Hall in Lincoln Center when the 54th graduating class of the Silver School of Social Work proudly entered the auditorium. After the procession, dean Lynn Videka welcomed the graduates and their loved ones to the convocation. Videka poignantly spoke of the graduates’ commitment to transforming society through public service prior to introducing the event’s keynote speaker, Jeane Anastas. The president of the National Association of Social Workers and an NYU professor, Anastas reminded students that while they would face challenges in their careers as social workers, the profession they

had chosen was profoundly worthwhile. She referenced the contributions the field has made to the health industry, veteran care and social justice movements before noting that, “One does not need a passport to do global social work in New York City.” Undergraduate student speaker Anthony Bracco thanked faculty, family members and fellow graduates, compelling his peers to “stay persistent in [their] passions.” The baccalaureate candidates then took to the stage to receive their diplomas. Following the presentation of the final degree, the hall erupted in a thunderous and congratulatory applause.

At the Stern commencement ceremony, held in the dazzling Radio City Music Hall, a major theme was the celebration of individuality and innovation. Undergraduate dean Geeta Menon set the mood with her affirmation that despite the many “shared commonalities,” each student brought their own personal experience. From there, between keynote speaker Craig Hatkoff, co-founder of the Tribeca Film Festival, imploring graduates to engage in “the informal daily practice of lifelong learning” to student speaker Kim Pham asking graduates to “celebrate the unorthodox,” there was an

overarching thread of honoring idiosyncrasy and education. Hatkoff, who brought along one of the hammers that are given as part of the Tribeca Disruptive Innovation Awards, told graduates that they all would certainly fail at something, but that their reaction to failure would define them. Pham, who referred to her classmates as “blindingly bright and beautifully complex,” encouraged them to cherish what made them individuals. Following the presentation of the graduates, the auditorium was played out to the tune of “New York, New York” on the organ.

THURSDAY, MAY 22 | 10 A.M. | RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL

WEDNESDAY, MAY 21 | 3 P.M. | AVERY FISHER HALL, LINCOLN CENTER

SILVER SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK

CHRISTINA COLEBURN

FELIPE DE LA HOZ



LYANNE NATIVIDAD/WSN

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IN SHAPING YOUR OWN CAREERS, YOU WILL ALSO HAVE A HAND IN SHAPING SOCIAL WORK ITSELF.

I HOPE YOU CHERISH WHAT MAKES YOU AN INDIVIDUAL.

— Jeane Anastas, president of the National Association of

Social Workers and NYU professor

— Kim Pham, student speaker



Complete with a few jokes that required at least a semester of engineering classes to understand, NYU Polytechnic School of Engineering held its 159th Commencement Ceremony at the Barclays Center. This was the school’s first commencement ceremony since its merger with NYU, and the spirit of that symbolic change was noted by many

of the speakers, including former IBM Executive Vice President of Innovation and Technology Nicholas Donofrio. After receiving the first Polytechnic Medal, Donofrio addressed the students, congratulating them on their accomplishments and reminding them that, as engineers, change is going to play a big role in their lives. “If you view it as the

end of something versus the beginning of something, you’re making a big mistake,” Donofrio said. “Change is going to be all about you, you have to commit yourself to lifelong learning.” NYU Poly valedictorian Demetrio Criscuolo encouraged his fellow graduates to utilize the same hard work and dedication they used to reach graduation to overcome the challenges

to come. “As we head away from Poly my advice to all you is to not spend the time worrying about all the things that are out of your control, instead focus on the things that are in your control,” Criscuolo said. “Remember to always follow your instincts, do what you think is right, do the hard work, and everything else will fall into place.”

POLYTECHNIC SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING

TISCH SCHOOL OF THE ARTS

JOHN AMBROSIO

CLIO MCCONNELL

450BACHELOR DEGREE GRADUATES

FRIDAY, MAY 23 | 11 A.M.RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL

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IT’S THE PASSION AND THE VISION THAT BURN INSIDE YOUR HEART THAT ENGAGE THE FULLNESS OF WHO YOU ARE, HEART, SOUL, MIND AND BODY THAT IN THE END WILL DETERMINE YOUR ULTIMATE SUCCESS.

THE WORLD CAN BE A DENSE, CLUTTERED AND FRACTURED PLACE, BUT TISCH HAS GIVEN YOU SPACE. YOU WALK OUT OF HERE WITH A HABIT OF MIND THAT GIVES YOU PERMISSION TO STRETCH YOUR IMAGINATION FAR BEYOND THE BOUNDARIES OF THE STATUS QUO.

— Nicholas Donofrio, former IBM executive vice president of innovation and technology

— Mary Schmidt Campbell, dean

FRIDAY, MAY 23 11 A.M.BARCLAYS CENTER

JONATHAN TAN/WSN

The talent in the room was palpable at the Tisch School of the Arts commencement ceremony. Radio City Music Hall is no stranger to gifted performers, but rarely does it hold such a sheer number of extraordinary artists in the making. The Undergraduate Drama department performed their arrangement from the musical “Ragtime” and graduating senior Kiah Victoria sang a tribute to Tisch’s beloved dean Mary Schmidt Campbell, who is stepping down from her position after 23 years of service. The audience was abuzz with excitement in anticipation of honored speaker and NYU alumnus Martin Scorsese’s address, which was both conversational and inspiring. The legendary director included many anecdotes from his own time in college, when NYU was still Washington Square College. “It was [my cinema professor Haig Manoogian] and this school that taught me I could be more than crazy,” Scorsese said.


