Clark University holds 103rd Commencement

May 19, 2008

Read about Clark Commencement in the Worcester Telegram & Gazette

President John Bassett's Commencement Address

Speaker Vartan Gregorian tells Class of 2008: Be good ancestors to the future

Clark University awarded 449 bachelor's degrees, 214 master's degrees and 17 doctorates at its 103rd Commencement Exercises on Sunday, May 18.

Clark University President John Bassett introduced this year's Commencement speaker, Vartan Gregorian, President of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Gregorian applauded the University for "not abandoning Worcester, not walking away from Worcester." He proffered several important lessons to the graduates, telling them, "Be very careful in the selection of your ambitions, because you are likely to realize them." He urged them not to confuse a job with a career, relating his own transitions in life, none of which he ever thought of as merely jobs. "You have long lives ahead of you," he stressed. "Be lifelong students."

Gregorian spoke about the grandmother who raised him. "She was an illiterate peasant woman … yet she taught me the same lessons as Plutarch: Character makes the man and woman. She was a stoic with tenacity and formidable dignity. From my grandmother I learned that dignity is never negotiable. … Coping with success is easy. It is hard to deal with adversity. How nimble you are about getting back on your feet after some disaster will determine how far you will get in the world. … We have the obligation to contribute to the well being of our communities. That’s why I salute this university."

In closing, Gregorian said, "Today, information floods over us. … fear and pain, love and joy, raucous chatter and noise. It can become hard to see ourselves as part of the larger whole. Try to listen with your inner ears to those who went before you. ... You yourselves are ancestors in the making.

"You have to learn to be good ancestors to the future."

For his visionary leadership in the field of education and the humanities, Gregorian received the Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Clark, bestowed by William Mosakowski, Chairman of the Board of Trustees.

Gregorian is a historian, educator and author. As president of Carnegie Corporation, a grant-making institution founded by Andrew Carnegie in 1911, he has worked for the past 10 years to promote Carnegie's vision of philanthropy by building on his two major concerns: advancing education and international peace.

Born in Iran of Armenian parents, Gregorian was educated in Iran and Lebanon before entering Stanford University where he earned his B.A. in 1958 and Ph.D. in 1964. After teaching history at several American universities, he joined the University of Pennsylvania, where he was appointed founding dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (1974), becoming that institution’s 23rd provost four years later. He went on to become the president of The New York Public Library (1981- 89), where he raised over $300 million, and president of Brown University (1989-97), where he nearly tripled the University’s endowment.

Among Gregorian's numerous awards and fellowships are the Ellis Island Medal of Honor (1986), the American Academy of the Institute of Arts and Letters' Gold Medal of Service to the Arts (1989), the National Humanities Medal (1998), awarded to him by President Bill Clinton and the Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian award (2004). He serves on the boards of many institutions, including Brandeis University, Central European University, The Museum of Modern Art and Human Rights Watch and has been a board member of the J. Paul Getty Trust and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. He has been decorated by governments around the world.

Gregorian is the author of "The Road To Home: My Life And Times," "Islam: A Mosaic, Not a Monolith," and "The Emergence of Modern Afghanistan, 1880-1946."

Senior speaker thanks classmates

Senior class speaker Emily M. Zoback, of Tolland, CT, recalled some highlights of the past four years, including the 2004 Red Sox World Series championship, volunteer projects, campus renovations, and more. She reflected upon the three Clark "signatures"—hallmarks of a Clark education: Make a Difference, Learn through Inquiry, and Experience Diverse Cultures—and what they meant to her. "The minds in this class are unrivalled in their variety, and with each event we attend, we are inundated with culture – with passion – with Clark,” she said. "I cannot wait to learn what we, as members of the class of 2008 accomplish in the years to come."

"People often ask me why I came to Clark," Zoback said. "I think the more important and relevant question is why I stayed at Clark. It is not so much what draws people to this university, though that is, of course, important. More telling is what makes students want to come back each year. I think it is the unwritten, commonly accepted culture of leadership, compassion, acceptance, growth, and support that forms the glue binding us all together--the magnet which keeps us coming back for more."

The commencement ceremony was available live via Webcast. To order your copy contact Clark's bookstore.

Clark University also bestowed Honorary Degrees upon the following distinguished guests:

Christopher Collier (Clark Alumnus, class of 1951), Professor Emeritus of History at the University of Connecticut
Arthur Remillard(Clark Alumnus, class of 1956), Founder and Former CEO and President of The Commerce Group, Inc.
Diana Chapman Walsh, President Emeritus of Wellesley.

Clark University recognizes the late Peter Arthur with the Outstanding Secondary Educator Award

The late Peter G. Arthur was recognized with this year’s Outstanding Secondary Educator Award from the Clark University Alumni Association on Sunday, May 18. The award recognizes secondary-school teachers for the critical role they play in preparing students for higher education. It is presented at Honors Convocation, held just prior to Commencement every year. Peter’s mother, Cecilia Arthur, and Peter Anderson, principal of Andover High School, accepted the award on Peter’s behalf. Details.

Academic Affairs