NYU College of Global Public Health (CGPH) held its 2017 commencement ceremonies Monday, May 15 at the historic Town Hall in mid-town Manhattan near Times Square. CGPH graduated 137 undergraduates and 143 masters students. CGPH students were addressed by four remarkably accomplished student speakers, and were also joined by NYU’s President Andy Hamilton and by Dr. Robert Berne, the University’s Executive Vice President for Health. The keynote speaker was Dr. Helene Gayle.

[Photo: Dr. Helene D. Gayle]

Dr. Helene D. Gayle is the CEO of McKinsey Social Initiative, a nonprofit organization that implements programs that bring together varied stakeholders to address complex global social challenges. Previously, she was president and CEO of CARE USA, a leading international humanitarian organization. An expert on global development, humanitarian, and health issues, she spent 20 years with the Centers for Disease Control, working primarily on HIV/AIDS. Dr. Gayle then worked at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, directing programs on HIV/AIDS and other global health issues.

Dr. Gayle serves on public company and non-profit boards including: The Coca-Cola Company, Colgate-Palmolive Company, the Rockefeller Foundation, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the New America Foundation, the ONE Campaign, and the Atlanta Metro Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, she serves on the President’s Commission on White House Fellowships. Dr. Gayle is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the American Public Health Association, the Institute of Medicine, and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Named one of Forbes’ “100 Most Powerful Women,” Dr. Gayle has authored numerous articles on global and domestic public health issues, poverty alleviation, gender equality, and social justice. Dr. Gayle was born and raised in Buffalo, NY. She earned a B.A. in psychology at Barnard College, an MD from the University of Pennsylvania, and an MPH from Johns Hopkins University. She has received 13 honorary degrees and holds faculty appointments at the University of Washington and Emory University.

Dr. Thomas Frieden, former director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and former NYC DoHMH commissioner received an honorary doctorate from CGPH.  Honorary doctorates were also presented to the Honorable Gabrielle Giffords and her husband, Captain Mark Kelly, for their courageous work to make communities safer from gun violence as co-founders of Americans for Responsible Solutions.