RACHEL KAPLAN/WSN

RACHEL KAPLAN/WSN


Yankee Stadium once again turned violet for the 182nd All-University Commencement ceremony. Students, faculty and family gathered in the Bronx to celebrate the official confirmation of student certificates. Attorney Martin Lee Edelman, soul legend Aretha Franklin, Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan, all-star pitcher Mariano Rivera and Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen received honorary degrees in recognition of their contributions to society. After receiving her honorary degree, Yellen addressed the graduates, encouraging them to enter the world prepared to face new challenges and even failure. “One’s response to the inevitable setbacks matters as much as the balance of victories and defeats,” Yellen said. NYU President John Sexton echoed these sentiments, challenging students to make their personal motto reflect the school’s motto — to persevere and excel — through hardwork and dedication. “The key to a joyful life is a fulfilling life,” Sexton said. “Doing one’s duty, being useful, showing up, putting in the hard work.” Concluding the commencement speeches was student speaker Corey Blay, who received master’s degrees from Stern School of Business and Wagner Graduate School of Public Service. Blay spoke to the graduates on perseverance and striving for success, stressing that, “It’s up to us to define our own success on our own terms.” JOHN AMBROSIO AND DANA RESZUTEK

WEDNESDAY, MAY 21 | 11 A.M. | YANKEE STADIUM

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SERIOUS DECISIONS ABOUT LIFE SURELY LIE AHEAD, BUT TAKE THE TIME TO SAVOR THE JOYS, LARGE AND SMALL THAT COME ALONG THE WAY. SHARE THOSE JOYS WITH OTHERS, AND SHARE A LAUGH WHEN YOU CAN.

— Janet Yellen, Federal Reserve Chair

PHOTOS BY JONATHAN TAN AND RACHEL KAPLAN/WSN

thankyouThe Washington Square News would like to thank

its graduating seniors for all the work they did for the newspaper. Thank you for your time and dedication. Whether you were an editor, business staff member, designer or photographer, you have all left your mark

on our newspaper. As you move on to new successes, remember that you will always have a home at WSN. Your

time in the office will be treasured forever. Congratulations on your graduation!

WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS

SENIOR STAFFnews KAVISH HARJAI, ANN SCHMIDT

arts CLIO MCCONNELLfeatures BRYNA SHUMANsports FRANCISCO NAVAS

multimedia FELIPE DE LA HOZcopy THOMAS DEVLIN, PAIGE MANKIN

web KIMBERLY HART, BENSON TSAI, LAVYA YALAMANCHI

senior editors TONY CHAU, ARIANA DIVAL-ENTINO, MICHELLE LIM, STEFAN MELNYK,

NEELA QADIR, DANIEL YEOM

DEPUTY STAFFnews LARSON BINZER, VALENTINA DUQUE

BOJANINI, SCOTT MULLENbooks/theater DYLAN JARRETT

film IFE OLUJOBIentertainment BOB TEOH

music JAKE FOLSOMthe highlighter blog MARISSA ELLIOT LITTLE

features HANNAH TREASURE beauty & style DANA RESZUTEK

violet vision blog GIANNA COLLIER-PITTSdining CHANDLER WEST

sports CHRIS MARCOTRIGIANOmultimedia HANNAH LUU, LAWRENCE WU

video ALEX LINZMEIER

OPINION PAGEopinion editor PETER KEFFER

deputy opinion editors CHRISTINA COLEBURN, OMAR ETMAN,

NINA GOLSHAN

ADVERTISINGBUSINESS MANAGERELLEN MCQUEEN

CIRCULATION MANAGERCHLOE COFFMAN

SALES MANAGERALISON LIZZIO

UNIVERSITY AND ALUMNI COORDINATORCLAIRE MAHANY

SALES REPRESENTATIVESARIANA DIVALENTINO

GRAPHIC DESIGNERJILLIAN BRANCHAUD

SALES ASSOCIATESEMMA HOWCROFT, AMY LU, ANA SCHULER,

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DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

NANCI HEALY

EDITORIAL ADVISER

JIM LUTTRELL

EDITORS-AT-LARGE

HANQING CHEN, JONATHONDORNBUSH, RACHEL KAPLAN,

JORDAN MELENDREZ, JONATHAN TAN

Hannah BorensteinJack Brooks

Gentry BrownHanqing ChenSelena Chen

Chloe CoffmanJulie DeVito

Chris DiNardoJonathon DornbushJeremy Grossman

Dan HintonDylan Jarrett

Editor-in-Chief NICOLE BROWN

Managing Editor

MICHAEL DOMANICO

Assistant Managing EditorsTATIANA BAEZ

JONATHAN KESHISHOGLOU

Creative Director, Special EditionsLYANNE NATIVIDAD

Creative DirectorCICEK EREL

Sameer JaywantJaewon Kang

James KelleherDavid Lin

Stefan MelnykAmanda RandoneSamantha Rullo

Bob TeohRaquel Woodruff

Emily YangAmy Zhang

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WSN Commencement Issue 2014