Boston University 148TH Comme ncement 2021 SUNDAY THE SIXTEENTH OF MAY NICKERSON FIELD BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS Program Prelude Concert Boston University Commencement Brass Choir The Metcalf Awards for Excellence in Teaching Robert A. Brown Aaron Goldberg, Director PRESIDENT OF BOSTON UNIVERSITY Fanfare from La Péri Paul Dukas Fadie T. Coleman, School of Medicine Marche Militaire Française Camille Saint-Saëns David G. Sullivan, College of Arts & Sciences A Western Fanfare Eric Ewazen Libertango Astor Piazzolla Fanfare for the Common Man Aaron Copland The Metcalf Cup and Prize for Excellence in Teaching Procession of the Nobles Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov Steve Ramirez, College of Arts & Sciences Hymn to New England John Williams Conferring of the Honorary Degrees Robert A. Brown Processional Noubar Afeyan, Doctor of Humane Letters Pomp and Circumstance March, No. 1 Edward Elgar Catherine D’Amato, Doctor of Humane Letters Ayanna Pressley, Doctor of Laws Call to Order Kenneth J. Feld CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF BOSTON UNIVERSITY Morning Address Noubar Afeyan Afternoon Address Ayanna Pressley National Anthem Jillian Agona COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS ’21 Presentation of Candidates Jean Morrison UNIVERSITY PROVOST AND CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICER, BOSTON UNIVERSITY Invocation The Reverend Dr. Robert Allan Hill Karen H. Antman DEAN OF MARSH CHAPEL, BOSTON UNIVERSITY PROVOST OF THE MEDICAL CAMPUS, BOSTON UNIVERSITY Student Speaker Archelle Thelemaque Promotion of Candidates to Degrees Robert A. Brown (Afternoon) COLLEGE OF COMMUNICATION ’21 President’s Charge to the Graduates Robert A. Brown Presentation of the Class Gift Audrey Tran (Afternoon) COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES ’21 Beatriz Vianna Martins da Costa Clarissima (words and music on page 18) Jillian Agona COLLEGE OF COMMUNICATION ’21 Benediction The Reverend Dr. Robert Allan Hill Welcome from the Alumni Association J. R. Hipple PRESIDENT OF THE BOSTON UNIVERSITY ALUMNI COUNCIL Recessional Boston University Commencement Brass Choir “Go BU” Ranny Weeks and Bernie Fazioli “Hey! Baby” Margaret Cobb and Bruce Channel “I’m Shipping Up to Boston” Woody Guthrie/Dropkick Murphys Second Suite in F, Op. 28, March Gustav Holst 2 3 The Metcalf Cup and Prize The Metcalf Cup and Prize FOR EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING FOR EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING The Metcalf Cup of teaching and the and Prize is the identification and Steve Ramirez highest faculty advancement of those College of Arts & Sciences honor of Boston members of the faculty Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences University. The who excel as teachers, award recognizes of which this cup is and encourages symbolic.” As a teacher, Dr. Ramirez guides students on outstanding teaching a journey breaking down scientific phenomena The Metcalf Cup and in the context of a to basic building blocks, reassembling those $10,000 Prize and gold research institution blocks in new ways, and eventually proposing medal is presented and expresses the University’s deepest original concepts and experiments. They annually at Commencement. Each year, purpose. develop skills and understanding applicable candidates are nominated by students, The Metcalf Awards were established in faculty, or alumni, and the finalists are to a broad array of scientific challenges. 1973 by an endowment gift from the late selected by a screening committee of Outside of regular courses, he supervises Dr. Arthur G. B. Metcalf (1908–1997), faculty and students. Over the course undergraduate students through senior honors an alumnus, faculty member, generous of the year, the committee solicits and research, directed study, Undergraduate benefactor, Trustee of Boston University, reviews supporting materials from the Research Opportunities Program (UROP) and Chairman of the Board of Trustees candidates and their department chairs. projects, and other academic work, as well from 1976 to 1994. “The purpose of the The members of the committee visit the as advising master’s and doctoral students. prize,” Dr. Metcalf stated at the time of classes of the finalists and, in the spring, its creation, “is to establish a systematic present their recommendations to the Dr. Ramirez received a BA magna cum laude procedure for the review of the quality University’s president. in Neuroscience from Boston University, a t a university of outstanding teachers, PhD in Brain and Cognitive Sciences from ASteve Ramirez, an Assistant Professor Massachusetts Institute of Technology, in Boston University’s College of Arts & and an avalanche of awards, including The Metcalf Awards Sciences, stands out. the College of Arts & Sciences Templeton FOR EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING Award for Excellence in Student