HUNTER The City University of New York J9Jst ·commencement Exercises WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2005 RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL June 2005 Dear Member of the Class of 2005: Congratulations, graduate! You have reached a most significant milestone in your life. Your hard work, determination and commitment to your education have been rewarded, and you and your family should take pride in your accomplishments and success. Hunter College certainly takes pride in you. Your Hunter education has prepared you to meet the challenges of a world that is rapidly changing politically, socially and technologically. You are part of the next generation of thoughtful, responsible, intelligent leaders who will make a real difference wherever you apply your knowledge and skills. Endless opportunities await you. As you pursue your goals and move forward with your professional and personal lives, please carry with you Hunter's commitment to community, diversity and service to others. We look forward to hearing great things about you, and hope you will stay connected to the exciting activities and developments on campus. Please remember Hunter College and know that you will always be part of our family. Best wishes for continued success. Sincerely~ /;µ.!, H_;,J~aab Presiden HUNTER COLLEGE THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK 19lst Commencement Exercises Wednesday, the eighth of June, two thousand and five, at two o'clock in the afternoon Order of Exercises Presiding: Jennifer J. Raab, President Eija Ayravainen, Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean ofStudents Processional President's Party, Members of the Faculty, and Candidates for Degrees National Anthem Elisabeth Commanday Hunter College '05 Greetings Nilda Soto Ruiz Board ofTrustees of The City University ofNew York Brenda Richardson Malone Vice Chancellor for Faculty and StaffRelations, The City University ofNew York Outstanding Alumna of the Year Yolanda Vega Hunter College '77 Charge to the Graduates President Jennifer J. Raab Recipients of the President's Medal The Honorable Eva Moskowitz New York City Council Member L. Michael Griffel Acting Associate Provost Award of Honorary Degree Ellen Barkin Actor Award of Honorary Degree and Commencement Speaker Leonard Lopate Radio Host, The Leonard Lopate Show, WNYC Valedictory Address Ruben Pinkhasov Major: Biological Sciences Presentation of Candidates for Degrees in Course Richard Pizer, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Joan Tronto, Chairperson ofthe Hunter College Senate Judith N. Friedlander, Acting Dean ofthe School ofArts and Sciences Shirley Cohen, Acting Dean ofthe School ofEducation Laurie N. Sherwen, Dean ofthe Schools ofthe Health Professions Paul A. Kurzman, Acting Dean ofthe School ofSocial Work Conferring of Degrees President Jennifer J. Raab Finale Jenny Shipley Tyner Hunter College Student, MA. in Music Education James Cunningham, Accompanist Recessional COMMENCEMENT HONOREES Leonard Lopate, Commencement Speaker and Recipient of Doctorate of Humane Letters Leonard Lopate has been the host of the acclaimed public radio talk show The Leonard Lopate Show on WNYC since 1985. During that time, over the course of some 4,800 programs, he has been the gold standard for radio interviews. More than 16,000 guests from a variety of disciplines have appeared on the show, which is America's highest-rated local public radio talk show. Lopate also appears regularly at the 92nd Street Y, where he interviews some of the most com­ pelling figures in the nation and moderates a series of panel discussions, "Comparing Notes." Lopate grew up in Brooklyn and saw his first Dodgers game at Ebbets Field during the historic 1946 season. He attended P.S. 19, J.H.S. 50 and Eastern District High School, and spent a year studying at the Pratt Institute before receiving a BFA at Brooklyn College. Lopate was enrolled in Hunter College's MA Program in Cre­ ative Art from 1968 to 1971, where he studied with Mark Rothko. He also worked in advertising for 15 years as an art director and copywriter. He came to radio in 1977, when he was given the opportunity to host "Round Midnight" on WBAI, and was so engaged by the medium that he went on to make it his life's work. Ellen Barkin, Recipient of Doctorate of Fine Arts Ellen Barkin is one of the most respected and versatile actresses on the screen. A true product of New York, she was born in the Bronx and raised in Queens. She attended New York's High School for the Perfonning Arts and studied history and drama at Hunter College. Barkin debuted on stage in 1980 in Irish Coffee and continued her theater work while appearing the following year in the soap opera Search for Tomorrow. She had roles in various TV movies before making her critically acclaimed film debut as the neglected wife of an obsessive record collector in Barry Levinson's Diner. Over the next 23 )'ears, Barkin appeared in almost 40 movies, among them such critically acclaimed titles as