The College announced yesterday that New York Times columnist Gail Collins will be the commencement speaker for the class of 2010.
An accomplished journalist, Collins was the first female appointed editor of the Times’ editorial page. She recently published When Everything Changed: The Amazing Journey of American Women from 1960 to the Present. Collins has spoken at Mount Holyoke twice in the last four years. “I think she will be very impressive and wonderful to have,” said President Joanne Creighton of Collins.
Dr. Victoria Hale and Sheila Barshay Goldbloom ’47 have been named honorary degree recipients. Hale founded the nonprofit company the Institute for OneWorld Health in 2000. Her latest enterprise is Medicines360, a nonprofit pharmaceutical company that develops medicines for women and children. Goldbloom, an activist, social worker and professor, has worked to bridge social and ethnic differences between peoples. Goldbloom was a professor at McGill University for 28 years; she retired in 1992. At 81, she has been made a member of the Order of Canada and the Order of Quebec for her distinguished career in public service.
President Creighton will also receive an honorary degree, a tradition bestowed upon exiting college presidents by the Board of Trustees. “I finally completed my requirements. I’m really delighted to join the class of 2010,” said President Creighton. The degree is a way for the College to honor Creighton’s contributions of the last 14 years to Mount Holyoke.
“I was really impressed with her,” said Lauren Darby ’09. “I think she’s an amazing writer, and feel like she would be a very good speaker as well.”
“It’s necessary for us, as a high ranking college, to have someone who is noticeable and who the student body knows,” said Lor Palulis ’11. “A lot of students don’t know who she is, and I think it would be interesting if we voted or got to choose [our commencement speaker].”
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