NYC mayor to deliver this year’s graduation address

New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg will return to his hometown of Medford, Mass., to address the graduates at Tufts’ 151st Commencement on May 20.

The Hon. Michael R. Bloomberg

“We are delighted to welcome Mayor Bloomberg back to Medford, where he will be part of a very distinguished class of honorary degree recipients. Each has made substantial contributions to society, and we look forward to honoring their achievements as we celebrate with our graduates,” Tufts President Lawrence S. Bacow said.

The son of a bookkeeper at a Medford dairy, Bloomberg’s thirst for information and fascination with technology were evident at an early age and led him to a career on Wall Street with Salomon Brothers. He later started his own company, Bloomberg L.P., which revolutionized the way Wall Street did business and later branched into media and publishing.

As the company enjoyed tremendous growth, Bloomberg dedicated more of his time and energy to philanthropic and civic endeavors. His desire to improve education, advance medical research and increase access to the arts has provided the motivation for much of his philanthropy. He was elected New York City’s 108th mayor in November 2001.

At commencement, which will begin at 9 a.m. on the academic quad on Tufts’ Medford/Somerville campus, Bloomberg will receive an honorary doctor of public service degree. Five others will also receive honorary degrees:

• Thomas Jefferson (T.J.) Anderson, one of the leading composers of his generation, an expert on the music of Scott Joplin and Austin Fletcher Professor of Music Emeritus at Tufts, honorary doctor of music degree
• Lord Alec Broers, a pioneer in nanotechnology, chair of the House of Lords’ Science and Technology Committee and immediate past president of the Royal Academy of Engineering, honorary doctor of science degree
• Capt. Frederick H. (Rick) Hauck, A62, the astronaut, combat and test pilot, who flew on three space shuttle missions, including commanding the redesigned spaceship on its first flight after the Challenger explosion, honorary doctor of public service degree
• Denise Jefferson, director of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center for more than 20 years, who carries on Ailey’s vision that dance should be available to everyone, honorary doctor of fine arts degree
• Thomas C. Schelling, who shared the 2005 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences “for having enhanced our understanding of conflict and cooperation through game-theory analysis” and has advanced knowledge of arms control, environmental and health policy and race relations, honorary doctor of humane letters degree

In addition, on Saturday, May 19, Dr. Shirin Ebadi, winner of the 2003 Nobel Peace Prize, lawyer and human rights activist, will address the graduates of the Fletcher School during their annual Class Day ceremonies.

For more information on commencement, go to http://commencement.tufts.edu.