Tender Mercies, The Big Easy, Sea of Love, Switch and This Boy's Life. She has worked with some of the most respected names in the business, including Sidney Lumet, Robert Duvall, Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward, Jim Jarmusch, Den­ nis Quaid, Al Pacino, Blake Edwards, Jack Nicholson, Robert De Niro, Laurence Fishburne, and Spike Lee. Barkin is a two-time Golden Globe nominee and won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress for her role in the Oprah Winfrey Presents production of Before Women Had Wings. Barkin is currently starring in the Todd Solondz film, Palindromes. She still lives in New York City and is teaching acting in the Graduate Department of The New School. Eva Moskowitz, Recipient of President's Medal New York City Council Member Eva Moskowitz has represented Manhattan's 4th District since November 1999. In January 2002, her colleagues in the City Council voted unanimously to make her chair of the Education Committee. She also serves on the Finance, Government Operations and Transportation Committees and is widely recognized as one of the City Council's most active and accomplished leaders. The author of ten local laws, Moskowitz has influenced a wide range of poli­ cy areas, including tenants' rights, gay rights, gun control, and health care. A product of the New York City public schools and a put?lic school parent herself, Moskowitz is an advocate for public education. She has held almost 100 committee meetings, provided oversight of the Mayor's "Children First" reforms, and issued in-depth reports on topics ranging from science education to teacher retention. Moskowitz holds a PhD in American history from Johns Hopkins University and a BA from the University of Penn­ sylvania. She taught history at the University of Virginia, Vanderbilt, CUNY, and Columbia. Prior to her election to the Council, Moskowitz served as the executive director of ReadNet, a family literacy program, and taught civics at Prep for Prep, a program for gifted minority students. I L. Michael Griffel, Recipient of President's Medal 4 L. Michael Griffel is professor of music and acting associate provost at Hunter. Trained at Yale, Juilliard, and Columbia in music theory, piano, and historical musicology, respectively, he began teaching at Hunter in 1970. Among his many roles have been associate dean of the School of Arts and Sciences, chair of the Department of Music, and acting chair of the Thomas Hunter Honors Program. In 1977 he joined the doctoral faculty in music of The Graduate Center of CUNY. He taught graduate courses at the Mannes College of Music from 1980 until 1999, and he joined the doctoral faculty of the Juilliard School in 1997. Griffel is vice president of the American Beethoven Society, New York Chapter. His research area is music of the 19th century, with an emphasis on Schubert. CANDIDATES FOR GRADUATION CLASS OF Fousseni B. Atchiba Shanaqua Blake Margaret J. Canning JUNE 2005 Shadi Z. Attal Blair F. Blanchard Eileen T. Carey Maureen Ami Atwell Roland Blayo Robert Carey Bachelor of Arts Sin Lung Au Jonathan M. Blechman Timothy J. Carlos Teresa L. Abbate Jennifer Augustin Taria Bonaparte Vladimir V. Carpov Jaimie F. Abir Wasoni Z. Austin Jacob S. Bondorowsky Ivonne Carrero Erik Abramov MeriAxinn Shanay D. Boone Olga Cartagena Elizabeth Acevedo Amy M. Ayala Estee Borenstein Ryan Elliot Carter Nadine Acheampong Marjorie Ayala Alice M. Borman Lorena Carvajal Norris S. Acosta Romy Ayala Rene Bosolet Jr. Edwin Y. Casallas Elissa P. Adams Vasthi Ayala Karolina J. Bostrom Vincent Cascetta Michelle 0. Adams Leslie S. Azose Shaneka M . Boucher Jean R. Castagne Myslin Adams NiaBabb Patricia Bowles Elsa Del Carmen Castillo Josephine Adaoag Richard Babeck Nicole C. Boyer Yemelly Castro Lucia V. Africano AncaBabei Angelika Brekman Alessandra Cattaneo Stella Agaronin Lamese Bader Jeannine J. Briceno Sylvie Caughman Sarah Agbetor Jay Baek James G. Brinn Sonila Cela Jonathan I. Ahuna Charlotte C. Bair Vilma M. Briones Marcus B. Cesaire KossiwaAka Angela J. Balcacer Yvonne Brobbey Christopher A. Chadzynski Jennifer Alamo Elena Balyberdina Carolee V. Broderick Albert M. Chae Yunisha D. Alamo Jessica M. Bangali Tiffany L. Brodvin Irine Chaikhoutdinov Darleen Alardo Brian L. Bankoff Marvin L. Brooks Kemlye S. Challenger Ofelia Alaverdian Pia M. Baptiste Lisa Brosnan Benjamin Chan Zaakea Al-Barati William A. Barbery Douglas S. Brown David Chan Jasmine Aldarondo Lucianna Baregi Ginger M. Brown Nicole Chan Eva Estela Aliaga Jason A. Barone NnekaBrown Shi L. Chan Daniel Alicea Carol A. Barry Stephenie F. Brown Leona Chang Kristina V. Allakhverdova Nilay Basaran Tonya E. Brown Sarnie I. Chaperon Katherine M. Allen Tatyana Bass Justine E. Browne Sherry Charalaivan Stefanie M. Alleyne Catherine Bautista Gabriella Suzette Bruno Malaisha Chartier Matthew Allwood Justyna B. Bednarek Silvia Brusciotti Qi Y. Chen Joanne M. Almeida Saranna Belgrave Danette C. Buckley Yan Qing Chen Jason J. Almodovar Matthew M. Beller Andriy Bulava Zhi Shun Chen Shawnta M.