Brooklyn College to Salute the Resilient Class of 2021 Through Online Commencement
May 25, 2021
The College will celebrate the accomplishments of 4,738 total students and recognize Fatima Goss Graves as its 2021 Honorary Degree recipient.
On May 27 at 10 a.m., Brooklyn College will proudly confer degrees to 3,500 undergraduate and 1,178 graduate students who have applied for graduation, respectively, along with 60 students who earned advanced certificates, at a special virtual ceremony.
“We are proud of the extraordinary commitment our students made to their studies in this unprecedented time,” said President Michelle J. Anderson. “To overcome the obstacles, stress, and even heartbreak brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic makes them heroes. The Class of 2021 now joins more than 160,000 Brooklyn College alumni around the world, but they will always hold a special place in our history.”
In February, it was announced that in the interest of public health and well-being, all CUNY commencement ceremonies for those graduating in Spring 2021 would be conducted virtually. With safety being the biggest priority, Brooklyn College is planning this special event with guest speakers, full academic regalia, class rings, graduation photos, and more.
Asma Awad '21
Dr. Joanne Waldstreicher
Fatima Goss Graves
Brooklyn College’s Valedictorian for the Class of 2021 is Asma Awad, who graduated with a B.S. degree in computer science. Awad was born and raised in Brooklyn with her parents and her grandparents immigrated to the U.S. from Pakistan and Palestine. Those roots had a powerful influence on her life. She participated in Muslims Giving Back, an organization that focuses on community service and giving back to the community through acts of service and charity; Stuck in the Library, one of Brooklyn College's literary magazines; and the Computer Science club. An avid and proficient coder, she will work as a software engineer at JPMorgan & Chase Co. after graduation.
Joanne Waldstreicher, M.D. — a Trustee of the Brooklyn College Foundation — will receive the 2021 Distinguished Alumna Award. Dr. Waldstreicher serves as the Chief Medical Officer for Johnson & Johnson. She is also part of the Advisory Board of the Brooklyn College Cancer Center.
In her role at Johnson & Johnson, Dr. Waldstreicher has oversight across pharmaceuticals, devices and consumer products for safety, epidemiology, clinical and regulatory operations transformation, collaborations on ethical science, and technology and R&D policies, including those related to clinical trial transparency and compassionate access. She chairs the R&D Development Pipeline Review Committee for The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson and supports the Medical Devices and Consumer Development Committees. Joanne is also a faculty affiliate of the Division of Medical Ethics in the Department of Population Health at the New York University School of Medicine.
The 2021 Honorary Degree recipient will be Fatima Goss Graves, the President and CEO of the National Women’s Law Center. Goss Graves has served in numerous roles at the National Women’s Law Center for more than a decade and has a distinguished track record working across a broad set of issues central to women’s lives—including income security, health and reproductive rights, education access, and workplace justice. She is currently overseeing the Center’s administration of the Time’s Up Legal Defense Fund, which connects those who experience sexual misconduct in the workplace or in trying to advance their careers with legal and public relations assistance.
You can watch the ceremony here (www.brooklyn.cuny.edu/bcgrad2021) and follow #BCGrad2021 on social media.
About Brooklyn College
Brooklyn College is an innovative liberal arts institution with a history of more than 90 years of academic excellence. With approximately 18,000 students enrolled in undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the humanities, social, behavioral and natural sciences, education, business and the arts, the college is renowned for its rigorous academics, diverse student body, award-winning faculty, and highly affordable tuition. Part of The City University of New York (CUNY), Brooklyn College is located on a beautifully landscaped 35-acre campus and offers a rich student life within an urban environment.
