Jane Chu, Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, to Speak at Baruch College Commencement Ceremony on May 30, 2018

May 15, 2018

Jane Chu, chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), will be the keynote speaker at Baruch College’s Commencement Ceremony on May 30, 2018 at Barclays Center, New York City.

Since being confirmed as chairman by the U.S. Senate in 2014, Chu has awarded more than $409 million in grants to nonprofit organizations and artists; issued new research reports on arts participation and the impact of the arts and cultural industries on the nation’s gross domestic product; and launched the United States of Arts project that demonstrates the importance of the arts in communities across the country.

In 2015, Chu launched her signature leadership initiative, Creativity Connects, that investigates the current state of the arts in our nation, and explores how the arts connect with other industries. She also oversaw multiple-year increases to the NEA’s Congressional budget appropriation to expand its military healing arts initiative, Creative Forces.

The following year, Chu accepted a Special Tony Award on behalf of the agency for its “unwavering commitment in paving the road” between Broadway and cities throughout the U.S.

Under Chu’s leadership, the NEA ranked first among small agencies in Best Places to Work in the Federal Government for 2016.

A Passion for the Arts

In additional to her experience in arts administration and philanthropy, Chu is an accomplished artist and musician.

The daughter of Chinese immigrants, Chu was born in Shawnee, Oklahoma and raised in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. She studied music growing up, eventually receiving bachelor’s degrees in piano performance and music education, as well as master’s degrees in music and piano pedagogy, a PhD in philanthropic studies, an MBA, as well as three honorary degrees

Before becoming the 11th chairman of the NEA, Chu served as the president and Chief Executive Officer of the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts in Kansas City.

2018 Commencement Ceremony

Baruch College will hold it 2018 Commencement Exercises for both undergraduate and graduate students on Wednesday, May 30 at Barclays Center at 620 Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn. The ceremony will commence at 9:30 am.

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