This year’s Commencement/Reunion Weekend included long-standing traditions, such as the Baccalaureate Celebration and Illumination; more recent traditions such as the Oberlin Steel band concert, OCircus, and some quirky Oberlin-style outfitting for the academic procession; and new traditions in the making, such as relocating the commencement stage to the north end of Tappan Square. Oberlin is in the third year of its five-year plan for a climate-neutral commencement. Among the innovations is the option to make donations to a carbon-offset fund to offset greenhouse gas emissions while traveling to Oberlin.
Thanks to all alumni, parents, and students who joined us during this festive, rain-free weekend!
President Krislov's State-of-the-College Address
Read the transcript and hear Marvin Krislov deliver his state-of-the-college address on May 24, 2009, in Finney Chapel.
President Krislov's Commencement Remarks
See video of Marvin Krislov - May 25, 2009, on Tappan Square.
Commencement Speaker Dr. Richard N. Haass ’73
Read the transcript and see video of his May 25, 2009 remarks, on Tappan Square.
View select photos leading up to and through Commencement/Reunion Weekend 2009.
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Commencement Speaker — Honorary Doctorate of Humanities Richard Haass is president of the Council on Foreign Relations, a position he has held since 2003. The Council on Foreign Relations is an independent, nonpartisan membership organization, think tank, and publisher dedicated to helping its members, government officials, business executives, journalists, educators, students, civic and religious leaders, and other interested citizens better understand the world and the foreign policy choices facing the United States and other countries. Read More » |
Baccalaureate Speaker The Reverend Peter John Gomes, Plummer Professor of Christian Morals and Pusey Minister in The Memorial Church, Harvard University, has served since 1970 in The Memorial Church. A member of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences and of the Faculty of Divinity of Harvard University, Dr. Gomes holds degrees from Bates College and from the Harvard Divinity School, plus thirty-seven honorary degrees. Read More » |
Bobbie Knable ’58 
Honorary Doctorate of Humanities Bobbie Brown Knable, dean of students at Tufts University from 1980 through 1999, was one of the first African American women to rise to such a prominent position at a major university. She was instrumental in redefining student services at Tufts to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse student body. Read More » |
Dr. Martha Lepow ’48 
Honorary Doctorate of Science A pioneer in children’s health care issues, Martha Lipson Lepow is a leading pediatric infectious disease specialist. A 31-year professor and head of pediatric infectious diseases at Albany Medical College, she has served there as director of the Clinical Studies Center, director of the Pediatric Residency Program, and director of the Cystic Fibrosis Center. Read More » |
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Honorary Doctorate of Humanities A native of Cleveland, Adam Lewis has been a major contributor to the success of environmentally sustainable building projects across the United States for more than a decade. He has contributed to the building of the Aldo Leopold Center in Wisconsin, the David Brower Center in Berkeley, Calif., the science building at Furman University, and the Adam Joseph Lewis Center for Environmental Studies at Oberlin. Read More »
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Honorary Doctorate of Science A luminary in the field of neuroscience, Robert Wurtz has devoted his life's work to exploring the neurobiology of vision and eye movements and how the brain processes sensory information for perception and the initiation of movement. Wurtz founded the Laboratory of Sensorimotor Research within the National Eye Institute at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in 1978, where he continues his work as an NIH Distinguished Investigator. Read More » |
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Honorary Doctorate of Humanities Rev. Lawrence Neale Jones has a long and distinguished career in public service and higher education. Appointed dean of students at the Union Theological Seminary in 1965, he was the first African American appointed to an administrative position in a predominately white theological institution. Read More » |
Alumni Medal Roberta Maneker has consistently volunteered her time, energy, and talents to Oberlin College for more than 50 years. She has held many leadership roles as an alumna, including membership on the Board of Trustees from 1997 to 2006, and as president of the Alumni Association from 1989 to 1991. Read More » |
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Distinguished Service Award Revs. Mary and Steve Hammond have been leaders in the Oberlin community for 30 years. Since 1985 they have served as co-pastors of Peace Community Church, where their work focuses on promoting peace and justice in the Oberlin community and on connecting Oberlin College students with the local community. Read More » |
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