Harvard Law Professor and Author Randall Kennedy to Deliver Commencement Address; Honorary Degrees Will Be Awarded to Kennedy, Geneticist Jennifer A. Doudna, Historian William Chester Jordan, Media Executive Geraldine Laybourne, Law Professor Elisabeth A. Semel ’72, and Editor Robert B. Silvers

ANNANDALE-ON-HUDSON, N.Y.— Bard College will hold its one hundred fifty-sixth commencement on Saturday, May 28, 2016. At the commencement ceremony, Bard President Leon Botstein will confer 490 undergraduate degrees on the Class of 2016 and 160 graduate degrees, including master of fine arts; doctor and master of philosophy and master of arts in decorative arts, design history, and material culture; master of science in economic theory and policy; master of business administration in sustainability; master of arts in teaching; master of arts in curatorial studies; master of science in environmental policy and in climate science and policy; and master of music in vocal arts and in conducting. The program, which begins at 2:30 p.m. in the commencement tent on the Seth Goldfine Memorial Rugby Field, will include the presentation of honorary doctoral degrees.

The commencement address will be given by Harvard law professor and author Randall Kennedy, who will receive an honorary doctorate of humane letters. Honorary degrees will also be awarded to geneticist Jennifer A. Doudna, historian William Chester Jordan, media executive Geraldine Laybourne, law professor Elisabeth A. Semel ’72, and editor Robert B. Silvers.

Other events taking place during Commencement weekend include class reunions; a concert by Bard student soloists and composers with The Orchestra Now, Leon Botstein, conductor; and the granting of Bard College awards for 2015. The Bard Medal will be presented to Patricia Ross Weis ’52 and Charles Simmons; the John and Samuel Bard Award in Medicine and Science to Erik Kiviat ’76; the Charles Flint Kellogg Award in Arts and Letters to Steven Sapp ’89 and Mildred Ruiz-Sapp ’92; theJohn Dewey Award for Distinguished Public Service to David Harman; the Mary McCarthy Award to Jorie Graham; and the Bardian Award to Carolyn Dewald,Terence F. Dewsnap Sr., Gennady L. Shkliarevsky, in absentia, and Peter D. Skiff.