New Jersey's annual commencement season, known for attracting a wide range of celebrity speakers and academic stars to mentor new graduates, begins this weekend.
Graduation ceremonies at the state's four-year colleges will be held throughout this month, starting Saturday at Rowan University and Centenary University and ending with ceremonies at New Jersey City University on May 28.
This year's celebrity speakers include “Dawson's Creek” actor James Van Der Beek and YouTube star Marques Brownlee. Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson. and musician Tariq Trotter, an artist known as Black Thought who co-founded the group The Roots. (See the complete list of commencement speakers below.)
Multiple former U.S. presidents have spoken at New Jersey commencement ceremonies over the years, including Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Ronald Reagan, and Lyndon Johnson.
After receiving an honorary degree from Rutgers University in 1999, Stevie Wonder performed several songs, including “I Just Called to Say I Love You.” Actor Bruce Willis and baseball legend Yogi Berra spoke at Montclair State University's 1996 commencement ceremony.
The following are speakers announced at commencement ceremonies scheduled at four-year colleges across the state as of Thursday. Some schools may not have announced speakers yet or may not have a commencement guest speaker this year.
bloomfield university
Speaker: No presentation
Date and time: Saturday, May 18th, 12:30 p.m.
Location: College Quadrangle
caldwell university
Speaker: No presentation
Date and time: Saturday, May 18th, for graduate students, 6:30 p.m. Sunday, May 19th, 10am, for undergraduate students
Location: George R. Newman Center
centenary university
speaker: Rod E. Hairston, author of Are You Up For the Challenge? His 6 Steps to Lasting Change Start Now.”
Date: Saturday, May 4, 9 a.m., Bachelor of Science and Associate of Science degree ceremony. Ceremonies for the Bachelor of Arts, Associate of Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts, and Bachelor of Social Work degrees will be held at 1 p.m.
Location: Anderson Field
Drew University
Speaker: james van der beekHe has appeared on TV's “Dawson's Creek” and is a commencement speaker for the College of Liberal Arts. harriet jane olsonformer general secretary and CEO of United Women in Faith and social justice activist, speaks at a ceremony at Drew School of Theology. Laura WintersDrew, professor of literary studies, writing, and religious studies in the Arts and Letters program, speaks at the Caspersen Graduate School's awards ceremony.
Date: Friday, May 10, 10 a.m., Drew Theological Seminary. Friday, May 10, 3:00 p.m., Caspersen Graduate School of Research. Saturday, May 11th, 10am, for undergraduate students
Location: Outside Drew Campus on Mead Hall Lawn
fairy dickinson university
speaker: Stephen K. Klaskoformer president of Thomas Jefferson University and CEO of Jefferson Health
Date and time: Wednesday, May 15th, 9:30am
Location: MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford
Felician University
Speaker: No presentation
Date and time: May 23rd (Thursday) 9:30am
Location: Links of the American Dream in East Rutherford
Georgian Court University
Speaker: Rodrigo A. Colon Jr.The author of “Win The Race for 21st Century Jobs” and CEO of Rod Colon Consulting will speak to undergraduate students. John Harmonfounder, president, and CEO of the New Jersey African American Chamber of Commerce, is the graduate commencement speaker.
Date and time: May 9th (Thursday) 12:30pm for undergraduate students, 5pm for graduates
Location: Playground outside the wellness center
Keene University
Speaker: Astrophysicist neil degrasse tysonDirector of the Hayden Planetarium in New York City and frequent guest on PBS Nova, Discovery and other programs, he is the undergraduate commencement speaker. CNN anchor abby philippeThe host of “NewsNight with Abby Phillip” is a graduate school commencement speaker.
Date: Tuesday, May 14th for graduate students, Thursday, May 16th for undergraduate students
Location: New Jersey Performing Arts Center Newark for graduate students.Prudential Center for Undergraduates in Newark
monmouth university
Speaker: No presentation
Date: Thursday, May 9, 10 a.m., Leon Hess School of Business. The Wayne D. McMurray School of Humanities and Social Sciences is 1 p.m.4 p.m., Marjorie K. Unterberg School of Nursing and Health, School of Social Work, School of Education, School of Science.
Location: Ocean First Bank Center, West Long Branch
montclair state university
Speaker: No presentation
Date: Monday, May 13, 9:30 a.m. for the College of Community Health, College of Education and Engaged Learning, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, and University College.School of Arts, School of Science and Mathematics, Feliciano School of Business, and School of Nursing at 3:30 p.m.
Location: Prudential Center, Newark
New Jersey City University
speaker: Bettina L. LoveProfessor at Columbia University and author of “Punished for Dreaming: How School Reform Harms Black Children and How to Heal.''
Date and time: Wednesday, May 15th at 10 a.m. for the Faculty of Business and Professional Studies.William J. Maxwell College of Arts and Sciences and CAS/Education Dual Degree Students and Deborah Cannon Partridge Wolf College of Education 2 p.m.
Location: Red Bull Arena in Harrison
New Jersey Institute of Technology
Speaker: Marjorie A. Perry The president and CEO of MZM Construction Co. in Newark will be the undergraduate commencement speaker. Santo PolityFounder and Managing Partner of Spark Capital speaks to master's degree students from Newark Institute of Technology, J. Roberts and Barbara A. Hillier College of Architecture and Design, College of Science and Liberal Arts, and Martin Tuchman School of Management doing. Samir Saini The NJIT Civil Engineering graduate is speaking at the Ying Wu College of Computing's master's degree ceremony. carolyn merkel A Technology Management graduate from the Martin Tuchman School of Management, he is the keynote speaker at the doctoral program's commencement ceremony.
