Along with former Secretary of State Madeline Albright and four other distinguished men and women, Tufts University announced it will award an honorary degree to Suzin Bartley, Executive Director of the Children’s Trust, at its May 17th commencement. Ms. Bartley will receive an honorary doctor of public service degree.
For over 20 years, Ms. Bartley has overseen the Children’s Trust’s work to strengthen families and support parents as they raise and nurture their children.
She is a member of the Boston College School of Social Work Advisory Board and serves as an Adjunct Faculty Member at the college. She is also a member of the United Way of Massachusetts Bay’s Healthy Childhood Development Impact Council.
Ms. Bartley chaired the Education and Policy Committees for the Cardinal’s Commission for the Protection of Children for the Archdiocese of Boston. She served on the Governor’s Advisory Commission on Responsible Fatherhood and Family Support and was a trustee for the Boston Center for Blind Children. She has served as the Chair of the Legislative Committee of the National Alliance of Children’s Trust and Prevention Funds.
A frequent guest lecturer, Ms. Bartley has presented at the American Academy of Pediatrics, the National Child Abuse and Neglect Conference, and the National Conference of State Legislators. She was featured in the book “Leadership in Nonprofit Organizations.”
Ms. Bartley has received several awards in recognition of her work, including:
• The Day-Garrett Award from her alma mater, the Smith College School of Social Work
• An honorary doctorate in public administration from Curry College
• The Outstanding Child Advocacy Award from the National Association of Counsel for Children
The University will also present honorary degrees to the following:
• Joichi “Joi” Ito is Director of the MIT Media Lab and an activist, entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and advocate of emergent democracy, privacy, and internet freedom.
• Joseph Neubauer, a Tufts alumnus, is Chairman and CEO of diversified food, facility, and uniform services giant Aramark Corp. and a member of many civic and philanthropic boards.
• Navanethem “Navi” Pillay served as the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and is an advocate for rights of women, gays, political prisoners, survivors of sexual assault, and other marginalized groups.
• Jawole Willa Jo Zollar is a dancer, teacher, and choreographer who uses cultural expression as a catalyst for social change. She is the Nancy Smith Fichter Professor of Dance and Robert O. Lawton Distinguished Professor at Florida State University.