TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY ONE COMMENCEMENT 2021 EXERCISES ON THE OCCASION OF THE CONFERRING OF DEGREES THE COLLEGE OF WILLIAM AND MARY IN VIRGINIA WALTER J. ZABLE STADIUM, WILLIAMSBURG, VIRGINIA FRIDAY, MAY 21, 2021 SATURDAY, MAY 22, 2021 SUNDAY, MAY 23, 2021 Chancellor President KATHERINE A. ROWE ROBERT M. GATES ’65, L.H.D. ’98 Board of Visitors JOHN E. LITTEL P ’22, RECTOR WILLIAM H. PAYNE II ’01, VICE RECTOR BARBARA L. JOHNSON J.D. ’84, SECRETARY Virginia Beach, Virginia Bristol, Virginia Alexandria, Virginia MARI CARMEN APONTE JAMES A. HIXON, J.D. ’79, M.L.T. ’80, P ’08, P ’11 J.E. LINCOLN SAUNDERS ’06 Washington, D.C. Virginia Beach, Virginia Richmond, Virginia MIRZA BAIG P ’24 CYNTHIA E. HUDSON, J.D. ’87 KAREN KENNEDY SCHULTZ ’75, P ’06, P ’09 Great Falls, Virginia Richmond, Virginia Winchester, Virginia VICTOR K. BRANCH ’84 ANNE LEIGH KERR ’91, J.D. ’98 H. THOMAS WATKINS III ’74, P ’05, P ’11 South Chesterfield, Virginia Richmond, Virginia Naples, Florida S. DOUGLAS BUNCH ’02, J.D. ’06 CHARLES E. POSTON, J.D. ’74, P ’02, P ’06 BRIAN P. WOOLFOLK J.D. ’96 Washington, D.C. Norfolk, Virginia Fort Washington, Maryland SUE H. GERDELMAN ’76, P ’07, P ’13 LISA E. RODAY P ’13, P ’14 Williamsburg, Virginia Henrico, Virginia 2020–2021 Staff Liaison 2020–2021 Faculty Representatives 2020–2021 Student Representatives ARIELLE S. NEWBY M.ED. ’21 THOMAS J. WARD ANTHONY M. JOSEPH ’21 William & Mary William & Mary William & Mary TIFFANY R. BIRDSONG SARAH MONCURE ’21 Richard Bland College Richard Bland College P ’00 DENOTES PARENT OF A W&M STUDENT Table of Contents Order of Exercises 3 Honorary Degree Recipients 4 About Commencement 6 The Years in Review: 2017–2021 10 William & Mary Traditions 19 Degree Recipients August 2020 28 January 2021 32 May–August 2021 36 2 • Table of Contents ORDER OF EXERCISES OPENING ..................................................................................... President of W&M Presiding Processional* The William & Mary Choir The William & Mary Hymn The National Anthem* Soloist The Welcome The President Katherine A. Rowe Greetings The Chancellor Robert M. Gates ’65, L.H.D. ’98 CONFERRING OF HONORARY DEGREES & REMARKS ............................. The President The Rector John E. Littel P’22 The Vice Rector William H. Payne II ’01 Faith Ringgold .............................................................................................. Doctor of Humane Letters Anthony M. Kennedy ....................................................................................................... Doctor of Laws AWARD RECOGNITION & STUDENT REMARKS ........................................ The President The Lord Botetourt Medal The James Frederic Carr Memorial Cup The Thatcher Prize for Excellence in Graduate and Professional Study The Algernon Sydney Sullivan Awards The Thomas Ashley Graves, Jr. Award for Sustained Excellence in Teaching The Charles Joseph Duke, Jr. and Virginia Welton Duke Award Student Remarks Divya Dureja ’21 Student Commencement Speaker Meghan W. Gallagher M.B.A. ’21 Business Graduate Commencement Speaker Leila K. Warraich Ph.D. ’21 Graduate Student Commencement Speaker CONFERRING OF EARNED DEGREES .............................................The President & Deans CLOSING ............................................................................................................................. Alumni Induction Marilyn W. Midyette ’75 Chief Executive Officer of the Alumni Association Closing Remarks The President Alma Mater# The Choir and the Audience Recessional§ The Choir * Please stand | # Text on page 9 | § Please remain in place until the Recessional ends | For your safety and the safety of our guests, please keep all aisles and stairways clear. Order of Exercises • 3 HONORARY DEGREE RECIPIENTS 4 • Honorary Degrees Faith Ringgold Anthony M. Kennedy Doctor of Humane Letters Doctor of Laws Faith Ringgold—artist, author, activist, icon—your creative powers have Anthony McLeod Kennedy, the course of your career is long and broken so many boundaries in moving and redemptive ways. At 90 years old, renowned. The 104th justice to serve on the United States Supreme Court, your prolific career has spanned 16 different media and more than half a century. you have promoted civic education in this nation and abroad and advanced the rule of law to uphold equality and human rights. Born in 1930, you grew up amid the cultural offerings of the Harlem Renaissance. You cultivated your love of storytelling sitting on the roof and Born in Sacramento, California, you learned about local civic affairs from listening to stories told by your exciting and festive neighbors. your attorney father and teacher mother. Your interest in government ignited at an early age, and you served as a page in