NYC Colleges Tap High Profile Graduation Speakers Including Taylor Swift, Dr. Fauci & Eric Adams
By: Hellen Zaboulani
Universities across New York City have tapped celebrities, politicians, and even astronauts for their upcoming Class of 2022 graduations. The in-person events are highly anticipated after having been virtual due to the pandemic for the past two years.
As reported by the NY Post, New York University has invited Grammy award singer Taylor Swift to address the graduates and attendees. The commencement which will take place at Yankee Stadium on May 18, has led to groupies and fans harassing graduates for tickets. Swift fans have been reportedly flooding social media in hopes of scoring or purchasing a ticket from students, though selling commencement tickets is against the school policy.
Pace University has taken a more traditional path, asking Mayor Eric Adams and Rep. Grace Meng to speak at their commencement, set to take place May 16. Columbia University is awarding honorary degrees to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Musician Patti Smith among others at the May 18th ceremony. Neither, however, will be giving speeches as that honor has been reserved for the Columbia University President, Lee Bollinger. Columbia’s “Class Day” speaker for the engineering school, scheduled for May 16, will be Astronaut Sunita Williams. On May 23rd, Columbia’s Teachers College will feature an address from Dr. Anthony Fauci. President Biden’s chief medical advisor will not be present in-person, but will rather deliver a pre-recorded speech.
As per the Post, on June 3rd the City College in Manhattan will also honor Dr. Fauci with an honorary degree, along with documentary filmmaker Stanley Nelson. Fauci will grace that outdoor ceremony with his presence. Attendees at the graduation will need to show a negative COVID-19 test, if unvaccinated, and masks will be optional.
CUNY’s John Jay College of Criminal Justice has proposed an honorary degree for astronaut, Ellen Ochoa, the first Hispanic woman in space, as well as artist Faith Ringgold, who was a graduate of City College. CUNY’s Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn will honor basketball player Earl “the Pearl” Monroe. The school credited the former Knick legend’s efforts in mentoring youth in the Crown Heights neighborhood. Brooklyn College, another CUNY school, plans to honor Liberian peace activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner Leymah Roberta Gbowee. Queens College is slated to honor former student, actor Danny Burstein, who starred in “Moulin Rouge!” on Broadway. The City University of New York schools board must still approve all proposed honorees at its upcoming meeting on May 16th.
Fordham University graduates will hear words from the Rev. Calvin Butts, pastor of Harlem’s Abyssinian Baptist Church, at its ceremony on May 21st.
