Hofstra alum Bruce Jackson, BBA ’85, associate general counsel and managing director of strategic partnerships at Microsoft, will deliver the commencement address and be awarded an honorary degree at the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University’s commencement ceremony on Monday, May 20, at 7 p.m. at the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex, located on Hofstra’s North Campus.
“We are delighted to have alumnus Bruce Jackson deliver the commencement address to the graduates of the Deane School of Law,” said Susan Poser, president of Hofstra University. “His distinguished career, which includes more than 30 years of assisting public and privately held companies grow their businesses, and his commitment to addressing issues of diversity and inclusion through service are equally impressive. I look forward to his address.”
Jackson began his career at Microsoft in 2000, as attorney in the Digital Media Division before moving to senior attorney of the East Region in 2005. Beginning in 2010, Jackson served as associate general counsel/business advisor of Microsoft’s U.S. sales organization, a $20B business, and the Regulated Industries Group, a $15B business. In 2020, he took on his current role of associate general counsel and managing director of strategic partnerships out of the office of the president.
Jackson has worked on initiatives for high-profile clients in the entertainment and technology field – including LL Cool J, Heavy D, Busta Rhymes, and Bill Gates. He currently serves on New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ Corporate Counsel Committee and is a member of the advisory boards for the National Association of Minority and Women Owned Law Firms and The Hip Hop Museum in the Bronx. He has written an autobiography titled Never Far from Home: My Journey From Brooklyn to Hip Hop, Microsoft, and the Law.
“Bruce Jackson is a great example of the paths one can take as a lawyer,” said Julian Ku, interim dean of the Deane School of Law. “His career in tax, entertainment, and technology, fueled by his business and accounting background, shows a wide breadth of disciplines, and serves as an inspiration to our graduates. We are honored to have him as our commencement speaker.”
Jackson has received numerous awards and honors, including an industry best practice award from the American Bar Association. He is also a founding member of Microsoft’s Diversity Committee and has frequently presented on diversity and inclusion to the U.S. House Committee on Financial Services.
Jackson earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Hofstra University and a Juris Doctor and an LLM in Taxation from Georgetown University Law Center.
More about Commencement
Public Service Awards Celebration: Noon-1 p.m., John Cranford Adams Playhouse
The Class of 2024 Public Service Awards Celebration will consist of an introduction and welcome by interim dean, Julian Ku, and then remarks by Professor Jennifer Gundlach highlighting our student’s accomplishments in public service areas and the presentation of the public service awards by Professor Luciana DeCarlo. This program will last approximately one hour.
Students’ family and friends are welcome to attend both the celebration and the reception immediately following.
Graduate Awards Celebration: 2 p.m., John Cranford Adams Playhouse
The Class of 2024 Graduate Awards Celebration consists of an introduction and welcome by interim dean, Julian Ku and speeches by your elected Teacher of the Year, Professor Theo Liebmann; the SBA President Rochelle Podolsky; and elected 3L speaker John Healy. The presentation of various awards that recognize student accomplishments throughout law school will be delivered by Professors Allison Caffarone, Ronald Colombo and Jennifer Gundlach.
This program will last approximately one hour and a half. Students’ family and friends are welcome to attend both the reception prior to and the celebration.
Tickets are not necessary for either event and students do not wear academic attire.
Commencement Ceremony: 7 p.m., David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex
The Commencement Ceremony will take place in the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex (the Arena located on the North side of campus). This ceremony will last approximately two hours.
Bruce Jackson, BBA ’85, associate general counsel and managing director of strategic partnerships at Microsoft, will be the commencement speaker. At the Commencement
Ceremony, the President of the University, Susan Poser, will confer the degrees, and students will walk across the stage to be announced by Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Ashira Ostrow, hooded by select faculty, and then congratulated by the Interim Dean Julian Ku.
Tickets are not necessary for this event. For those who cannot attend the commencement ceremony, a livestream will be available on YouTube (Link to come).
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