the California State Senate. While You learned to sew and work with fabrics from your mother, a fashion an undergraduate student at Stanford University, you discovered the field designer. With her encouragement, the material arts became your passion. of constitutional law—a passion that would define your career. You spent When you enrolled at the City College of New York in 1950, you transformed your senior year abroad at the London School of Economics and went on that passion into a career. The liberal arts department denied your application to earn your Bachelor of Laws from Harvard Law School. You served in the because you are a woman, so you studied art education. You have shared that California Army National Guard, and launched your career in private practice you appreciated your education, but it also taught you what was missing: the before becoming a professor of Constitutional Law at the McGeorge School curricula included nothing on African and African American art. Undeterred, of Law, University of the Pacific. you pursued that education yourself. In 1975, you were appointed to the United States Court of Appeals for You earned your bachelor’s degree in Fine Art and Education in 1955 and the Ninth Circuit by President Gerald Ford. Then in 1988, President Reagan began your career embracing many roles: mother, teacher, student, artist. You nominated youas an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, garnering cared for your children, worked as an arts educator in public schools, earned unanimous confirmation from the United States Senate. You served on the your master’s degree, and began a series of paintings to illuminate the civil Court for three decades until your retirement. You assumed senior status rights movement from a female perspective. It was called “American People.” as a federal judge in 2018. You gained acclaim for your African-style masks, political posters and During your tenure on the Court, yours was often the pivotal vote, quilts. You have written and illustrated beloved children’s books and have alongside fellow Reagan nominee and former William & Mary Chancellor advanced racial integration in the New York art world. You penned a memoir, Sandra Day O’Connor. Among the consequential opinions you handed down, “We Flew over the Bridge,” in 1995. In recent years you have innovated in you strengthened free expression and authored the majority opinion to legalize yet another new medium—inventing Quiltuduko, a game app that elevates same-sex marriage nationwide. Sudoku through color and pattern. On a divided Court, you were known for your moderating presence. Your innovative work graces the world’s most renowned art institutions. Your thoughtful and gracious manner smoothed deliberations. Upon your You have been recognized with more than 80 awards, including a National retirement, Chief Justice John Roberts remarked: “His jurisprudence Endowment for the Arts Award, a Guggenheim Fellowship for painting and an prominently features an abiding commitment to liberty and the personal NAACP Image Award. Your children’s book “Tar Beach” is a Caldecott Honor dignity of every person. Justice Kennedy taught collegiality and civil Book and received the Coretta Scott King Award for illustration. discourse by example.” In a 2020 New York Times interview, you said: “I’m always thinking about Your unwavering commitment to the Constitution is well noted. You what can be better.” Through your artwork, you have sought to change the embrace the role of teacher, calling the next generation into a deeper world for the better, and you have triumphed. understanding of the ideals of democracy. Throughout your storied career, Faith Ringgold, your talent is extraordinary, and our university is you have exemplified the role of the judiciary in a democracy and the proud to honor you for both your creativity and the change you have led. importance of neutrality in jurisprudence. With the authority vested in me by the Ancient Royal Charter of The Anthony Kennedy, your steadfast service to democratic principles has College of William and Mary in Virginia, I now present you with a Doctor sustained our country through many trials. It is most fitting that the Alma of Humane Letters, Honoris Causa. Mater of the Nation should honor you. With the authority vested in me by the Ancient Royal Charter of The College of William and Mary in Virginia, I now present you with a Doctor of Laws, Honoris Causa. Honorary Degrees • 5 ABOUT COMMENCEMENT ROYAL ARMS OF KING WILLIAM THE COLLEGE COAT OF ARMS ROYAL ARMS OF THE HOUSE OF STUART The Candidates for Degrees in Arts and Sciences, Education, Marine Science, The College and Royal Business Administration or Law, and is awarded on Coats of Arms In this, the 328th year of its founding, William the basis of