Order of Exercises

 

The University Color Guard

The colors of the United Arab Emirates and the United States of America, as well as New York University and New York University Abu Dhabi are carried by representatives of NYU Abu Dhabi’s faculty and staff.


The Class of 2023 Banner Bearer

Yahia Beethoven Tayel, BS


Graduates by Discipline

Arts and Humanities
Engineering
Science
Social Science
Visiting Students


The procession continues with members of

NYU Abu Dhabi Vice Chancellor’s Advisory Group
NYU Abu Dhabi Student Affairs Leadership


The procession concludes with the arrival of the platform party

NYU Abu Dhabi Faculty

Pipes and Drums

Abu Dhabi Police Band

The Chief Marshal

Azza Abouzied
Associate Professor of Computer Science; Global Network Associate Professor of Computer Science and Engineering, Tandon School of Engineering

Torchbearers

Kathleen Marie Lee Ferreol, BA
Nastassja Gerlich, Class of 2024

The remaining members of the Platform Party include NYU and NYU Abu Dhabi leadership, student speakers, awards recipients, divisional deans, representatives of NYU’s Board of Trustees, and the ceremony’s guest speakers.


The National Anthem of the United Arab Emirates
The National Anthem of the United States of America


Pronouncement

Arlie Petters
Provost


Student Welcome

Ghaya Mohammed Alshamsi, BS


Trustees Welcome

William R. Berkley
Chairman, NYU Board of Trustees


Video Tribute to the Class of 2023


Student Speaker

Seo-Hee Hong, BA


Vice Chancellor’s Message

Mariët Westermann


Presentation of NYU Abu Dhabi Piano Prize

Awarded to Sana Elgamal, BS

The Piano Prize, being presented for the third time this year, is awarded annually to a senior graduating from NYU Abu Dhabi who best exemplifies former Provost Fabio Piano’s selfless devotion to science and to the wellbeing and excellence of our University. The Piano Prize will forever remind our academic community of the combined importance of research, excellence, and service in the life of NYUAD, on the model that Fabio Piano set for us in our first decade.

Presented by Arlie Petters 
Provost


NYU Abu Dhabi Al Bloom Scholarship Announcement 

Vice Chancellor Westermann


President’s Message

Andrew Hamilton


Keynote Speaker

HE Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak
IUCN President and UN Climate Change High - Level Champion for COP28

Presented by by Vice Chancellor Westermann


Presentation of Global Leadership Award

Awarded to Her Excellency Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak

The NYU Abu Dhabi Global Leadership Award is given to a person whose actions embody the principles and values of the NYU Abu Dhabi community: to engage the world and celebrate its diversity and to advance the goal of a responsible, just, and peaceful globe.

Presented by Vice Chancellor Westermann


Presentation of NYU Abu Dhabi Distinguished Alumni Award

Awarded to Salah Rouhani, Class of 2015

The Distinguished Alumni Award, which is being presented for the fourth time, honors an NYU Abu Dhabi graduate who exemplifies the commitment to intellectual and creative advance, the embrace and conceptual and ethical complexity, and the dedication to a more united, generous, and responsive world, which are at the core of NYU Abu Dhabi.

Presented by Baishakhi Taylor
Associate Vice Chancellor, Student Affairs


Presentation of Candidates for Degrees

Deans representing each discipline will be called to the stage to present their candidates. The Provost will present each candidate with his or her diploma, and President Hamilton and Vice Chancellor Westermann will then congratulate candidates on the awarding of their degrees. All candidates and guests are requested to remain seated until the end of the presentations, which will be followed by the official conferring of degrees by President Hamilton.

Arts and Humanities — Awam Amkpa

Engineering — Samer Madanat

Science — Marta Losada

Social Science — Paula England

Visiting Students — Carol Brandt


Ceremony of the Torch

Kathleen Marie Lee Ferreol, BA
Nastassja Gerlich, Class of 2024

The NYU torch, symbolizing “academic purpose and authority,” has been an integral part of the University’s identity since 1911, and a part of its commencement ceremonies since 1938. In 2014, members of the NYU Abu Dhabi Design Collective collaborated to create a torch for NYU Abu Dhabi, which while remaining true to the structure of the original, incorporates elements drawn from local cultural heritage.

Likewise, the ceremony of the torch, inspired by the practice in New York by which a senior member of the faculty passes the torch to the youngest undergraduate degree candidate, has been adapted for NYU Abu Dhabi’s commencement. Here, a member of the graduating class passes the torch to a member of the following year’s graduating class.


Conferral of Degrees

President Hamilton


Closing Song

“We are Not Strangers”
Cast of The RealAD Show


Recessional