Date: Friday, May 17th, 9 a.m. for undergraduate students. Wednesday, May 15, 9 a.m., for Newark Institute of Technology master's students, J. Robert and Barbara A. Hillier College of Architecture and Design, College of Science and Liberal Arts, and Martin Tuchman School of Business. Wednesday, May 15, 1:30 p.m. Ying Wu College of Computing Master's degree ceremony. Doctoral degree conferral ceremony will be held on Wednesday, May 15th at 5:00 p.m.
Location: NJIT Wellness and Event Center in Newark for graduate students and Prudential Center for undergraduate students
pillar college
Speaker: dale caldwellPresident of Centenary University
When: Friday, May 17th, 2:00 p.m.
Location: Zarepat Christian Church, Franklin Township
princeton university
Speaker: Actor Sam Waterston, best known for his role as the district attorney on “Law & Order,” speaks at the university's Class Day Celebration the day before it begins. Princeton University traditionally does not announce honorary degree recipients before commencement ceremonies begin.
Date: Class Day Ceremony for Seniors will be held on Monday, May 27th at 10:30am. The commencement ceremony will be held on Tuesday, May 28th at 9:30 a.m. and is open to all graduates.
Location: Class days are held on campus at Cannon Green.Game begins at Princeton's Weaver Stadium
ramapo college
Speaker: No presentation
Date and Time: Wednesday, May 29th, 8:40am
Location: Prudential Center, Newark
rider university
Speaker: Samantha HaynesMembers of the Class of 2023 will be the undergraduate speakers. She is a software engineer at Lockheed Martin. Asia Stokes Students give speeches at graduation ceremonies. She previously earned a bachelor's degree in music and a master's degree in vocal performance and vocal pedagogy from Rider, where she appears alongside her classmates as her Doctor of Education.
Date and time: May 11th (Sat) 9:30am for graduate students, 2:30pm for undergraduates
Location: Cure Insurance Arena in Trenton
rowan university
speaker: rick edelmana noted author/investor and 1980 graduate of Rowan, back when it was still known as Glassboro State University.
Date and time: May 4th (Sat) 10am
Location: Richard Wacker Stadium in Glassboro
rutgers university – New Brunswick and Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
speaker: Freeman A. Hrabowski III, He marched for civil rights as a child in the early 1960s and is a former president of the University of Maryland.
Date and time: Sunday, May 12th 10am
Location: SHI Stadium in Piscataway
Rutgers-Newark
Speaker: Tariq Trottermusician known as Blackthought and co-founder of The Roots
Date and Time: Wednesday, May 15th, 9am
Location: Prudential Center, Newark
rutgers camden
Speaker: New Jersey Secretary of Higher Education brian bridges it is Rutgers-Camden and Graduate School Commencement Speaker.Wawa President Brian Schaller Keynote speaker at Camden School of Business ceremony. Loretta Sweet JemmottDrexel University's vice president for health and health equity speaks at a ceremony at the Camden School of Nursing.Associate judge Fabiana Pierre-Louis A New Jersey Supreme Court judge is speaking to a graduate of Rutgers Law School in Camden.
Date: Tuesday, May 14th, 4 p.m. for Rutgers-Camden and Graduate School commencement ceremonies. Wednesday, May 15th, 10:30am, to the School of Business Camden. 1:30pm to Camden School of Nursing. Thursday, May 16, 10 a.m., Camden College of Arts and Sciences and Camden University College.Rutgers University School of Law Camden graduate 2:30 p.m.
Location: Freedom Mortgage Pavilion in Camden
Saint Elizabeth University
speaker: margaret romanA 1972 graduate, he served as director of the school's honors program for 26 years.
Date and time: Friday, May 17th 10am
Location: Lawn in front of university campus
St. Peter's University
speaker: Eugene J. Cornacchiapresident of St. Peter's University, will retire at the end of June
Date and time: Friday, May 17th, 10:30am
Location: PNC Bank Art Center in Holmdel
seton hall university
Speaker: Gary Cohenthe broadcaster for the New York Mets and Seton Hall basketball game.
Date and time: Tuesday, May 21st, 9am
Location: Prudential Center
Stevens Institute of Technology
Speaker: marques brownleebetter known as MKBHD, a well-known YouTuber with approximately 19 million subscribers, will speak to undergraduate students. michael caicos Scientists, entrepreneurs, and global business leaders speak to graduate students.
Date and time: Wednesday, May 22, 9 a.m. for undergraduates and 4 p.m. for graduates.
Location: PNC Art Center in Holmdel
stockton university
speaker: dave sholler2006 Stockton University graduate, Chief Communications Officer for the Philadelphia 76ers and Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment.
Date and time: Friday, May 10th, 9:30am
Location: Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City
college of new jersey
Speaker: No presentation
Date and time: May 16th (Thursday) 8:30am
Location: Ewing Lions Stadium
william patterson university
Speaker: State Senator Nellie PawChair of the State Legislative Latino Caucus
Date and Time: Wednesday, May 22nd, 9am
Location: Prudential Center in Newark
please Subscribe now And please support the local journalism you rely on and trust.
Rob Jennings can be reached at: rjennings@njadvancemedia.com.
