Stay tuned for more Convocation coverage from TC. 

Thursday, May 16:

Watch the Diversity & First Generation Celebration at 5 p.m. ET. 

Ceremony IV

For graduates from the departments of Arts & Humanities, Curriculum & Teaching, and Education Policy & Social Analysis. 

• After receiving the Medal for Distinguished Service, influential dance education advocate Jody Arnhold (M.A. ’73) reflected on her journey as a dance educator and shared words of wisdom with graduates. “Education depends on community.  It thrives on collaboration. It resolves every conflict through creativity,” said Arnhold.
• Graduate Jalnidh Kaur (Ph.D. ’24, Economics & Education) likened her fellow graduates to superheroes who will undoubtedly face challenges. “As we step out into the world, let us vow to carry with us the superpowers that we’ve acquired in the halls of TC — those of empathy, compassion, and humility.”
• The final graduates of the Class of 2024 — from the Arts & Humanities, Curriculum & Teaching, and Education Policy & Social Analysis departments — officially became Teachers College alumni in the last ceremony of the spring term.

Ceremony III

For graduates from the departments of Mathematics, Science & Technology and Organization & Leadership.

• After receiving TC’s Medal for Distinguished Service,  Dr. Amy Edmondson, Novartis Professor of Leadership and Management at Harvard Business School discussed how failure contributes to success and the importance of psychological safety and what characteristics are needed for success. “Humility, curiosity, and empathy are building blocks of the psychological safety we need to thrive in a changing world,” said Edmondson.
• Graduate Amber Barger (Ed.D. ’24, Adult Learning & Leadership) invited her peers to reflect on how their journeys at TC changed them as people, scholars, and educators.
• Doctoral and masters candidates from the Math, Science & Technology and Organization & Leadership departments officially graduated as the Class of 2024 and became Teachers College alumni.

Ceremony II

For graduates from the departments of Biobehavioral Sciences, Health Studies & Applied Educational Psychology, and International & Transcultural Studies departments.

• Accepting TC’s Medal for Distinguished Service on behalf of actor and philanthropist Michael J. Fox, Deborah W. Brooks, CEO and Co-Founder of The Michael J. Fox Foundation, addressed graduates and shared a special video with words of inspiration from the actor.
• Graduate Isma Kafayat (M.A. ’24, Deaf/Hard of Hearing) urged the audience to create inclusive environments where “every student, client, peer and colleague feels valued, supported, and empowered.”
• Doctoral and masters candidates from the Biobehavioral Sciences, Health Studies & Applied Educational Psychology, and International & Transcultural Studies departments officially graduated as the Class of 2024 and became Teachers College alumni.

Ceremony I

For graduates from the departments of Counseling & Clinical Psychology and Human Development.

• After receiving TC’s Medal for Distinguished Service, Dr. Thomas A. Parham, President of California State University, Dominguez Hills shared words of wisdom with grads, families, and the TC community. “Find your own truth, and challenge yourself to see if you have the courage to speak it and live it,” he said.
• Graduate Maya Rajah (M.A. ’24, Psychology in Education) discussed the universal desire to be seen and understood as well as the community she found at TC as an international student.
• Doctoral and masters candidates from the Counseling & Clinical Psychology and Human Development departments officially graduated as the Class of 2024 and became Teachers College alumni.