Barnard College Barnard College

Convocation 2023

Livestream begins at 4:30 p.m. on 9/18


Please join the Barnard Community for our Convocation as we welcome the new members of the student body in one of Barnard College’s most enduring traditions. Convocation marks the beginning of the academic year, celebrating all new and returning students. This year’s ceremony features a keynote speech by alumna Herminia Palacio '83, MD, MPH, President and CEO of the Guttmacher Institute.

Attend the ceremony at Riverside Church on Monday, September 18, at 4:30 p.m. (EDT) 
Doors open at 4:00 p.m.

The program will last approximately one hour. 

Click here to RSVP.
Registering in advance assists with our planning but is not required.

Watch the ceremony virtually on this webpage; members of the Barnard campus community are also welcome to watch a livestream on campus in Altschul Hall, Room 202.

Join us post-Convocation for the Barnard Block Party!

From Milbank Hall to the Quad, continue the celebration of the start of the academic year with the annual Block Party.
The Fall 2023 Block Party will start immediately following Convocation, featuring food, games, and entertainment!

Please feel free to contact convocation@barnard.edu with questions.

 

Keynote Speaker

Herminia Palacio ’83, MD, MPH, President and CEO of the Guttmacher Institute

Dr. Herminia Palacio is the President and CEO of the Guttmacher Institute, a leading research and policy think tank dedicated to advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights in the United States and globally. A public health expert with more than 30 years of experience across a broad range of sectors – including academic and clinical medicine, governmental public health, and philanthropy – Dr. Palacio has dedicated her career to advancing health equity. 

Prior to joining Guttmacher, Dr. Palacio was the NYC Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services, where she coordinated transformation efforts across the city’s public health and health care system, and she oversaw 11 City agencies and mayoral offices that, with a total budget of $24 billion, protect the health and well-being of all New Yorkers. Dr. Palacio served for 10 years as Executive Director of Harris County Public Health and Environmental Services in Texas. The agency serves more than four million residents, including the city of Houston. She was Medical Branch Director for the Hurricane Katrina mega-shelter operation in 2005. There, she oversaw the public health and health care delivery emergency response operations for 27,000 evacuees from the New Orleans area. Her work during Hurricane Katrina earned her the 2007 Excellence in Health Administration Award from the American Public Health Association. 

In addition, Dr. Palacio has served as Director of Advancing Change Leadership at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), where she was responsible for developing and implementing new health leadership programs. She also practiced clinical medicine for almost two decades, including nearly 15 years at San Francisco General Hospital during the height of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Dr. Palacio received her medical degree from Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, a master of public health degree from the University of California at Berkeley School of Public Health and a BA in biology from Barnard College at Columbia University. 

 

Where to go day of

For Students:

  • Doors to Riverside Church will open at 4 p.m. Following College tradition, attendees will be directed to their seating sections upon entry.
  • The formal ceremony will begin at 4:30 p.m.
  • Please plan to wear your class T-shirt to the ceremony!
  • T-shirts will be distributed by class year during the first week of classes. In addition to picking up your class T-shirt, you’ll have a chance to connect with your Class Dean and learn more about key dates to remember specific to your class.

For Faculty:

  • All faculty members that will participate in the procession at this year’s Convocation Ceremony should plan to gather in front of Milbank Hall at 4 p.m. on September 18 in academic regalia.
  • If you ordered regalia, you can pick this up at the Provost’s Office in Milbank Hall September 13 - 15 or on September 18th. Regalia must be returned to the Provost’s Office directly following Convocation.
  • The deadline to order academic regalia has passed. New requests for regalia rentals may not be guaranteed. These requests should be directed to Convocation@barnard.edu.

For Alumnae, Barnard Staff, and Faculty who do not plan to join the procession:

  • Doors to Riverside Church will open at 4 p.m. Following College tradition, attendees will be directed to their seating sections upon entry.
  • The formal ceremony will begin at 4:30 p.m.

 

Accessibility at Convocation

Hearing impairments

The Convocation livestream will include closed captioning. The livestream will be available to view on this website starting at 4:30 p.m. EDT on September 18. 

 

Visual impairments

The Convocation program will be available onsite in a large-print format. It will also be available to view here on the Convocation website. 

 

Mobility impairments

Riverside Church has an accessible entrance at 91 Claremont Avenue. Staff will be onsite at that entrance to escort guests to the accessible seating section at the front of the Nave.