Congratulations to the graduates of MAERES and CERES certificates! Last Saturday, May 22, we gathered via Zoom with loved ones to honor the Class of 2021. Our virtual ceremony began with SFS Dean Joel Hellman’s opening remarks. He emphasized the resilience of these graduates who came to the SFS to study world crises and ended up living through one. Dr. Angela Stent, Director of CERES, provided a speech recounting her time at Georgetown and the evolution of relations in the Russian, Eurasian and East European region from the days of the Soviet Union through to today. Dr. Stent will be retiring from Georgetown, after 40 plus years of experience, and while she will remain an advisor to CERES, her expertise and leadership as director and professor will be greatly missed. Alumna, professor and staff member of CERES, Dr. Jennifer Long provided closing remarks, punctuating the joy it has been to teach the capstone seminar to this cohort, whose varied interests reflect current trends and never-ending ways to analyze this pivotal region.
While it was momentous to commemorate these students in this ceremony, the more anticipated event of the day was the in-person reception at the Cosmos Club that followed. It was quite a reunion for the CERES program to gather together once more, after being virtual for the past fourteen months. The atmosphere was jubilant as is captured in the photo showcased above.
We wish our graduates and certificate holders much success in their future endeavors and extend an open invitation to return to CERES as alumni offering insight and advice to current students. Hoya Saxa!