NYU Wagner’s Class of '19 Urged to ‘Dream Big’ at City Center Convocation Ceremony

Richard Buery, who led one of New York City’s biggest policy initiatives of recent years—the Pre K for All initiative—told NYU Wagner’s graduating students to push through any deep-seated doubts they may harbor and “dream big” about tackling major public challenges.

Offering personal anecdotes, humor, and some hard-won wisdom, Buery delivered a moving keynote address at the Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service's 2019 Convocation Ceremony, stirring the 286 graduating students and their friends and loved ones to a sustained ovation.

The ceremony was held at the storied New York City Center in Midtown Manhattan on May 23 before a packed house.

Addressing the graduates at the threshold of their public service careers, Buery recalled his strong trepidations about being able to deliver on the then-newly elected Mayor Bill de Blasio’s pledge to establish 75,000 pre-K seats for the city’s 4-year-olds within a year and a half’s time. It was akin to creating an entire new grade, equivalent to the size of the entire public school system of many cities.

At first, he declined the Mayor’s 2014 offer.

“You know, so many of us say ‘no’ to opportunities because we refuse to dream big about solving the world’s problems—and I think even more of us say ‘no’ because we refuse to think big about our capacity to solve those problems,” said Buery.

But after the Mayor repeatedly pressed him to take on the ambitious challenge of creating a citywide pre-K program, Buery eventually said ‘yes,’ and, while serving as Deputy Mayor for New York City, he guided the early-childhood education initiative from start to finish. It finished on time. It is a feat for which he credits “thousands of New Yorkers, in places like the Fire Department and the Buildings Department, teachers and nonprofits leaders, elected officials and advocates, parents and philanthropists who all came together and decided we were to do something big for this city.”

He is currently Chief of Policy & Public Affairs at KIPP Foundation, and Distinguished Visiting Urbanist at NYU Wagner.

In concluding his remarks, Buery looked toward the graduates arrayed before him in purple graduation gowns and hats. “We need you in the arena, we need you to dare greatly, to dare together,” he told them. “There is no guarantee you will succeed. Sometimes, the bad guys win. Sometimes, the problems persist. The arc of the universe does not always bend in the right direction. But I believe with all my heart that if you follow your heart, if you keep good people close, and you dream big, the future has a fighting chance.”

The Convocation opened with the skirl of bagpipes, followed by words of welcome from Dean Sherry Glied and a congratulatory address by NYU President Andy Hamilton. Lianna Brenner (MPA 2019) introduced Buery.

President Hamilton highlighted the Class of 19’s striking diversity, noting that its graduates: encompassed 49 different nationalities; one in three were the first in their family to attend graduate school; and 80% held a job or internship while pursuing their degree. “You have all completed a truly rigorous course of study at one of the premiere public service schools in the country, ranked No. 7 in the nation in Nonprofit Management—and No. 1 in the nation in Urban Policy,” he declared.

“Since joining Wagner,” remarked Dean Glied, “I’ve watched five Wagner classes graduate. As consecutive waves, they’ve staffed up non-profits, urban planning firms, social enterprise funds, advocacy organizations, governments, and hospitals. Each one of the graduates in those classes has begun to make a distinctive and singular mark on the world, enriching the general case with the particular instance and distinguishing the experience of individuals from that of the crowd—as will you.”

In addition to the six different awards given for student achievement, “Professor of the Year” recognition was conferred upon Mona Vakilifathi, Assistant Professor of Public Service at NYU Wagner. In addition, Rona Affoumado, Adjunct Professor of Public Administration, was named “Adjunct Professor of the Year.”

Congratulations to all!