Jon Oringer MS'99 to Speak at Class Day

Apr 11 2014 | By Holly Evarts | Photo: William Hereford

The leadership organizations of both undergraduate and graduate students at The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science at Columbia University are pleased to announce that alumnus Jon Oringer, founder and chief executive officer of Shutterstock Inc., will be the keynote speaker for Columbia Engineering’s Class Day ceremony, which will be held on May 19, 2014. The Engineering Senior Class Council, representing undergraduates, and the Engineering Graduate Student Council, representing MS, PhD, and professional degree students, jointly selected Oringer as their graduation speaker during the school’s sesquicentennial year.

Jon Oringer
Jon Oringer

Oringer, who earned his BS in mathematics and computer science from Stony Brook University in 1996, and completed his MS in computer science from the Engineering School in 1999, created Shutterstock, the leading provider of stock imagery worldwide, in 2003 using thousands of his own digital photographs. Since taking Shutterstock public on the NYSE in 2012, he has grown the company to over 300 employees and more than $200 million in annual revenue. Today, Shutterstock features over 35 million stock images supplied by a global network of artists and photographers looking to license their work.

"As a graduate of Columbia SEAS, I am greatly honored to be invited back as class day speaker," says Oringer.

"The graduates of 2014 have a bright future of diverse opportunities ahead of them, especially within New York City. I look forward to celebrating their time at SEAS and sharing some of the things I've learned as they embark on their professional journey and explore their purpose."

“Jon Oringer is a wonderful example of the creative, entrepreneurial spirit we are fostering at Columbia Engineering,” says Mary C. Boyce, dean and Morris A. and Alma Schapiro Professor at the School. “He has been able to harness his passion for photography, his expertise in data management, and his business knowledge to create a successful company that nurtures a vibrant community of photographers and artists, while meeting the needs of a demanding new market. I think he is a great role model for our students and we are excited to have him as our Class Day speaker.”

Oringer founded nearly a dozen software companies and is passionate about data-driven businesses and disruptive technologies. In 2009, the New York native was selected 41st on the Silicon Alley 100, an annual list of the 100 most influential entrepreneurs, investors, executives, and technologists in Manhattan. In 2013, Business Insider named him the number one coolest person in all of New York technology. In June 2012, he was recognized as New York's Technology Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst & Young, and in March 2013, Oringer was recognized as one of Crain's class of 2013 40 Under 40. Oringer is also a certified commercial helicopter pilot.

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