TULANE TALK

May 16, 2014

Good Morning:

Well, Commencement 2014 is finally here. Tomorrow more than 2,800 graduates will receive their well-earned reward for years of study and service. Commencement 2014 is attracting a lot of outside attention in addition to the thousands of proud families, faculty and friends who will be on hand to honor our graduates.

Media outlets from NBC Nightly News to The Hullabaloo will be on hand to chronicle all the excitement, music and moments of this special occasion. This will be my 16th and final Commencement as president of Tulane University. All week I have been experiencing the same mix of emotions that I suspect many of our graduates have nostalgia, excitement, joy, sorrow, apprehension, you name it.

Mostly, though, I think all of us young and not so young alike who are graduating to a new chapter in our lives are struck by an incredible sense of gratitude for the privilege of having been able to call such a wonderful place home for such a long time.

Have a great weekend,