UCLA Graduation 2010

On Saturday June 12th 2010, I attended the UCLA Econ Department's graduation ceremony. Here is a photo of me and Jason Barbato. For those of you with a strange taste for photos of economists, you will note that Kathleen McGarry can be seen to the right of the photo.



I meant to smile in the photo but I can't tell if I delivered. I greatly enjoyed this graduation. Before we marched out the attending Economics faculty had the opportunity to eat some cheese and crackers. I spoke to Connan Snider about a research project I'm working on for California's Department of Toxic Substances Control. We then marched out and saw the graduating seniors lined up. Since I teach large undergraduate classes, I recognized many of my students and walked over to talk to them. My faculty colleagues seemed to be impressed that I am a "man of the people". Up on stage in our formal academic gowns, we sat up there. I sat next to Bill Zame and we talked about many topics as graduation unfolded. We also worked together at the end of the ceremony when it was our job to read out the student names and to hand out diplomas.

At the end of graduation, I posed with my students for photos and congratulated their parents. It was a good day. As a loyal member of the UCLA faculty, I enjoyed being part of a routine that I hope to participate in for years to come.