The Graduate Class of 2009: The Most Diverse Class Ever

This week, Lucy Daberkow, assistant program director, and I have welcomed the incoming class of August 2009. And what a class it is:

• It is the highest academic achieving class we have ever admitted.
  
• Class members, as a whole, are the most experienced of any group admitted to the graduate program.
  
• And perhaps best of all, the new class, when combined with the continuing students who began in January 2009, represents 12 countries. Thus, this class represents the most diverse group of students we have had at one time in the graduate program. Below you will see the "parade of flags," from the nations represented in our class of 2009.

It is also worth noting that in addition to the 12 countries represented in this year's class, the program also has graduates from the following countries:

• Republic of Cameroon
• Canada
• Republic of Ecuador
• Mongolia
• Papua New Guinea
• Peru
• Russia
• Spain
• Swiss Confederation
• Venezuela

In total 22 countries have had (or currently have now) students in the graduate program. All of us at DU are extremely proud of all of our students -- both from foreign countries as well as the United States.

We also want to thank Noemi Nunez (May 2009 LLM graduate) and Bridger Penttila (December 2009 prospective MRLS graduate) for their help in the orientation. Also a tip of our collective hats to Sheila Green, Jessica Hogan, Mike Latimer, Joan Policastri, Joan Pope, Prof. Mary Steffel, Prof. Ann Vessels, Eric Vincent, and Saul Wiley.