“We have not given you a perfect world, but we have instead given you dynamic opportunities for leaving a lasting, enduring legacy as a generation that proved to be fearless and imaginative, tireless and selfless in pursuit of solutions to these monumental problems, a generation that emerged from this financial tsunami and rebuilt the landscape of their lives with an underpinning of sound values and an eye for proportion, knowing that in fact less can be more.”

That was former NBC Nightly News anchor Tom Brokaw, addressing Fordham’s Class of 2009 at the University’s 164th Commencement at Rose Hill on May 16. Brokaw, who has covered his share of turmoil in 47 years of journalism, told the new graduates that “it will not be easy, but I promise you it will be rewarding in ways that a Wall Street bonus or a shot on American Idol cannot compete.”

More than 16,000 graduates, family, friends, faculty and staff members packed Edwards Parade under cloudy skies, and gave Brokaw rousing cheers at every full stop.

Fordham conferred a doctorate of humane letters, honoris causa, upon Brokaw, and likewise conferred honorary degrees upon Hon. Michael Bloomberg, mayor of the City of New York; Justin Lin, chief economist of the World Bank;Frank J. Macchiarola, former chairman of the New York City Charter Revision Commission; and Kathryn Wylde, chief executive officer of the Partnership for New York City.

Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of Fordham University, told the happy crowd, “Members of the Class of 2009, this is above all your day. This is the day on which we celebrate you. We celebrate hopes that have been realized, dreams that have come true, loves that have blossomed and lives that have been changed—changed utterly.”

Father McShane noted that the University has honored presidents, cardinals, foreign ministers and other dignitaries on Edwards Parade. “Today, it honors you on the same site. …You too are our heroes. You too are worthy of praise. You too. U2. You knew that was coming,” he said, provoking a roar of approval with the reference to the Irish rock band that had occupied the same spot on Keating steps in March.

Mayor Bloomberg got his share of cheers and applause in his brief address to the Class of 2009, when he imparted some serious advice, couched as humor.

“I am not going to tell you right here the secrets to success, although it never hurts to be the first one into the office each morning and the last one to leave. I am not going to tell you how to choose a career, but it doesn’t hurt to pick that first job based on how much you’ll learn, not how much you’ll earn. I’m not going to tell you how to avoid getting fired, because I have been fired, and it was the best thing that ever happened to my career,” Bloomberg said. “I am not going to tell you how to spend your free time, but there’s nothing more important than giving back to your community.”

The University conferred bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees upon roughly 3,200 students in fields ranging from anthropology to social work. Including students who graduated in August 2008 and February 2009, Fordham conferred approximately 4,400 academic degrees.

Joel Klein, chancellor of the New York City public school system, received a doctorate of laws,honoris causa, on May 17 at Fordham Law School’s diploma ceremony. Joe Moglia (FCRH ’71), chief executive officer of TD Ameritrade, received a doctorate of humane letters, honoris causa, on May 19 at the Graduate School of Business Administration’s diploma ceremony.

In addition, Mindy Fullilove, M.D., professor of clinical psychiatry and clinical sociomedical sciences at Columbia University Medical Center, delivered the keynote on May 21 at the diploma ceremony for the Graduate School of Social Service.

Former NBC Nightly News anchor Tom Brokaw, one of the most trusted and respected figures in broadcast journalism, will deliver Fordham University’s 164th commencement speech on May 16, the Office of the President has announced.

A 47-year veteran of television broadcast news, the South Dakota native began his career in 1962 at KMTV in Omaha, Neb. He soon joined NBC and rose to prominence as a local news anchor and national correspondent. In 1976 he became co-anchor, along with Jane Pauley, of The Today Show.

He took over as evening news anchor and managing editor of NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw in 1983. He delivered the evening news to millions of Americans for 21 years, rising in ratings against rival networks CBS and ABC. During Brokaw’s tenure, NBC Nightly Newsbecame the highest-ranking network news show—a distinction it still holds. By the time Brokaw retired in 2004, he had become known as “America’s most watched anchor.”

Brokaw has brought his news insight and integrity to an impressive number of world events. In the 1970s, as NBC’s White House correspondent, he covered the Watergate scandal and resignation of President Richard Nixon. In 1989, he reported from the scene of the collapse of the Berlin Wall. On Sept. 11, 2001, Brokaw followed the live attack on the World Trade Centers for an entire day on the air, joined by Today Show co-anchors Katie Couric and Matt Lauer.

Most recently, Brokaw stepped in as interim moderator of Meet The Press when his friend and co-worker Tim Russert died suddenly in June 2008.

As a political reporter, Brokaw has interviewed every president since Lyndon Johnson and has covered every presidential election since 1968.

He also has initiated in-depth reporting on tough social and political issues at the core of contemporary American life, both at home and abroad. His works have explored race relations, AIDS, the war on terror, Los Angeles gangs, Bill Gates, literacy, poverty, global warming, immigration and the evangelical movement.

Brokaw’s many achievements in journalism and reporting have earned him the Edward R. Murrow Lifetime Achievement Award, a dozen Emmys, two Peabody awards and induction into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Brokaw also became a best-selling author with The Greatest Generation (Random House, 1998), a book about Americans who came of age during the Great Depression and fought in World War II. The book spent more than 80 weeks on The New York Times bestseller list.

Today, Brokaw serves as an NBC News special correspondent, providing expertise during breaking news events.

The University will present Brokaw with an honorary doctorate degree at the ceremony.