Distinguished Speakers and Scholars Highlight Graduation Ceremonies

Former President Bill Clinton and U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder (CC'73, Law'76) are among a number of distinguished speakers taking part in more than 20 class days and graduation ceremonies marking Columbia University's 256th academic year. Events take place between Friday, May 14, and Wednesday, May 19. Monique Tuyisenge-Onyegbula , a witness to four wars, will work to bring peace to war-torn communities after earning her master's degree from the School of International and Public Affairs. The University will confer eight honorary degrees and two Medals for Excellence at its main commencement ceremony on Tuesday, May 18, at 10:30 a.m. at its Morningside Heights campus. In the evening, from dusk until after midnight, the lights of the Empire State Building will glow in blue and white in honor of Columbia's graduates. Columbia's 13 graduate schools and its three undergraduate institutions— Columbia College , The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science and the School of General Studies —will each host separate celebratory events, some of which will be webcast and archived. Among the 22 commencement speakers are former President Bill Clinton at the Mailman School of Public Health Graduation Ceremony ; Eric Holder, U.S. Attorney General, at the Columbia Law School Graduation Ceremony ; Benjamin Jealous, chief executive of the NAACP, at Columbia College Class Day ; Todd Stitzer, chief executive of Cadbury, at Columbia Business School's MBA Recognition Ceremony ; Mary Jo Bang, poet, at the School of the Arts Presentation of Diplomas ; and Gail Collins, author and columnist for The New York Times , at Graduate School of Journalism Day .