Advising In just four years with the Department of and Mentoring, the Presidential Early Career Psychological & Brain Sciences and the Award for Scientists and Engineers, Forbes 30 Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Metcalf Awards for Excellence is committed to educating students to Innovators Under 30 Award, and Smithsonian he has won the respect and admiration in Teaching are given annually to be reflective, resourceful leaders in an magazine’s American Ingenuity Award. one or more of the finalists in the interconnected world. We accomplish of students and colleagues alike. Students competition for the Metcalf Cup and this through the work of great teachers, describe Dr. Ramirez as a “helpful,” Dr. Ramirez’s appeal extends beyond campus; Prize. Each winner of the Metcalf Award men and women who inspire their “caring,” “fun,” “knowledgeable,” and he is popular for media interviews, and his receives $5,000 and a silver medal. As students. They encourage exploration, even “magic” professor, who “could TED Talks video on memory garnered more President Robert A. Brown has said debate, cooperation, the pursuit of explain memory engrams to a three-year- than 1.1 million views. regarding the symbolic significance of the unknown, and discovery; they old.” His nominating colleague describes the awards, “Teaching is an art. It is introduce ancient wisdom and the him as “an innovative and passionate the essential function of a university, latest scholarship. The Metcalf Awards educator who inspires students to learn and as it is our mission to mold the next recognize and encourage outstanding to enter the field of systems neuroscience.” generation of informed citizens and teaching and thereby support our creative thinkers. Boston University fundamental mission.” Photo by Cydney Scott for Boston University Photography 4 5 The Metcalf Award The Metcalf Award FOR EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING FOR EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING Fadie T. Coleman David G. Sullivan School of Medicine College of Arts & Sciences Department of Medical Sciences & Education Department of Computer Science Somehow, amid all that, Dr. Coleman finds than 50 percent of them are women, up time to teach—exceptionally. She seeks from 20 percent. to build on students’ experiences and give This success is not isolated. Reviews from them a sense of belonging to a whole. Her across all his courses speak of “an amazing methods include pedagogy that promotes professor” who “really cares about students” intellectual discipline, scientific literacy and is “insanely good at teaching.” “He and writing, community building, and made me fall in love with computer science,” science identity development. is a sentiment echoed by many. One student Her students give the experience rave even describes him as an “angel sent from reviews ranging from “she really challenges the heavens.” you to think” to “coolest most insightful Dr. Sullivan developed the department’s experience” to “made me a better scientist.” course assistant program, in which under- Two words, especially, recur in one graduates serve as mentors to students in evaluation after another: “Thank you.” introductory courses, and he has himself Dr. Coleman’s nominator sums it up nicely: been an outstanding mentor to junior adie T. Coleman joined Boston University “I cannot imagine a more invested, giving, avid G. Sullivan is a Master Lecturer instructors. He has also been a department Fin 2017 as Assistant Professor of Medical and talented professor.” Dand the Director of Peer Education leader in utilizing innovative educational Sciences and Education with the BU School and Assessment in the Department of approaches and technological tools to Dr. Coleman holds a BA in Biology and of Medicine (BUSM) and she is Director Computer Science in the College of improve student learning. In particular, he English Literature from Boston University, of the Biomedical Laboratory and Clinical Arts & Sciences. He is “a creative and employs peer instruction, an educational an MA in Biology from Harvard University, Sciences Program (BLCS) of Metropolitan committed teacher,” says the department methodology that gives students immediate and a PhD in Microbiology from Boston College. She has been very busy ever since. chair. “He has been an innovative leader in feedback on their understanding of key University School of Medicine. Her our educational mission, and he has had an concepts and promotes deeper learning Overseeing BLCS, she has redesigned the national honors include recognition from the enormous impact on the lives of students.” through in-class exercises and small group curriculum, integrated updated laboratory National Science Foundation and American discussions. He has also helped other technique courses, added scientific writing Society for Microbiology. At BU, she has His redesign of Introduction to Computer faculty members to adopt these