On the evening of June 16, 2023, the Hopkins-Nanjing Center’s graduation ceremony took place in the west auditorium of HNC. Nearly 120 students, most of them in person, received their graduate certificates or master’s diplomas.

Special guests included the two keynote speakers, Dr. Jill McGovern and Prof. Hong Yinxing, as well as representatives from the US Consulate in Shanghai led by Consul-General James Heller (HNC ’92). Numerous representatives from key offices in Nanjing University as well as the Nanjing City and Provincial governments attended as well in person. This was HNC’s first essentially normal graduation since 2019.

Dr. McGovern and Prof. Hong were chosen as speakers due to their longstanding involvement with HNC during formative periods of its history. Dr. McGovern witnessed HNC’s founding during the tenure of her late husband, Dr Steven Muller, as President of Johns Hopkins University, and has continued generously to support HNC philanthropically over the decades since. Dr. Hong served as NJU Party Secretary from 2003-2014, during which time HNC greatly expanded its physical footprint with the construction of the east building and added the MAIS degree program.

Both main speakers highlighted the importance of cooperation between the universities and the trust and understanding that the HNC fosters among students from around the world.

Also giving speeches were Nanjing University Vice President Wang Zhenlin and SAIS Dean Jim Steinberg. While Wang Zhenlin delivered his address in person, Dean Steinberg delivered his remarks via pre-recorded video. The commencement was streamed via Zoom.

Many participants welcomed the celebratory mood, not only around the graduation of this year’s cohort but also because of HNC’s emergence from the challenges of operating mainly in virtual mode throughout the pandemic and its return in 2023 to a normal on-campus experience.

Participants wait for the ceremony to begin.

Dr. Hong delivers keynote remarks.

Dr. McGovern addresses the HNC community in person during her keynote address.

NJU Vice President Wang addresses the HNC graduating classes of 2023.

SAIS Dean Jim Steinberg addresses HNC in pre-recorded remarks.

HNC Co-Directors Adam Webb and Cong Cong jointly address HNC graduates.

Dr. McGovern and Vice President Wang hand out diplomas to graduating HNC students along with Adam Webb and Cong Cong.

Before the ceremony, Prof. Hong Yinxing presented his latest book An Outline of Chinese Path to Modernization as a gift to Dr. McGovern and Jim Heller.

Source: Hopkins-Nanjing Center