Paula Singer, B.S.
Chair, Walden University Board of Directors
At this time, I invite Jonathan Kaplan to join me at the podium.
I am pleased, in the presence of this audience, and I must say, in this audience there are some important people that I hope would stand, and that’s Jonathan’s parents, his sister, his beautiful wife, and their two beautiful children who made beautiful signs—you can wave them now—and I know that all of you will want to congratulate them too after the ceremony, so I wanted them to stand. We all know that we never accomplish what we do all by ourselves, so there they are—you’ll know where to go find them.
As I said, I am pleased in the presence of this audience, at the 39th commencement ceremony, to formally induct into office the new president of Walden University.
Jonathan Kaplan assumed the permanent role of president of Walden University last September. For the past six years, he has played an important role in the development of Walden University. In his years with the organization, Jonathan Kaplan has proven himself to be a strong leader who is committed to Walden University, its students, and its mission.
Jonathan, with the authority vested in me as Chair of the Board of Directors, I am pleased to officially install you as the president of Walden University, with all of its rights, privileges, and responsibilities. On behalf of the Board of Directors, I welcome you to this position with great confidence as we place the affairs of the institution in your hands.
By accepting the university’s medallion, you accept the charge to serve with all of the diligence, energy, vision, and integrity that I know you have, as you carry out the duties as president of Walden University.
I present to you the eighth president of Walden University, Mr. Jonathan Kaplan.
Jonathan Kaplan, J.D.
President, Walden University
Thank you very much.
Thank you Director Singer, members of the Walden University Board of Directors, administration, esteemed faculty, and students. It is with great honor and personal humility that I accept your charge.
For nearly 40 years, Walden University has remained true to its mission.
We provide a diverse community of career professionals with the opportunity to make a difference in their organizations, in their communities, and in society by being scholar-practitioners.
I am committed to ensuring that we remain true to that mission.
At Walden, we put great emphasis on the notion of scholar-practitioner. We challenge our students to integrate scholarly research with their experience as professionals in their fields, because we envision a learning environment where knowledge is judged worthy to the degree that it can be applied to solve critical societal challenges. Applied to solve critical societal challenges.
Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, mirrored our mission in a wonderful way in a commencement address at Harvard University last year. I continue to come back to his words because of their resonance within the Walden community. Gates said:
“Humanity’s greatest advances are not in its discoveries—but in how those discoveries are applied to reduce inequity. Whether through democracy, strong public education, quality health care, or broad economic opportunity—reducing inequity is the highest human achievement.”
This idea, this aspiration, lies at the very core of what we are all about at Walden: The idea of applying research and discoveries so as to solve global challenges. I cannot think of a higher purpose for a university. And I am so proud of the work you are doing—our graduates, our students, and our faculty—and the work you all will continue to do—to solve challenges of all shapes and sizes. In so doing, you will change the world.
Today, the global reach of Walden’s latest graduates is represented by the 12 flags above us. And our nearly 50,000 students, faculty and alumni are making a difference in over 70 countries around the world. As we look ahead, let us imagine a day when Walden is in every country. Let us imagine a day when our commencement is awash in the colors of every flag of every nation. Let us imagine a day when our reach reduces inequity on a truly global scale. Let us imagine. When I look ahead, I envision all of us—the global Walden community—doing this together.
I am enormously proud of our heritage at Walden University. And I am proud of where we are headed as a university—with a clear vision of who we are and what we are committed to, and a common belief in how we will get there. Thank you very much for letting me play a role. Thank you.