Class Day, Commencement Mark New Beginning for Newest Alumni

01 Sep 2009

Re: Jamie Dimon (MBA 1982); Thomas Rajan (MBA 2009); Jan Rivkin (PHDBE 1997); Dave Hankin (MBA 1975); Noam Wasserman (MBA 1999)

Topics: Education-Business Education Competency and Skills-Experience and Expertise Education-Campus Life Education-Curriculum and Courses

Overcast skies, but no stormy washout: That bad news/good news scenario for last June’s Class Day ceremonies seemed to reflect the uncertain economy awaiting the School’s nearly 900 freshly minted MBAs. But on this occasion marking achievement and filled with anticipation, youthful spirits and energy will not be denied. Fittingly, it was brighter days and business leadership that Class Day speaker Jamie Dimon (MBA ’82) chose as the focus of his remarks. Dimon, chairman and CEO of JPMorgan Chase, declined to discuss the economic crisis and opted instead to relate lessons learned and wisdom acquired over his long career. “I am wildly optimistic about the future of America,” he said. “It is still one of the shining lights on this planet. It has been and will continue to be.” But Dimon added that “this country has a lot of things it has to do, and policy is something you all will have to work on, to make sure we do things right all the time. We all need to do things that make the planet better.”

Student speaker Thomas Rajan (MBA ’09) noted that a number of his classmates had not yet received job offers and that business schools and their graduates are currently viewed less favorably by the public than in recent years. But, Rajan said, “This time of crisis requires a new way of thinking, a new brand of leadership, and we as graduates of the MBA Class of 2009 are ready to take a stand.”

Honored by the graduating students for teaching excellence were Professor Joseph Lassiter (The Entrepreneurial Manager); Professor Jan Rivkin (Strategy); Professor David Moss (Creating the Modern Financial System); and Associate Professor Noam Wasserman (Founders’ Dilemmas: Money and Power in Entrepreneurial Ventures).

Commencement was held the next day, on June 5, with Dean Light presiding over the awarding of diplomas to 886 MBA students. Six doctorates in business administration were also conferred, along with twelve Ph.D. degrees in several fields, earned in conjunction with the University’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.