Frank Wildhorn, Patricia Birch & Andrew Ross Sorkin to Receive Honorary Degrees from Marymount Manhattan College

On Friday, May 23, 2014, Marymount Manhattan College will hold its 65th annual commencement exercises at Avery Fisher Hall in Lincoln Center. In addition to the over 400 graduates receiving degrees, honorary doctoral degrees will be given to Patricia Birch, Andrew Ross Sorkin and Frank Wildhorn.

The ceremony will be emceed by Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty David Podell, and presided over by Judson R. Shaver, Ph.D., president of Marymount Manhattan College.

"All of us at Marymount Manhattan are so proud of this year's graduating class," President Shaver said. "The presence of Pat, Andrew and Frank will make this occasion especially memorable for everyone in attendance."

Patricia Birch: Ms. Birch is an accomplished dancer, Emmy award winning director and Tony nominated choreographer. She has a distinguished body of work in television and film, and on and off-Broadway. Some of her most well-known works include "Big," "Grease" and "Grease 2" and the 1974 Broadway revival of "Candide."

Andrew Ross Sorkin: Mr. Sorkin was the 2011 Rudin lecturer at Marymount Manhattan College. He is the chief mergers and acquisitions reporter and a columnist for The New York Times and author of Too Big to Fail: How Wall Street and Washington Fought to Save the Financial System -and Themselves. Mr. Sorkin has appeared on NBC's "Today" show and on PBS's "Charlie Rose" and is a frequent guest host of CNBC's "Squawk Box."

Frank Wildhorn: Mr. Wildhorn is the recipient of the 2014 President's Award, and was honored at the President's Gala. He also assists Marymount Manhattan students by teaching master classes. Mr. Wildhorn is an award-nominated composer, lyricist and producer whose works span the worlds of popular, theatrical and classical music. In 1999, Mr. Wildhorn became the first American composer in 22 years to have three shows running simultaneously on Broadway: Jekyll & Hyde, The Scarlet Pimpernel and The Civil War. He wrote the music and lyrics for the #1 international hit, "Where Do Broken Hearts Go" for Whitney Houston, as well as served as music director for the 1998 Goodwill Games. Mr. Wildhorn also wrote the music for "Gold," the opening number for the 2002 Winter Olympics.