English Department Hosts Virtual Convocation for 160 Graduates

On Thursday, May 28, the English Department celebrated its 2020 graduates with a Convocation zoomed to 160 B.A. and M.A. recipients, their proud families and friends, and their equally proud professors. Honors awardees were recognized by cum laude, magna cum laude, and summa cum laude designations, as were our annual English Department Awards recipients from 2019 and 2020. Professor Jonathan Greenberg, Department Chair, offered an inspiring and witty introduction; and Nelson Vazquez and Sierra Javras delivered moving tributes to their classmates and grateful professors; copies of all three and the event program are attached, as is a link to the video portion of the ceremony.

Because we Zoomed, weather was not an issue; seats were dry; eyes perhaps not so much. Because we Zoomed, families could attend in whatever numbers could gather around a screen. We celebrated each other and thanked each other for years of meaningful and mutual teaching and learning, and it didn’t seem to matter whether caps and gowns were worn or imagined. Class of 2020 (Winter, Spring, and Summer degrees), we salute you on your achievements thus far and on the achievements that await you.

Video Montage: 3:15 Pomp and Circumstance: 5:45 Opening Remarks: Dr. Jonathan Greenberg, Chair: 8:15 Student Speaker: Nelson Vazquez: 17:00 Poetry Reading: “The Season of Phantasmal Peace” by Derek Walcott, read by Kwame Dawes: 26:30 Student Speaker: Sierra Javras: 30:45 Reading of Graduates’ Names: Dr. Lee Behlman, Dr. Melinda Knight, Dr. Naomi Liebler, Dr. Jeffrey Miller, Dr. Monika Elbert, Dr. Laura Nicosia: 37:30 Faculty Farewell: 47:00 Recessional: 48:10