A message from the Director of the Program in Global Health Studies, Dr. Bill Leonard:
Click here for a transcript of Dr. Leonard’s remarks.
And from our faculty:
Congratulations on graduating, and am sending you off with the quotation (used most famously by Dr. King and President Obama) with which I (try) to end all of my classes: ‘the arc of history is long, but it bends toward justice’ – with, again, the reminder that this arc never bends on its own. –Dr. Sarah Rodriguez
–Dr. Noelle Sullivan
YAY! Congratulations, graduates! I’m so thrilled for all of you. Always remember your mental, emotional, and physical health are paramount! Take good care of yourselves and celebrate this fantastic achievement. –Dr. Beatriz Reyes
It’s such a privilege to congratulate you today on your graduation from Northwestern and for your remarkable achievements during your time with us. As for many generations before you, the challenges ahead—for finding meaningful work, building a family, even “saving the world”—are daunting. But I hope you’ll feel that your education—and especially your time in Global Health Studies—have equipped you to face these challenges with moral courage, compassion, and rigorous thinking, and that you’ll look back on these years as a time that helped you find what you love and believe in. For my part, I believe in you. Your hearts and minds are more than a match for this world. I feel so lucky to have spent these last few years learning together with all of you, and to have this chance to remind you, as the famous line goes, that “it is no measure of health to be well-adjusted to a sick society.” Your frustration and anguish in the face inequalities of all kinds (especially in health) are where you will find your passions, values, and vocations. So take care, keep reading, keep fighting—and I wish so much more for you than good luck!
P.S.: If you’re missing my 20-minute tangents in class, feel free to reach out for an appointment! –Dr. Peter Locke