Honorary Degrees Presented at 46th Annual Baruch College Commencement

On June 1, 2011, Baruch College graduated 4,200 students in commencement exercises at the Jacob J. Javits Center in Manhattan. During the morning ceremonies, honorary degrees were bestowed upon Ruth Ann Harnisch and William Harnisch.

Ruth Ann Harnisch was honored for a journalism career that spanned three decades in radio, television and print and for her philanthropic career as president of the Harnisch foundation and for her work with More Than Money and Women Moving Millions. Harnisch was lauded as a proponent of creative philanthropy by Dean Jeffrey Peck of the Weismann School of Arts and Sciences, and praised for her efforts in helping to protect and advance journalism. In recognition of her exemplary professional accomplishments she was presented with a Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa.

William Harnisch ('68), an alumnus of Baruch and founder and president of Peconic Partners, was honored for his career in finance, his philanthropic work, and for his service to Baruch College as a member of the investment committee of the Baruch College Fund. Zicklin School of Business Dean John Elliott noted that Harnisch’s hedge fund was ranked among the top 100 by Barron’s and he praised the generosity of his Harnisch Family Foundations. In recognition of his professional accomplishments and ongoing commitment to philanthropy, William Harnisch was awarded the degree of Doctor of Commercial Science, honoris causa.

Photos by Philip Gallo