By Dani Naess Hellesund
Staff Writer
On Friday, May 9, LIU Post will celebrate its 56th commencement ceremony at 11:30 a.m., on the Great Lawn.
“We are excited that LIU’s new president, Dr. Kimberly R. Cline, will preside over the ceremony,” said Rita Langdon, the new executive director of Campus Operations, and formerly the associate provost at LIU Post.
Dr. Jackie Nealon, chief of staff and vice president for Enrollment, Campus Life and Communications; and Dr. Jeffrey Kane, vice President for Academic Affairs; Eric Krasnoff, the University’s new chairman of the Board of Trustees; and Theresa Mall Mullarkey, LIU Post Chancellor and Trustee, will participate in the ceremony, according to Langdon.
The graduation ceremony will be held, as in the past, under a huge white tent, “that runs the length of Humanities Hall,” Rita Langdon said. “I cannot wait to celebrate the completion of my Bachelor’s Degree and all the hard work I have put down,” said Vibeke Aarstad, a senior Accounting major.
“More than 10,000 people, from graduates to parents, family and friends, [have attended] commencement [in the past].” Students who graduated either in September, January or May will be participating. At this year’s ceremony, students who have earned bachelors, masters, doctoral degrees, or advanced certificates from LIU’s three campuses on Long Island (Post, Brentwood and Riverhead), will be celebrated.
“The class of 2014 includes more than 2,200 students,” Langdon said. After the main ceremony, the different schools and colleges at
LIU will hold their own individual ceremonies recognizing the students’ achievements. Each student’s name will be called at these smaller ceremonies, which will be held at the Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, Hillwood Commons Lecture Hall, and other locations. “At these ceremonies, the dean or chairperson of the college/school will recognize individual graduates by name,” Langdon said.
“Commencement is one of the grandest events at our university and a time to reflect on the many achievements and hard work of LIU Post’s students,” Langdon added. A committee of faculty, staff and students oversee the plans.
“The Offices of Conference Services, University President, and Chief of Staff/Vice President of Enrollment, Campus Life and Communications, coordinate the activities.”
The Valedictorian and Salutatorian, who are selected by a committee of faculty and administrators, will be announced in March, according to Langdon. The commencement speaker will be announced in April. The commencement speaker is selected by, “a committee of trustees, faculty and administrators,” she said.
On graduation day at LIU Post, all buildings will be open, according to Bill Kirker, head of Facilities. If the unfortunate situation arises and it starts to rain Kirker said that, “Anyone who cannot fit under the tent will have the option of going into Hillwood to view it on large screens.”
LIU’s Brooklyn, Rockland, Westchester, and LIU Global divisions will have their graduation ceremony at the Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn on Thursday, May 15 at 9 a.m., according to Rita Langdon.
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