Honors Presented at 2013 Convocation Ceremony

At the 2013 Convocation exercises yesterday, graduating students were reminded of all the reasons they fight for education: love, freedom, and justice.

Those subjects were brought to life when civil rights activist James Meredith walked across the stage, sporting the bright red cap and polo shirt of his alma mater, Ole Miss, to receive the HGSE Medal for Education Impact from Dean Kathleen McCartney. The medal is awarded to a person who has made a lasting difference in the field of education.

As the first-ever Convocation speaker in HGSE history, Meredith told the audience this was the “greatest honor” of his life, and reminded students, faculty, and staff about the impact of their own work. “The Harvard Graduate School of Education has the position to impact what happens in the process of training of the American public more than any other establishment,” he said.

Meredith, who shared his personal story and spoke of the long history of black Americans fighting to receive education, emphasized the importance of leadership, and of choosing the “right leaders as key.”

In today’s world, Meredith noted how the “black/white gap” is a result of how education policy has long been designed without the inclusion of blacks. While Meredith expressed the opinion that a lack of religion in public education has had negative results, he also stressed the great need to focus on youth. “The only way to solve the problem of the youth is for elders to do their job,” he said.

In addition to the honors presented — including the Morningstar Family Teaching Award, Alumni Council Award, Class Gift, and Intellectual Contribution/Faculty Tribute Awards — the pre-commencement exercises featured various speakers.

Student speaker Phil Lee, Ed.D.’13, spoke about the tradition that HGSE graduates are now a part of. “The tradition I speak of is one of struggle and resistance,” he said. “Struggle against the vicious legacy of white supremacy. Resistance against homophobia. Struggle against gender discrimination. Resistance against massive class inequality and other forms of dehumanization. All in a larger effort to increase educational quality and access for everyone.”

Lee also spoke about what truly differentiates those at the Ed School from others. Lee, a former Harvard Law School admissions employee, reflected on the reasons students sought degrees at Harvard, sharing the four most common reasons: wealth, power, prestige, and love. The latter, Lee argued, was a common trait of HGSE students — students who recognize the people who helped them get where they are, and see that they may never be able to pay it back, but can “pay it forward.”

“Justice is what love looks like in public,” Lee said. “That is why we fight. That is why we struggle. That is why we care. Justice is what love looks like in public. Welcome to the tradition.”

On a similar note, Lecturer Richard Weissbourd, Ed.D.’87, the student-selected faculty speaker, spoke about the importance of love and how it’s often misunderstood in our society. In particular, romantic love is often seen as belonging to youth and sometimes focuses on fulfilling our own needs rather than those of others. On the contrary, Weissbourd said that when love is successful the partners can see outside of themselves through deep trust and faith. Further, Weissbourd pointed out how developing caring, romantic relationships is similar to developing relationships in our work.

“How we care and love in these relationships is surely as important as our level of content knowledge and technical expertise,” he said, later noting how much his own students had taught him.

Weissbourd reminded the graduates that even in their darkest hours they are not alone, especially with the HGSE community to “lock arms with you.” “Keep fighting the fight. Stay in the fray. Take care of yourselves. Make sure to mediate or go to the gym. Make sure at times to honor your inner couch potato, your inner slacker,” he advised.

Citing the words of author David Foster Wallace, Weissbourd encouraged students to seek freedom by the means of care, focus, sacrifice, and attention.

“That kind of freedom is the basis of an ethical life. That kind of freedom is at the core of love in every meaningful sense of this word. And that kind of freedom is the best way I know to spend your one breathtaking time on this earth,” he said.

The complete list of honorees:

HGSE Medal for Education Impact: James Meredith Student Speaker: Philip Lee, Ed.D. Candidate in Higher Education
Morningstar Family Teacher Award: Associate Professor Tina Grotzer, Ed.M.’85, Ed.D.’93
Alumni Council Award:  Jeanne Brooks-Gunn, Ed.M.’70
Faculty Speaker: Lecturer Richard Weissbourd, Ed.D.’87
Phyllis Strimling Award: Annie Peirce, Ed.M. Candidate in International Education Policy

Class Marshals: Ed.L.D. Nancy Gutierrez

Ed.D. Sherry Deckman
Lissa Young

C.A.S. Suzanna Alter

Ed.M. Arts in Education: John Sessler
Education Policy and Management: Manny Lamarre
Human Development and Psychology: LaJoi Royston
Higher Education: Jasmine Omorogbe
International Education Policy: Matthew Williams
Language and Literacy: Jin Hee Chung
Learning and Teaching: Jonathan Yuan
Mind, Brain, and Education: Drew Nelson
Prevention Science and Practice: Habib Bangura
School Leadership: Tracie Sanlin
Special Studies: Margaret Okada
Teacher Education: Jonathan Judson
Technology, Innovation, and Education: Graham North

Class Gift: $16,670.28

Intellectual Contribution/Faculty Tribute Award:
Arts in Education: Shawn Lavoie
Education Policy and Management: James Kelly
Human Development and Psychology: Tim Goodman
Higher Education: Daniel Follmer
International Education Policy: Kevin Kalra
Language and Literacy: Maura Ross
Learning and Teaching: Sedia Dennis
Mind, Brain, and Education: Bryan Mascio
Prevention Science and Practice: Harry Schnur
School Leadership: Lybroan James
Special Studies: Ryan Romaneski
Teacher Education: Aaron Randolph
Technology, Innovation, and Education: Harvey Shaw