TULANE TALK

May 13 2011

Good Morning:

Wow. Yesterday’s Commencement was truly extraordinary. The beaming graduates, proud families, engaging speakers — highlighted by Tom Friedman and Stevie Wonder’s Tulane-centric “You Are the Sunshine of My Life” — made this year’s Commencement extra special. The Wave Goodbye party that followed Commencement was the largest party ever at Mardi Gras World. We sent our graduates off in true New Orleans style with great food by some of the city’s top caterers and music by Shamarr Allen and Johnny Angel and the Swinging Demons.

The evening was a particular triumph due to the many challenges presented by changes in the location and time of this year’s Commencement. My heartfelt thanks to the organizers and dedicated Commencement volunteers who made all of it come together and look so easy. You brilliantly honored our graduates and represented Tulane at its best.

Commencement season isn’t quite over yet for me. This weekend I will give the keynote address at Case Western Reserve University’s Commencement. I was a professor and dean at Case Western before I became president at Tulane. The speech I give there to my old colleagues and friends will include a lot about Tulane and you and the difference both have made in my life.

Have a great weekend,