Pardee School Celebrates 2017 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 2017.
“There is no greater responsibility than for you to put to the test every idea that comes in front of you, and to put it to the test of truth. I think this will be the defining matter of our times,” said Pardee School Dean Adil Najam. “If you have achieved anything from education, if we have in any way have succeeded you, then you should now have in your minds and in your hearts the ability to test what is fact and what is not.”
The convocation was held Saturday, May 20, 2017 at Boston University’s Walter Brown Arena. A beautiful day greeted the approximately 2,000 guests and 30 faculty members who celebrated the freshly-minted Pardee School alumni.
The 207 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 Victoria Kelberer
- The CAS (College of Arts and Sciences) Prize for Undergraduate Academic Excellence, to Devon Flanagan
- The Pardee School Graduate Academic Excellence Award, to Kevin McLaughlin
- The Pardee School Undergraduate Academic Excellence Award, to Jessica Depies, Evelyn Hitt and Mark Vicik
- The Amb. Hermann Frederick Eilts Graduate Thesis Award, to Paige Pascarelli
- The Amb. Hermann Frederick Eilts Undergraduate Thesis Award, to Andrea Van Grinsven
- The Gerald and Deanne Gitner Family Prize for Faculty Excellence, to Jeremy Menchik
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 Anthropology Augustus Richard Norton for his distinguished career and numerous contributions to the field of International Relations as well as to the Pardee School, its students, faculty and staff. Professor of International Relations and History Houchang Chehabi read a tribute to Norton, following which Dean Adil Najam presented Norton with a gift on behalf of the Pardee School.
“Throughout his distinguished career, Professor Augustus Richard Norton has epitomized the combination of pure and policy-oriented scholarship of which we at the Pardee School for Global Studies are so proud,” Chehabi said.
Director of Graduate Studies Amb. Robert Loftis was assisted by Director of Curricular Innovation and Initiatives and Associate Professor of International Relations Henrik Selin and Professor of the Practice of International Relations and former Director of Graduate Studies Joseph Wippl in the conferring of degrees to Master of Arts candidates.
Associate Dean Grimes was assisted in the conferring of degrees to Bachelor of Arts candidates by Director of the Institute for the Study of Muslim Societies and Civilizations Professor Betty Anderson, Academic Coordinator of the Asian Studies Program and Associate Professor of International Relations Min Ye, Professor of International Relations and Sociology Susan Eckstein, Professor of International Relations and History Igor Lukes and Associate Professor of International Relations Michael Corgan.
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. Graduates were also given world flags after they received their degrees, which Najam explained are now officially markers of their craft — International Relations.
“These are markers of your craft. These are symbols of what you have learned in your time here at Boston University, and in your time here at the Pardee School of Global Studies,” Najam said. “Ours is a world of nations. That does not mean that all nations get along all of the time. That is why the world needs you. It needs from you your understanding — the understanding of how this world works, and very often, of how it hasn’t. It needs from you your effort to try to make the world work better. Remember these colors, remember these flags. They don’t always work well with each other, but that now is your charge, it’s your craft and it’s your responsibility.”
The ceremony also honored the students selected as members of the International Relations Honors Program. They are: Melissa Berry, Jessica Depies, Chiara Emiliani, Devon Flanagan, Victoria Henrikson, Evelyn Hitt, Victoria Kearney, Eva Koronios, Harrison Meyer, Teresa Morin, Morgan Peterson, Satoe Sakuma, Sophie Shanshory, Alyssa Scheiner, Madison Sparber, Inaara Tajuddin, Gabriel Toole, Andrea Van Grinsven and Mark Vicik.
“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.”
Graduating members of the Dean’s Ambassadors program were acknowledged in the Convocation bulletin. Dean’s Ambassadors are comprised of both graduate and undergraduate students and represent the Pardee School Dean and the school at special events, with prospective students, alumni, and distinguished guests. They serve as a liaison to the wider BU community as well as prospective students and families. Graduating members of the Dean’s Ambassadors program include: Joanna Brown, Tara Moore, Courtney Kramer, Jessica Duque Gomez, Meredith Hauser and Taylor Pfromer.
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.