Vassar College graduates 582 at commencement Sunday, May 21

Vassar College will graduate approximately 582 seniors representing 44 states and 20 foreign countries at commencement ceremonies Sunday, May 21, at 10 a.m. in the college's outdoor amphitheater overlooking Sunset Lake. Oxygen's Geraldine Laybourne will deliver the college's 136th commencement address. Laybourne, the CEO of Oxygen Media, is among the most prominent women in both the management and creative sides of media in the United States today.

A member of the Vassar College class of 1969 and of the college's board of trustees, Laybourne is best known for creating high-quality television programming for children as the president of Nickelodeon/Nick at Nite. In 1996, she was named one of the 25 most influential people in America by Time magazine for her approach to children's programming which "didn't insult kids' intelligence or their sense of fun." She is on Fortune magazine's list of the "50 Most Powerful Women" and is considered one of 200 of "America's Most Influential Women" by Vanity Fair.

In May 1998, Laybourne founded Oxygen Media and has served as its chairman and chief executive officer since its inception. The company produces branded content for the Internet, television, and other media targeting the women's and children's markets. Oxygen launched its eagerly awaited cable and Internet networks on February 2. Prior to starting this new venture, Laybourne was president of Disney/ABC Cable Networks since February 1996, responsible for cable programming for the Walt Disney Company and its ABC subsidiary. She oversaw the operations of the Disney Channel and ABC's interests in Lifetime, A&E Network, the History Channel, and E! Entertainment Television. In addition, Laybourne played a major role in the creation and management of ABC's Saturday morning children's programming schedule. She was also in charge of developing future television programming for cable and other platforms.

Laybourne spent 16 years at Nickelodeon, taking over the management of the network in 1984. In 1989, she was named president of Nickelodeon/Nick at Nite and in February 1993 she added the title of vice chairman of MTV Networks. She also sat on the operating and executive committees of Viacom, the parent of Nickelodeon and MTV. Laybourne and her team were responsible for creating and building the Nickelodeon brand and, in 1985, for launching Nick at Nite, the successful prime-time line-up of retro sitcoms.

Under her leadership, Nickelodeon/Nick at Nite became the top-rated 24-hour cable programming service and won several notable honors, including Emmys, Peabodys, Cable ACE, and Parent's Choice awards. She further expanded the brand by launching and distributing Nick programming to countries around the world, developing theme park attractions, and creating Nickelodeon movie, toy, and publishing divisions.

Laybourne earned a B.A. in art history from Vassar College and an M.S. in elementary education from the University of Pennsylvania.

Laybourne is a native of Martinsville, New Jersey. She and her husband, Kit, senior vice president, special projects and animation at Oxygen Media, are the parents of two children, Emmy and Sam.

Vassar's commencement is open to the public. Seating is first come, first served. In the event of rain, ponchos will be provided. In the event of severe weather conditions, the ceremony will take place in the Williamson Auditorium at Walker Field House and seating will be limited.

For additional information, contact the Office of Campus Activities at (845) 437-5370. Individuals with disabilities requiring accommodations should contact Cathy Jennings, Office of Campus Activities, (914) 437-5370, as far in advance as possible to request appropriate and reasonable accommodations for the event.

Individuals with disabilities requiring accommodations or information on accessibility should contact Campus Activities Office at (845) 437-5370. Without sufficient notice, appropriate space and/or assistance may not be available.

Vassar College is a highly selective, coeducational, independent, residential liberal arts college founded in 1861.

This article was posted on Sunday, May 21st, 2000.