ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Panchanathan, Gupta to receive Hofstra University honorary degrees
Panchanathan led the National Science Foundation, while Gupta served in the Justice Department.
-
Malvika Choudhary - Wed, 08, Apr 2026
- 12:30 EDT
- 29
Sethuraman Panchanathan and Vanita Gupta / news.hofstra.edu
Hofstra University announced Sethuraman Panchanathan and Vanita Gupta among its Spring 2026 commencement speakers and honorary degree recipients.
Panchanathan, the former director of the U.S. National Science Foundation, will address graduates at Hofstra’s commencement ceremony on May 17.
Also Read: Savitha Shan family launches UT scholarship after shooting
Under his leadership, NSF launched its first new directorate in more than 30 years, the Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships, and established 27 AI Institutes across the United States.
He currently serves as university professor of technology and innovation and foundation chair in computing and augmented intelligence at Arizona State University. His research has focused on machine learning and assistive computing technologies for people with disabilities.
Gupta, former US associate attorney general, will deliver the commencement address at the Maurice A. Deane School of Law ceremony on May 18.
She served as the 19th US associate attorney general from 2021 to 2024 after being nominated by former President Joe Biden and confirmed by the Senate. She was the first civil rights lawyer to hold one of the top three leadership roles at the Department of Justice.
As associate attorney general, Gupta supervised 13 Justice Department components, including civil litigating divisions and grantmaking offices.
She currently serves as distinguished scholar in residence and director of the Center for Law and Public Trust at New York University School of Law.
Before joining the Justice Department’s senior leadership, Gupta served as president and chief executive officer of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. She also held senior legal roles at the American Civil Liberties Union and the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund.
“We are excited to welcome these distinguished leaders to address the graduates at commencement and receive honorary degrees,” Hofstra president Susan Poser said in a statement. “They are leading exceptional lives, and I am certain that their commencement remarks will resonate with the Hofstra class of 2026!”
More than 2,000 students are expected to receive degrees during five commencement ceremonies at the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex on Hofstra’s North Campus. Each ceremony will also be livestreamed, according to the university.
Discover more at New India Abroad.
Related
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
E Paper
Video
Comments
Start the conversation
Become a member of New India Abroad to start commenting.
Sign Up Now
Already have an account? Login