On behalf of the Kellogg School, I welcome you all to this joyful occasion. We are joined today by many friends and supporters of Kellogg, as well as our faculty and staff. And of course, as the centerpiece, we have with us our graduating students and their families. I am honored to preside over such an esteemed assembly.

Before my formal remarks, I would like to invite you to applaud the families and friends of our graduates, since these people have offered so much support.

This is indeed a special day for the Kellogg School family, a day of celebration and reflection. Today is noteworthy because it marks the final graduation appearance of a loyal friend and colleague who has served Kellogg with unparalleled enthusiasm for 30 years: Associate Dean Ed Wilson.

Also, this day is a special day because it happens to be the 75th birthday of our Dean Emeritus, Don Jacobs. This great leader did so much to build the Kellogg School and take it to the top echelon. We all owe him our gratitude.

Finally, today is special for me, personally. Because this is my first graduation as dean, I will remember the Class of 2002 always. In the past year, thanks to the outstanding contributions of my colleagues Bob Magee and David Besanko in the Office of the Dean, I have been able to devote more time to teaching. I come from a family of teachers and for me teaching has always been more than a job; it’s been an act of worship. Since I have had the opportunity to teach you all, this privilege is one that makes me feel specially connected to this graduating class.

As you know, the last year has presented great challenges. The events of September 11 cast a shadow over America that has transformed our lives. The victims directly affected by this tragedy have paid most dearly, and we ourselves lost three alumni. In some way, we all have felt the impact. In addition, the marketplace suffered a downturn that created many hurdles, including some for our students.

As dean, these events led me to turn to the friends of the Kellogg School to find solutions. In all, my first year as dean was something less than a honeymoon, but I am pleased to say that the cooperation and support of our students, my staff, faculty, alumni and corporate partners has been overwhelming. As a consequence, Kellogg has emerged stronger than ever in 2002.

I’ve also traveled extensively over the past 11 months, meeting with many recruiters and alumni worldwide in an effort to reinforce the global reach of Kellogg. Some friends have said that I travel to Germany or Hong Kong as casually as if I were going to the library. There may be some truth in that. I tell you, sometimes I feel that I’ve single-handedly kept United Airlines in business.

But these travels have been fruitful in extending the global footprint of Kellogg, as we conduct our programs, night and day, around the globe.

So you see, we have flourished together, and I have truly enjoyed every minute of my job.

Today, you begin a different phase in your life, the latest change in a series of changes related to your career. The first change for you began a few years ago, as you considered your choice in graduate management education. You selected Kellogg to help propel your success, and we applaud you for your wisdom.

At the Kellogg School, your intellectual and personal transformation continued. You became part of a community whose values include the pursuit of academic excellence across many disciplines, and which helped you cultivate the analytical and people skills demanded by today’s marketplace.

Perhaps the most significant change you will feel, though, is after today’s graduation. That is, a total life change.

Having said so, graduation is not an end, but the beginning of a new journey. A time for reinvention and renewal. So I encourage you to embrace the excitement of continuous learning, and expect you to return home to Kellogg throughout your careers. Kellogg will always be here as a resource for you to replenish your mind and soul, whether with refresher courses or interactions with the friends you have made here.

I invite your ongoing commitment to Kellogg and our initiatives. Among the most important of these initiatives, is a renewed emphasis on strengthening alumni networking and engagement with the school. You will prove integral to the success of this endeavor. We must also all continue building on the Kellogg School values so that we maintain our strong brand identity globally. We need to differentiate Kellogg by increasing the focus on ethics and leadership.

With your support, I am sure we can take Kellogg to new heights.

I’ve spoken here about Kellogg and your role in our family going forward. Now, I want to speak on a more personal level to share three-cents-worth of advice that have helped me on my journey. I assure you that this counsel contains no ill side-effects, nor will it prevent you from enjoying whatever festivities you may have planned for later today.

First, take every task assigned to you and do it well. Love and enjoy your work so that you continue learning from it. We should do our best and not worry about the outcomes, but, rather, focus on the insights gained by our efforts.

Second, let passion be your mentor. Always exceed the expectations others have of you. The effort is considerable, and comes at a cost, but it reflects your commitment. If each of us simply worked nine-to-five, many companies would go bankrupt.

Third, as you grow higher in your organization, be sure to retain your humility. Have faith in your colleagues and find ways to grow the people you work with. In the modern business world, the most important aspect of leadership is the ability to create an environment of “respect,” “care” and “trust” that lifts people up. The more that people feel they can flourish under your leadership, the more they will push you to grow too.

Finally, let me say this. Today, Kellogg will be granting the MBA degree to you, but what you make of this degree will be your gift to Kellogg. Cultivate in yourselves a spirit of generosity and service. Give back to your community with your talents. By denying anger, desire and greed, not only will you increase your humanity, but you will create a world of possibility and renewed hope.

I wish each of you the very best for the road ahead. Let the spirit of forgiveness guide you. I encourage you to live vigorously and compassionately, never betraying the good within you, your own core values or your responsibility to bring meaningful change into the world. In this way, you will live as full human beings.