To honor the Class of 2020, albeit from a necessary remove, NYU Gallatin brought together student and faculty voices for a live event: Salute to the Class of 2020.
On May 18, 2020, NYU President Andy Hamilton and Gallatin Dean Susanne L. Wofford welcomed students and their families, and were joined by over 50 Gallatin faculty members to honor Gallatin’s 2020 graduates with a salute.
Following the Faculty Salute, Gallatin Student Council President Sean Oh (BA ’20) and Student Speaker Lauren Stockmon Brown (BA ’20) sent messages of thanks and celebration to their fellow graduates. Joining them was Student Performer Saransh Desai-Chowdhry (BA ’20), who offered a version of St. Vincent’s “New York,” followed by a collection of videos submitted by graduating students, "Gallatin Pride: With Love, the Class of 2020." To close out the event, an ensemble of musicians and singers from Gallatin Theatre Troupe offered “Raise Your Voice,” a song by Bella Kawalec and Andrew Strano.
All graduating Gallatin BA and MA degree candidates were honored and recognized on the Gallatin home page featuring a continually scrolling list of the names of all graduating students. The digital Graduation Program and the full list of all Graduating Students are posted on Gallatin’s homepage, along with bios of all BA and MA Graduation Awardees. To close out the year and to allow students to say virtual goodbyes, Gallatin faculty members hosted a series Zoom “Open Houses,” allowing graduating students to connect with professors one last time before the end of the semester.
At the NYU Commencement, Gallatin MA alumnus and Tony Award-winning Broadway star André De Shields (MA ’91) addressed all 2020 NYU graduates with a short message of celebration and NYU Student Government Chairperson Jakiyah Bradley (BA ’20) offered a message to her fellow graduates.
Congratulations, all!