On Saturday, May 14, the IWP community gathered to celebrate the Class of 2022 at their Commencement ceremony at the Fairmont in Washington, D.C. 28 members of the Class of 2022 were in attendance, along with trustees, faculty, staff, students, alumni, families, and friends.
This Commencement was the first time in IWP’s history that students received Doctor of Statecraft and National Security degrees. To our knowledge, this program is the first professional doctorate in national security in the United States. Students also received Master of Arts degrees and Certificates of Graduate Study.
Prof. Anne Bradley served as the Master of Ceremonies, and Acting Executive Vice President CAPT Chris Glass USN (Ret.) gave the invocation. Chancellor Dr. John Lenczowski introduced Interim President Amb. Aldona Z. Wos, M.D., who gave remarks about IWP’s mission.
The keynote address was given by Victor Davis Hanson, Martin and Illie Anderson Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, after IWP conferred upon him a Doctorate of Laws, Honoris Causa.
During his remarks, Dr. Hanson noted that, “The nation and the world are in dire need of you, graduates, Class of 2022, your expertise, your commitment, your common sense. You are the custodians of ancient wisdom proven through the ages but has been forgotten, with catastrophic results as we see now all about us.”
He discussed some of the challenges that we are facing today, including from Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran, as well as domestic issues. He noted that it is up to the graduates to address these issues in their professional endeavors, utilizing the arts of statecraft that they studied at IWP.
He encouraged the graduates never to forget where they have come from and noted that our constitutional system with freedom of speech and three branches of government remains intact after twelve generations. Because of this system, Dr. Hanson said, we can stay intact as a country to overcome the challenges we are facing.
Maria Katarina Calderoni was recognized as the Valedictorian. In her valedictory remarks, she encouraged graduates to make a positive impact through the exercise of virtues such as honesty, integrity, and courage.
A few words were said about each graduate as they crossed the stage to receive their diploma from Interim Dean of Academics Dr. James Robbins. The graduates are working in various places throughout the national security and international affairs communities, including at the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, Central Intelligence Agency, General Services Administration, Booz Allen Hamilton, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and more. Two graduates are joining the U.S. Army Reserves, and another plans to commission into the U.S. Navy.
John, President of the IWP Alumni Board, welcomed the new graduates to the alumni community and encouraged them to remain involved with the school: “So many people have told me that IWP is like a family… Just remember – your family wants to hear from you!”
At the end of the ceremony, the graduates stood and were recognized by the whole community.
The ceremony was followed by a reception in the courtyard and the Fairmont’s Colonnade Room.
Congratulations, graduates!
