SIPA’s Class of 2013 Brightens Gray Skies

Sometimes-gray skies and intermittent downpours didn’t dampen spirits at SIPA’s 2013 graduation ceremonies, which welcomed a class of 613 students in seven programs to the ranks of alumni.

The few spates of heavy rain were confined to the middle of the ceremony, when graduates and guests alike were sheltered under the large tents on Columbia’s South Lawn.

There they heard from featured speaker George Stephanopoulos of ABC News, who talked about the transformative effect of modern technology on politics and policy. “We’re drowning in information,” he said, but “we’re no less ignorant.”

The former White House official ruefully noted that it can be tempting to those in power to “ignore, suppress, erase the truth.” But he reminded graduates that “good policy is based on evidence” and exhorted them to “see the world with clear eyes.”

Interim dean Robert C. Lieberman, who is moving on to become provost at Johns Hopkins University this summer, told the gathering it had been a privilege and a pleasure to be at SIPA for almost two decades, mostly because of the students.

Graduating students Akshay Verma MPA ’13 and Paul Hersh MIA ’13 gave well-received speeches. Verma praised the “accepting, warm, and loving community” he found at SIPA; Hersh called on classmates to use their elite education to pursue a purposeful path in the world. And Roger Baumann IF ’84, MIA ’85, chair of SIPA’s Alumni Council, encouraged students to become involved alumni.

Every speaker called on the graduates to thank the family members and friends who supported their journeys to this point.

After the ceremony, the new graduates and guests moved with the same family and friends to Ancell Plaza outside IAB, where they enjoyed a festive reception under clear-for-the-nonce skies. A few shed their blue gowns, but most wore them as they posed for picture after picture, chatting excitedly, embracing, introducing family, and just all-around enjoying their final few hours together.

Lian Zhang MIA ’13, of China, said he had enjoyed attending school in the United States. "I learned so much socially at SIPA, in addition to the academics.”

Zhang also said he was glad to have attended the ceremony: “It was exciting to hear my name called and to shake Dean Lieberman’s hand.”

Professor Jenny McGill was among the faculty members who attended the ceremony and reception alike. “I know a lot of the students and it’s fun to see them at the culmination of their SIPA experience — they’re on such a high,” she said. “It’s nice to meet their family members, it’s a high point for me, too.”

Janet Janis, mother of Ted Janis MIA ’13, was one such family member.  “I’m amazed at the diversity of the students,” Janet said. “We’ve been quite impressed by SIPA.”

 “It’s such a unique opportunity to get to know so many people in just two short years,” Ted observed. “My expectations were high coming in, but SIPA exceeded them.”

Hilary Hemmings MIA ’13, a concentrator in Human Rights who will be moving to Russia in a few weeks to work on behalf of migrant laborers, also praised the MIA program. “I’m glad I came here,” she said.

 “It’s so great that we all made it,” observed Tiffany Esteb MIA ’13. “It will be exciting to keep in touch and see what people are doing in a year. I hope we’ll have the chance to work together again.”