Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar (VCUQatar) held its 2015 Commencement Ceremony on Monday, conferring 61 Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees in fashion, graphic, interior design and painting and printmaking and seven Master of Fine Arts degrees in design. The 14th Commencement brings the number of VCUQatar alumni to 538.
Dean Allyson Vanstone, who will be leaving Qatar in June after an eight-year tenure, told the graduates that it was a time for celebration and reflection. “Your work and actions throughout your years at VCUQatar express your transformational learning experience,” she stated.
Dr Gail Hackett, Virginia Commonwealth University’s newly appointed provost and vice president for academic affairs also addressed the graduating students during the ceremony.
Sculptor and VCUarts alumna Diana al-Hadid delivered the commencement address to the 68 graduates during the afternoon ceremonies. Born in Aleppo, Syria, she currently lives and works in Brooklyn, New York. After graduating from Kent State University with a BA in Art History, she went on to study at Virginia Commonwealth University and received a MFA in sculpture in 2005.
Fashion design graduate and valedictorian Dylon Adonis highlighted the unique brand of tenacity and camaraderie that characterised the Class of 2015, citing it as key to the graduates’ success - both in the past and for the future.
“We, as designers and artists, have a duty to improve the visual world, the buildings we enter, the clothes we wear, and the political and social causes we wish to address. Here at VCUQatar, the professors have guided us and, at times, allowed us to guide ourselves to find our identity as a designer and artist to advance.
Dr Hackett presented the candidates of the Master of Fine Arts degree in Design their diplomas while dean Vanstone presented the candidates for the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree their diplomas and Dr Hackett conferred upon them their MFA and BFA degrees. Dr Barry Falk, dean of the Honours College at VCU Richmond, also recognised the honours graduates.
Many VCUQatar graduates have gone on to establish their own businesses, thereby contributing to the development of the small and medium enterprise culture in Qatar.
VCUQatar graduates at the 2015 Commencement Ceremony.
