Prime minister of Greece to address graduates

The prime minister of Greece, Kostas Karamanlis, F82, will deliver the main address at Tufts University’s 149th commencement on Sunday, May 22. After leading his Nea Demokratia (New Democracy) party to victory in March 2004, Karamanlis, 48, became the youngest person elected prime minister in modern Greek history.

© Mark Morelli

“Prime Minister Karamanlis is one of Europe’s most dynamic leaders and a rising star on the global political stage,” Tufts President Lawrence S. Bacow said. “His international perspective, commitment to public service and leadership are all qualities our students, faculty and staff hold in the highest regard.”

Calling his election to office “the start of a new era,” Karamanlis, a 1982 graduate of the Fletcher School, has made the establishment of Greece as the Mediterranean’s primary economic hub one of his top priorities. He also has initiated broad education and health reforms. Just five months after taking office, Karamanlis presided over the 2004 Summer Olympics, which returned to Greece for the first time in a century.

Karamanlis also will be awarded an honorary doctor of laws degree. He will join four other honorary degree recipients:

• Mayor of Hiroshima Tadatoshi Akiba, who taught mathematics at Tufts from 1972 to 1986, will be awarded an honorary doctor of humane letters degree.
• Former Dartmouth College President James O. Freedman will receive an honorary doctor of humane letters degree.
• National Medal of Science winner Ann M. Graybiel, who earned a master’s degree in biology as a Woodrow Wilson Fellow at Tufts University, will receive an honorary doctor of science degree.
• Oscar-winning actor William Hurt, A72, will receive an honorary doctor of fine arts degree.

The all-university commencement ceremony begins at 9 a.m. on the Academic Quad between Ballou and Bendetson halls.

Following Karamanlis’ commencement address and the awarding of honorary degrees, separate ceremonies will be held at each of Tufts’ schools. This is the second year that undergraduates in Arts & Sciences and Engineering will receive their diplomas at smaller departmental ceremonies instead of at one large gathering. Those individual school ceremonies begin at approximately 11:30 a.m. or 1:30 p.m. More information about commencement can be found at http://commencement.tufts.edu

The locations for the school ceremonies are:
School of Dental Medicine: Carmichael Quad, 11:30 a.m.
School of Engineering: Academic Quad, 11:30 a.m.
Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy: Fletcher Field, 11:30 a.m.
Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy: Somerville Theater, 55 Davis Square, 11:30 a.m.
Graduate School of Arts & Sciences: Graduate students will be awarded their diplomas at the Arts & Sciences departmental ceremonies for their specific disciplines.
School of Medicine/Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences: Gantcher Family Sports and Convocation Center, 11:30 a.m.
Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine: Grafton campus, 3 p.m.

The Arts & Sciences departmental ceremonies will take place at 11:30 a.m. or 1:30 p.m., with graduates and their families having lunch either before or after their degree ceremony. Locations for the A&S departmental ceremonies are:
American Studies: 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Granoff Family Hillel Center.
Anthropology: 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Goddard Chapel.
Archeology: 1:30 – 3 p.m., Granoff Family Hillel Center.
Art/Art History/Architecture: 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Cohen Auditorium, Aidekman Arts Center.
Asian Studies: 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., ASEAN Auditorium, Cabot Intercultural Center.
Biology: 1:30 – 3 p.m., Cohen Auditorium, Aidekman Arts Center.
Boston School of Occupational Therapy: 1:30 – 3 p.m., Barnum 008.
Chemistry: 1:30 – 3 p.m., Cohen Auditorium, Aidekman Arts Center.
Child Development: 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., tent on Alumni Field.
Classics: 1:30 – 3 p.m., Granoff Family Hillel Center.
Comparative Religion: 1:30 – 3 p.m., Granoff Family Hillel Center.
Computer Science: 1:30 – 3 p.m., ASEAN Auditorium, Cabot Intercultural Center.
Drama and Dance: 1:30 – 3 p.m., Goddard Chapel.
Economics: 1:30 – 3 p.m., tent on Alumni Field.
Education: 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Barnum 008.
English: 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Carzo Cage, Cousens Gymnasium.
Environmental Studies: 1:30 – 3 p.m., Cohen Auditorium, Aidekman Arts Center.
Geology: 1:30 – 3 p.m., Cohen Auditorium, Aidekman Arts Center.
History: 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Cohen Auditorium, Aidekman Arts Center.
International Letters & Visual Studies: 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., ASEAN Auditorium, Cabot Intercultural Center.
International Relations: 1:30 – 3 p.m., Academic Quad between Ballou and Bendetson halls.
Judaic Studies: 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., ASEAN Auditorium, Cabot Intercultural Center.
Languages: 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., ASEAN Auditorium, Cabot Intercultural Center.
Mathematics: 1:30 – 3 p.m., ASEAN Auditorium, Cabot Intercultural Center.
Museum School: 3:30 p.m., Remis Auditorium, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
Music: 1:30 – 3 p.m., Goddard Chapel.
Peace and Justice Studies: 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Goddard Chapel.
Philosophy: 1:30 – 3 p.m., Granoff Family Hillel Center.
Physics: 1:30 – 3 p.m., Cohen Auditorium, Aidekman Arts Center.
Plan of Study: 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Granoff Family Hillel Center.
Political Science: 1:30 – 3 p.m., Academic Quad between Ballou and Bendetson halls.
Psychology: 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., tent on Alumni Field.
Sociology: 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Goddard Chapel.
Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning: 1:30 – 3 p.m., Balch Arena Theater, Aidekman Arts Center.
Women’s Studies: 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Carzo Cage, Cousens Gymnasium.