Office of the Provost
The Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs is the university’s chief academic officer and is responsible for leading the development and implementation of the university’s academic vision. The Provost provides leadership across the academic enterprise through the articulation and support of academic priorities. These priorities include excellence in undergraduate, graduate, and professional education; faculty excellence in teaching, research, and public service; intellectual, geographic and cultural diversity of faculty and students; trans-disciplinary innovation in research, scholarship, and creative activities; and global leadership in research and education. As the university’s second ranking officer, the Provost reports directly to the President.
2008 COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS
As University Provost and on behalf of the entire University at Buffalo community, I would like to extend warm congratulations to our 2008 UB graduates.
As you have labored with your studies, your research, and your community work during your academic tenure, a number of remarkably indelible events have occurred, and are occurring, in our world – the devastation caused by hurricanes Katrina and Rita; and the design and planning of Masdar City, a city run entirely on renewable energy sources.
These events, as well as the full spectrum in between, offer the observer a perspective of consequences. Hurricanes Katrina and Rita remind us of horrific consequences that can occur when decisions fail to merit the standard of our humanity. And, Masdar City provides another perspective of consequences - - as when the magnitude of our intellectual creativity is unleashed.
Every day we make decisions. Some decisions, it seems, have consequences that only affect our own life. But, is this really true?
A few years ago, you made the decision to pursue a degree in your chosen field of study – a seemingly personal decision. And, before you, myriad students made like decisions.
I submit, however, that your educational and professional decisions have consequences beyond yourself.
For example, for our parents in the audience, you know the consequence this decision has had on your bank account.
But beyond parental financial consequences, let’s for a moment consider how your personal decision – to pursue a degree and career in your chosen field – has the potential to reverberate beyond the individual.
Many years ago, a young man decided to pursue his graduate studies in electrical and computer engineering at UB. He immersed himself in his studies and research. As he broadened his knowledge in this field of engineering, he was able to bring to bear his expertise and creativity to his work. The result: the engineering of the cardiac pacemaker. Lifesaving consequences.
A few years ago, a young and eager student decided to pursue graduate work in law and social work. She immersed herself in her dual studies; and today her impact as a civil rights attorney is magnified because she is able to bring her knowledge and expertise as a student of social work to her legal work. The result: Justice for the disenfranchised. Empowering consequences.
To strengthen my argument, allow me to offer a final example. A few years back, a young and talented UB computer science student developed an interest in electronic search engines. With his computing acumen and enlightened desire to put our world’s vast cultural knowledge into the hands of ordinary people, he developed the first Chinese language search engine. The result: Baidu.com known as the Google of China, the largest search engine in China today. Knowledge-building consequences.
In today’s lexicon, we talk of the ‘flattening of the world’. And, while this phrase might now seem a bit cliché, it does provide a visual picture of the abstract. National companies have evolved into multi-national corporations and our nation’s financial systems are intimately interconnected with global financial markets. Heck, some fast food chains are considering outsourcing their drive-through ordering to call centers in Bangalore.
This flattened world concept seems invariably tied with corporations, financial systems, consumer goods, and commodities markets. And so we cannot lose sight that individual decisions made in corporate, government, not-for-profit, agency, and industry settings have consequences both locally and globally. The quality of life in our communities, the health of our children, the ability to access an excellent education, and the intellectual and economic resources to fulfill our human potential are the consequence of individual decisions woven together to achieve a common purpose.
When the waters of hurricanes Katrina and Rita receded, it exposed poverty, social injustice, and infrastructure inadequacies. And thus, we must take responsibility to ensure decisions are congruent with our human values. The consequence of failing to do so: The fraying of our humanity.
As a people, we have technological capabilities that – only a short time ago – were unimaginable. In the desert of Abu Dhabi – in one of the world’s richest oil nations - engineers and architects are designing a city that will have no carbon footprint. It is our responsibility to create a vision for our future that respects and sustains life throughout our natural world. The consequence: A world in harmony.
So today you graduate. And instead of just offering lighthearted good wishes, I have decided to take this opportunity to give your last lecture. As UB’s Provost, I can do that.
As you pursue your professional and life goals, I believe it is important -- actually I believe it is critical -- that you approach your life knowing that the decisions you make have consequences – brilliant consequences or even destructive consequences. And these individual decisions have the power to reverberate beyond one self.
I wish my sincerest and most heartfelt congratulations to our 2008 University at Buffalo graduates.
Congratulations!
Last Modified: Thursday May 15 2008
- Office of the Provost
- 562 Capen Hall
- Buffalo, NY 14260
- Phone: (716) 645-2992
- Fax: (716) 645-3685