ZADIE SMITH TO DELIVER KEYNOTE ADDRESS AT 78th NEW SCHOOL COMMENCEMENT
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Zadie Smith is one of contemporary literature’s most celebrated novelists. Her first novel, White Teeth (2000), a vibrant portrait of contemporary multicultural London, won a number of awards and prizes, including the Guardian First Book Award, the Whitbread First Novel Award, and the Commonwealth Writers Prize (Overall Winner, Best First Book). A sought-after editor and social critic, Smith has also authored the novels The Autograph Man (2002), On Beauty (2005), and NW (2012); as well as the non-fiction collection Changing My Mind: Occasional Essays (2009). “In fearlessly exploring class, race, geographies, and identities, Zadie Smith has inspired many in our New School community to think creatively and critically to challenge the status quo,” said President Van Zandt. “I am thrilled to welcome her to our celebration of a most transformative academic year for The New School, which included six new degree programs, the launch of Parsons Paris, and the opening of our extraordinary new University Center here in New York.” The Class of 2014 is made up of approximately 2,950 associates, bachelors, masters and doctoral graduates in art and design, the social sciences, the humanities, management, and the performing arts. This is the first graduating class for many new academic programs including the Bachelor of Arts in Contemporary Music, and masters degrees in Design Studies, Theories of Urban Practice, Strategic Design and Management, and Design and Urban Ecologies. In January 2014, The New School opened its new University Center, a 16-story mixed-use campus focal point on the corner of 14th Street and 5th Avenue. The largest and most ambitious capital project in the university’s nine-decade history, the University Center is a striking embodiment of The New School’s commitment to creative, interdisciplinary education. In addition, The New School expanded its global presence with the September 2013 opening of Parsons Paris to approximately 100 students in disciplines including Art, Media and Technology; Fashion; and Strategic Design and Management. At the ceremony, honorary degrees will be granted to distinguished guests Neil Blumenthal, co-CEO and founder of Warby Parker; filmmaker and activist Abigail Disney; bluegrass musician Chris Thile; and Robert Wong (Parsons, ’90), founder and chief creative officer of Google Creative Lab. Media Inquiries |
| Founded in 1919,The New School was born out of principles of academic freedom, tolerance, and experimentation. Committed to social engagement, The New School today remains in the vanguard of innovation in higher education, with more than 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students challenging the status quo in design and the social sciences, liberal arts, management, the arts, and media. The New School welcomes thousands of adult learners annually for continuing education courses and calendar of lectures, screenings, readings, and concerts. Through its online learning portals, research institutes, and international partnerships, The New School maintains a global presence. Learn more at www.newschool.edu. |
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Media Contact: Sam Biederman, |
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