AGS Celebrates its Class of 2016 Graduates in the French Senate, with Canadian Ambassador to France

The American Graduate School in Paris graduation ceremony took place on June 4^th in the French Senate in Paris. H.E. Lawrence Cannon, Canada’s Ambassador to France and former Minister of Foreign Affairs, was the commencement speaker. Graduates from the US, India, Egypt, Nigeria and Norway were awarded a Master’s degree in International Relations and Diplomacy from AGS in partnership with Arcadia University. “Celebrating our graduates from around the world with an American degree in this landmark of French political institutions is a nice symbol of the international character of the American Graduate School in Paris”, said AGS’s president Eileen Servidio-Delabre.

In his address, Ambassador Cannon encouraged the graduates to keep learning throughout their career: “Wherever you are from, however you got here and whatever your future destination is, you will remember this day for the rest of your life. You can be very proud of what you have achieved here. (...) You are forever a graduate of the American Graduate School in Paris. More than the crowning of a memorable stage in your life, you should consider this graduation day as the beginning of a most productive period of your life – literally, a commencement. Some among you may choose to continue your studies, while others will head out in the professional world immediately. One way or the other, you are embarking on a journey where stiff competition and a rapidly changing environment will be the norm. The two most important tools you will be needing during this journey are knowledge and perseverance.”

Ambassador Cannon went on to share an inspiring account of his own experience: "Mine has been a career that spans roughly forty years in public service at the municipal, provincial, and federal levels of government of Canada, and now as an Ambassador. Along that way I have met many interesting and important people, from the Dalai Lama to the King of Saudi Arabia, I have seen many fascinating places, from the ice fields of the Arctic to the sands of Afghanistan. I have dealt with a surprising variety of issues, from the safety of baby car seats to nuclear disarmament. I’ve learned a lot on how societies choose or do not choose to govern themselves. But the most important thing that I have learned is that I still have things to learn.”

Conferring the diplomas upon the graduates along with Dr. Servidio-Delabre was Dr. Warren Haffar, Dean of International Affairs at Arcadia University: “As the accrediting institution for your degree, Arcadia takes special pride in AGS – in its mission, in its faculty and staff, in its students, and in its stunning location, we really acknowledge how special this program is. What each of you graduating today has done in completing your Master’s degree is of particular importance, at this point in our current history, to reaffirm the importance of diplomacy as the best tool for international relations.”

Dr. Servidio-Delabre further emphasized the value of using this tool and the education acquired at AGS as agents of change: “Whatever you do, whether you work for your government, or for an NGO, or in finance, you can make a difference. Little differences are just as important as big differences – and we all can make small differences. If you do that, you will give value to your diplomas.”

Following the conferring of degrees, Aurora Eck Nilsen, a graduate of the dual Master’s program in International Relations and Diplomacy (AGS) and International Peace and Conflict Resolution (Arcadia), gave a testimony as a student representative. “Looking around the room today it highlights one of the great strengths of AGS – that it is a truly international school. It has provided an extremely interesting perspective and it has taken our discussions to a new level. I have been challenged from perspectives I haven’t met anywhere else in my life. I think it has helped us to become more sensitive, emphatic and tolerant, which are key qualities in our field. Another great strength of our school is our professors, who have showed us true devotion.” She went on to comment on each one of her classmates' qualities: “We are truly international people, with roots around the world. It feels like the future could be anything, anywhere. There is no doubt that this group will go on to do amazing things.”

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