About the President Marvin Krislov became the 14th President of Oberlin College in summer 2007. He came to Oberlin from the University of Michigan, where he had been vice president and general counsel since 1998. Mr. Krislov led the University of Michigan's legal defense of its admission policies, resulting in the 2003 Supreme Court decision recognizing the importance of student body diversity. A Rhodes Scholar, he earned a doctor of laws degree from Yale Law School, a master's degree in modern history from Oxford University's Magdalen College, and a bachelor's degree from Yale University. MORE ABOUT THE PRESIDENT >

Congratulations Class of 2009
May 27, 2009

What a wonderful Commencement weekend! I truly enjoyed seeing the Class of 2009 receive their degrees on an absolutely gorgeous spring day in Tappan Square. Congratulations, Class of 2009! I wish you and your families all the best.

And many, many thanks to all of the faculty, students, staff, alumni, and parents who played an important role in making our Commencement/Reunion weekend such a success. 

Special thanks go to our facilities and campus catering staffs. Their hard work and dedication provided an exceptional weekend for alumni, parents, and students.

Listening to our presenters describing the lives and work of our honorary degree recipients was inspiring. The Reverends Steve and Mary Hammond of Peace Community Church received the College's award for distinguished service to the Oberlin community.  Roberta Maneker '57 received Oberlin's Alumni Medal in recognition of the myriad ways she has given back to Oberlin. Adam J. Lewis, Bobbie Brown Knable '58, Martha Lipson Lepow '48, Dr. Robert Wurtz '58, and Dr. Richard Haass '73 received honorary degrees. So did the Rev. Lawrence Neale Jones, who graduated from the Oberlin Graduate School of Theology in 1956 but was unable to attend Commencement due to ill health.

Over the weekend, whether I was talking with members of the Class of 2009 or alumni from classes going back to 1929, I was impressed by how much they love Oberlin, and by how their lives have been shaped by Oberlin's values of access, inclusion, and diversity and its devotion to pursuing academic, artistic, and musical excellence. Oberlin offers students many remarkable opportunities. It teaches them to be flexible, creative thinkers, problem-solvers, life-long learners, and world citizens. Every day, Oberlin graduates around the globe are applying their talents and Oberlin's ethos in all manner of endeavors.     

Congratulations to Rev. Greg McGonigle and Oberlin's Office of Religious and Spiritual Life for organizing a great baccalaureate ceremony. It featured the Reverend Peter John Gomes from Harvard University. What a dynamic speaker! His address was brilliant: warm, funny, insightful, thought-provoking, and uplifting.

A few words to our new graduates. First, there is still time to contribute to your senior gift. It's a nice way of giving back to this community that has nurtured you.

And please remember that you are part of the wider Oberlin family, which is big, diverse, and amazing. I think you will find that most Obies are glad to help you think about and create your future. So don't be shy about reaching out to them. Last but definitely not least, please stay in touch with your teachers, mentors, and friends here in Oberlin. I know they love hearing how you are doing. On behalf of everyone here at Oberlin, congratulations again, Class of 2009. We are very proud of you.