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Ceremony IV

On Thursday, May 18, tune into: 

  • Ceremony IV, 7 p.m. ET - For graduates from the Arts & Humanities, Curriculum & Teaching, and Education Policy & Social Analysis departments. [Watch above] 

Ceremony IV 

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

  • After receiving the Medal for Distinguished Service, acclaimed artist Elly Yae Li Cho (M.A. ’11) discussed using her passion to overcome adversity and turn pain into deeper meaning, urging graduates to also harness their experiences into fuel for their work across the arts, teaching, policy and more.
  • Graduate Malack Al-Haraizeh (M.A. ‘23, Politics and Education) compelled guests to “seek the knowledge you don’t understand and strive to understand what you haven’t experienced.”
  • The final graduates of the Class of 2023 — from the departments of Arts & Humanities, Curriculum & Teaching, and Education Policy & Social Analysis — officially became Teachers College alumni in the last ceremony of the spring term. 

Ceremony III

For graduates from the Biobehavioral Sciences, Health & Behavior Studies, and International & Transcultural Studies departments. 

  • Marcus Samuelsson, an award-winning chef and entrepreneur, bestowed sage advice upon the Class of 2023 after receiving the Medal for Distinguished Service. “Have a plan, and let that plan change over time,” he shared.
  • In an address to her classmates, graduate speaker Kella Merlain-Moffatt (M.A. '23, International Education Development) challenged audience members to be an ear instead of a “voice for the voiceless.”
  • Future leaders across the Biobehavioral Sciences, Health & Behavior Studies, and International & Transcultural Studies departments officially graduated from Teachers College. 

Ceremony II

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

  • After receiving TC’s Medal for Distinguished Service from his former doctoral advisor Derald Wing Sue, Kevin Nadal (Ph.D. ’08), a leading scholar in the exploration of microaggressions toward LGBTQ+ people and people of color, addressed graduates and guests in an inspiring and powerful address about disrupting systems to create change and support others.
  • Graduate Srishti Sardana (Ph.D. ’23 Clinical Psychology, M.A. ’16) discussed her journey to TC from New Delhi, and what she’s learned about what it means to make a positive impact.
  • Masters and doctoral candidates from the Arts & Humanities, Curriculum & Teaching, and Education Policy & Social Analysis departments officially graduated as the Class of 2023 and became Teachers College alumni. 

Ceremony I

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

Sec. Cardona (Photo: Bruce Gilbert) 

  • U.S. Sec. of Education Miguel Cardona received TC’s Medal for Distinguished Service and addressed grads, families, friends and the TC community on Thursday night in the United Palace Theater.
  • Graduate Ruohao Chen (Ed.D ’23 Adult Learning and Leadership) highlighted the individuals at TC who inspired him “to become an authentic, humanistic adult educator.”
  • Masters and doctoral candidates from the Mathematics, Science & Technology and Organization & Leadership departments officially graduated as the Class of 2023 and became Teachers College alumni.