Meet Yvonne Wojcicki

Yvonne Wojcicki, executive director of Campus Life Safety and Regulatory Compliance, absolutely loves Commencement Week at CUIMC. So much so that she's been volunteering for Commencement Week activities in a variety of roles for 13 years! Although her role doesn’t typically involve a lot of interaction with students, she looks forward to celebrating the achievements of graduating students.

What inspires you to volunteer for Commencement?

My day-to-day doesn’t really involve much interaction with our students. I don’t go where they live or see them in classrooms, so Commencement is one of the few times I get to support and celebrate them. It's wonderful to see the graduates' families and it gives me a renewed sense of pride to be part of Columbia University. It’s amazing!

 What’s your favorite ceremony to volunteer for?

I really enjoy the College of Dental Medicine ceremony. I usually run into someone I know and it’s so nice to see the professors. I also saw my first engagement proposal during that ceremony between two students and there’s always something very special that happens during that ceremony. I  love my dentists.

 Are there any Commencement memories that stand out to you?

Right after the proposal at the College of Dental Medicine ceremony, I was standing in the lobby of the Armory with other volunteers discussing what had just happened. We were still a little excited and had goosebumps when all of a sudden, a faculty member rushes into the lobby and falls to one knee in front of me. I looked at him and thought, "This can’t be happening,"--then he proceeds to tie his shoe. My face was beet red, we were all cracking up while he was stunned and confused. We told him he had just missed a proposal between two graduates, but we all couldn't stop laughing.

This is a special time for so many people on the CUIMC campus, what would you say to graduating students?

I really admire them and wish them heartfelt congratulations when I see them with their families. Given the rigor of the programs here at CUIMC, I recognize their achievements. Their smiles make me smile. Many graduates also have a new spouse or child. It’s wild to think about how these students have their own families and lives while completing some of the hardest coursework at Columbia.

It’s so nice to see family members, too. When I greet people at the door, so many people are bursting with pride even as I confiscate their balloons from them (I am a regulatory person, after all). It’s really beautiful and uplifting and makes you think about all of the collective support that our students have.