News Release

Michael R. Bloomberg, mayor of New York and a Johns Hopkins graduate and former trustee, will address seniors graduating from The Johns Hopkins University's schools of Arts and Sciences and Engineering at their diploma ceremony at 1:45 p.m. on Thursday, May 22. The ceremony will take place at a new location: Homewood Field, the stadium on the northern end of the university's Homewood campus at 3400 N. Charles St. in Baltimore. There will be a press section for working print and broadcast reporters and photographers on the playing surface of Homewood Field, at stage right [audience left] toward the front of the seating area. Identification is required; prior notification of intention to cover the ceremony is preferred. See above for contact information.

Earlier that day, university president William R. Brody will speak at the university-wide commencement ceremony at 9:15 a.m. at the same location. There will be five honorary degrees awarded at that event, including ones to Mayor Bloomberg, Intel Corp. co-founder Gordon Moore and philanthropist and apparel industry leader Sidney Kimmel.

Noteworthy speakers at other Johns Hopkins commencement-related events -- at various times and locations on May 21 and May 22 -- include Elias Zerhouni, director the National Institutes of Health, who will address School of Medicine graduates; William J. McDonough, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, who will speak to graduates of the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies; and conductor and composer André Previn, who will speak to graduates of the Peabody Conservatory. The ceremonies mark the end of the university's 127th academic year. Details on the university's various ceremonies are listed below.

About the graduating class:

The total number of earned degrees, certificates and diplomas awarded is expected to be about 5,205, as follows: 1,296 bachelor's degrees (including 994 seniors graduating from the schools of Arts and Sciences and Engineering); 3,338 master's degrees; 485 doctoral degrees (117 of which are medical degrees); and 86 certificates and diplomas.

About the ceremonies:

The university as a whole and its eight academic divisions will hold the following commencement events:

University-wide Commencement Ceremony. Thursday, May 22, 9:15 a.m. to approximately noon, at Homewood Field, Homewood campus. Speaker: William R. Brody, president, The Johns Hopkins University. During this ceremony, all university degrees are conferred by the university president. The only students who receive their diplomas at this time, however, are doctoral students. The ceremony also recognizes new members of the Society of Scholars. At this time, five honorary degrees of doctor of humane letters will be awarded. The honorees are Michael R. Bloomberg, mayor of New York; retired college and university president Randolph Bromery; retired University of Pennsylvania nursing dean Claire Fagin; philanthropist and Jones Apparel Group founder Sidney Kimmel; and Intel Corp. co-founder and chairman emeritus Gordon E. Moore. [See separate release for details on honorary degree recipients].

Arts and Sciences/Engineering Undergraduate Diploma Ceremony. Thursday, May 22, 1:45 p.m. at Homewood Field, Homewood campus. Speaker: Michael R. Bloomberg, mayor of New York, 1964 Johns Hopkins graduate and former chairman of the university's board of trustees. During this ceremony, an anticipated 994 seniors from the schools of Arts and Sciences and Engineering, who will officially have graduated when degrees were conferred in the morning ceremony, cross the stage to shake hands with the president. Afterwards, they receive their diplomas. Mayor Bloomberg was invited by the senior class to be the speaker at this ceremony. A bio of Mayor Bloomberg is available at: www.nyc.gov/.

The Bloomberg School of Public Health Diploma Award Ceremony. Wednesday, May 21, 2 p.m., Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, 1212 Cathedral St., Baltimore. Speaker: Richard Feachem, executive director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

 
G.W.C. Whiting School of Engineering Graduate Ceremony. Wednesday, May 21, 7 p.m., Homewood Field, Homewood campus. Speaker: Carlane Blizzard, vice president, defense information systems, Lockheed-Martin Mission Systems.

 
The School of Medicine Diploma Award Ceremony. Thursday, May 22, 2:30 p.m. Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, 1212 Cathedral St., Baltimore. Speaker: Elias Zerhouni, director, National Institutes of Health.

 
The Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies Diploma Award Ceremony. Thursday, May 22, 3 p.m., Constitution Hall, 18th and D Sts., N.W., Washington, D.C. Speaker: William J. McDonough, president, Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

 
The School of Nursing Diploma Award Ceremony. Thursday, May 22, 4 p.m., Turner Auditorium, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions. Speaker: Claire Fagin, dean emeritus, University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing.

 
The Zanvyl Kreiger School of Arts and Sciences Master's Diploma Award Ceremony. Thursday, May 22, 6:30 p.m., Shriver Hall, Homewood campus. Speaker: Barclay Knapp, president and chief executive officer of NTL Inc.

 
The School of Professional Studies in Business and Education Undergraduate and Graduate Diploma Award Ceremony. Thursday, May 22, 7:30 p.m., Homewood Field, Homewood campus. Speaker: Ralph Smith, senior vice president, The Annie E. Casey Foundation.

 
The Peabody Conservatory Diploma Award Ceremony. Thursday, May 22, 8 p.m., Mount Vernon Place United Methodist Church, Mount Vernon Place, Baltimore. Speaker: conductor, composer and pianist André Previn, who also will receive the George Peabody Medal for Outstanding Contributions to Music in America.