"Where you step after leaving here, you must remember that you are of our fellowship."
After dedicating several years to their individual research, teaching, and publishing, 70 of UMass Boston's 83 doctoral candidates were honored on May 30 at the university's annual doctoral hooding ceremony.
Bala Sundaram, vice provost for research and dean of Graduate Studies, called the event a "unique facet" of the campus's weeklong commencement exercises.
"You're joining a very long and distinguished historical procession," Sundaram said. "Also, as recipients of any doctoral degree, you are now closer to or at the frontiers of your respective fields of study. However, and at the same time, what you've done by gaining this degree is you've willingly embraced the fact that you are students for life."
This is the second year that the doctoral hooding ceremony has been held separately. In years past, the ceremony had been combined with the university's graduate commencement ceremony, which took place later that afternoon.
"You're the highest-level graduate students at UMass Boston," said Emily McDermott, interim provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs. "Wherever you step after leaving here, you must remember that you are of our fellowship. Some of you will formally join our ranks as educators, as doctors of your disciplines. Others will teach only by example, but a life full of continued learning and contemplation lies ahead of you."
Interim Chancellor Katherine Newman congratulated students on reaching an academic milestone.
"It is remarkable achievement that you have brought about through your extraordinary hard work and the support of your faculty, your family, your children, everybody who's been cheering you on," Newman said. "I want to thank the faculty for providing to you the support, the education, the knowledge, the reflection, and the emotional support that we all need in going through a difficult experience."
Assistant Professor of Accounting Xiaolu Xu was among those present to see their students achieve the academic milestone of earning a doctorate degree.
"It's very exciting to see my students graduate today," Xu said. "It's a big day for them, and it's a start of a new chapter of their lives. I wish them the best."