[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 159 (Wednesday, November 5, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2232]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   RECOGNIZING THOMAS J. SCHWARZ ON HIS INAUGURATION AS PRESIDENT OF 
                            PURCHASE COLLEGE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. NITA M. LOWEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 5, 2003

  Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate 
Thomas J. Schwarz, who will be sworn in on November 12 as the fifth 
President of Purchase College State University of New York.
  Founded in 1967, Purchase College combines professional conservatory 
programs in the performing and visual arts with rigorous studies in 
liberal arts and science. Its 4,100 students are drawn from 47 States 
and 67 countries.
  Graduates of Purchase College have excelled in the arts. Alumni 
include winners of the Oscar, Emmy, and Tony Awards, as well as the 
Pulitzer Prize, just to name a few.
  Purchase College graduates have also contributed a great deal to a 
variety of academic fields. According to a recent National Science 
Survey, Purchase College ranks second in the nation in the production 
of Ph.Ds as a percentage of all students.
  From its founding, Purchase College has opened its campus to the 
community. The Performing Arts Center, one of the finest of its kind on 
the East Coast, presents more than 100 performances, and hundreds of 
other public events, annually.
  Prior to coming to Purchase, Thomas Schwarz had a distinguished 
career as a partner at the law firm of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & 
Flom, where he was the founding partner of the firm's Committee on 
Diversity.
  He also worked in public service, as mayor of Ocean Beach, NY, and as 
Special Counsel to the New York State Commission on Government 
Integrity, among other positions.
  As a member of the American Bar Association, Mr. Schwarz served on 
the Election Law Committee and was a special advisor on election 
reform. In addition, the Legal Aid Society presented him with its Pro 
Bono Award in 1998.
  Mr. Schwarz has also served on the Board of Trustees of his alma 
mater, Hamilton College. As chairman of the Hamilton Planning 
Committee, he oversaw the completion of the first long-term plan in the 
college's 200-year history. This record of accomplishment paved his way 
to becoming Acting President of Hamilton in 1999.
  Since coming to Purchase College as interim President in January of 
2002, Mr. Schwarz has worked tirelessly to increase the academic 
excellence and selectivity of the school, as well as to improve 
administrative leadership and attract new resources to the institution.
  I am confident that Mr. Schwarz will continue to excel in his new 
role, adding to the proud tradition of higher learning and academic 
achievement at Purchase.

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