Celebrating the Class of 2016

With Commencement season upon us, I want to take a moment to congratulate all of our honored graduates as you prepare to celebrate this great milestone—together with all of the family members, faculty and staff mentors, and fellow students who have supported, challenged, and guided you along the way.

You join nearly 5,850 students who will receive degrees over the course of 15 ceremonies being held this commencement season, including UB’s 170th University Commencement ceremony to be held on Sunday, May 15th.

And you become part of a proud tradition of UB alumni who are using their UB education to impact the world around us in a positive and lasting way. Our graduates across the disciplines embody the intellectual values we prize above all at UB: the ethical pursuit of knowledge, inquiry, and discovery; the embrace of bold new ideas and innovative modes of thinking about the world around us; and a commitment to collaboration and dialogue across borders of all kinds—disciplinary, ideological, and cultural.

These are core values we seek to instill in all of our students as we prepare you to lead and contribute meaningfully in the 21st century. And the communities you will go on to serve as UB alumni—locally as well as globally—will be stronger, healthier, and more vibrant for them.

Class of 2016, as you prepare to take up the next great challenge in your lives, know that your alma mater is deeply proud of you. And we look forward to all that you will achieve and contribute in the future. Congratulations!

Sincerely,