Simon celebrates Commencement

he Simon School held its Commencement ceremony on Sunday, June 13, in Eastman Theatre. President Jackson presided, and Mark Zupan participated in his first Commencement as dean of the school. Simon's Class of 2004 includes 291 graduates of the full-time and part-time M.B.A. programs, 34 graduates of the executive M.B.A. program, 22 graduates who received an M.S. degree, and seven graduates who received a Ph. D. in business administration.

Muriel Siebert, the first woman to own a seat on the New York Stock Exchange and the first to head one of its member firms, Muriel Siebert & Co., received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree. Often called "the First Woman of Finance," Siebert also served as the first female superintendent of banking for New York State.

Brian Prince '86, '89S (MBA), former corporate executive officer for Shinsei Bank in Japan and founder and president of Renaissance Finance, which invests in low-income areas of Rochester, received the Distinguished Alumnus Award. In November 2002, Prince donated $2 million to the University--the largest gift made by an individual under 40--to establish the Prince Family Open Society Fund. A portion of the fund is allocated to the Simon School, where Prince said he acquired the tools to be effective in business.

The David T. Kearns Medal of Distinction was given posthumously to William E. Simon, the school's benefactor and namesake, for his leadership, generosity, and commitment. J. Peter Simon, son of the former U.S. Treasury secretary and chair of the school's executive advisory committee, accepted the award on behalf of his father.

Arti Arora Raman '97S (MBA), cofounder, chief technology officer, and vice president of product planning at Liquid Engines Inc., received the Richard L. Rosenthal Award for innovation in investment management and corporate finance.

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