Thank you, Provost Waley-Cohen.
Chancellor Tong, Vice Chancellor Lehman, distinguished guests, colleagues, family, friends, and most of all the outstanding NYU Shanghai Class of 2023 –this is a glorious day indeed. A day to celebrate our graduates’ joys and triumphs. It is also the first time our entire NYU Shanghai community is gathering in-person since before the COVID-19 pandemic. It is truly an honor to be here. And what a year it’s been for NYU Shanghai!
NYU Shanghai reached a new milestone in its history, opening a new campus which nearly doubles the capacity of our previous campus, and provides wonderful academic, performance, and athletic spaces.
Nearly two dozen NYU Shanghai faculty were awarded prestigious academic awards and scholarships in China and abroad. Two undergraduate courses, including Blockchain, Cryptocurrency, and Money, taught by Professor Ilaf Elard and Natural Language Processing, taught by Professor Wilson Tam, were awarded First-Class Undergraduate Courses by the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission. This is the second time NYU Shanghai professors have been recognized with this accolade. Professor Weiwei Weng and Professor Steve Iams won the inaugural NYU Shanghai Teaching Excellence Award, recognized by students and faculty for outstanding teaching and mentorship.
NYU Shanghai students continue to excel in their studies and research, earning important grants and fellowships including the Erasmus Mundus and Fulbright awards. Those are just a few highlights from an extraordinary year. And at the heart of it all is you, our students.
When I look at NYU Shanghai, I see a student body that is compelled by a global outlook, and one that thrives on learning through differences. You have much to be proud of. You have navigated your studies during a remarkable time of upheaval that has required your flexibility, resilience, and grace. I know you will draw on your talent and drive, as well as on the strength of the NYU Shanghai community, to make a difference wherever your path leads you next.
As you know, I will be returning to teaching and research after this year. I have been on a farewell tour of sorts, speaking at nearly 20 NYU graduations. This is the penultimate ceremony where I will be addressing graduates as NYU’s president. And while it feels bittersweet, I am thrilled to celebrate this day with you, our NYU Shanghai graduates.
To each and every one of you, know that you take with you the pride and best wishes of my wife Jennie and me, and of the entire NYU community. Congratulations!
And now it is my pleasure to turn your attention to greetings from my friend and colleague, William R. Berkley, the Chair of the NYU Board of Trustees, and 1966 NYU Stern School of Business alumnus.
May 22 2023