New Jersey’s commencement season, which typically attracts a mix of celebrity speakers and academic stars offering advice for new graduates, is underway.
Commencements at the state’s four-year colleges and universities began Wednesday with Montclair State University and will conclude May 28 with New Jersey City University, a 98-year-old institution in Jersey City pursuing a possible merger with Kean University.
This year’s commencement speakers include: a U.S. Olympian; a Golden Globe-winning actor and comedian; the founder of the African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey; and a former Rutgers University football player who became an advocate for spinal cord injury research after being injured in 2010. (See the full list of commencement speakers below.)
Multiple former U.S presidents — including Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Ronald Reagan and Lyndon Johnson — have spoken at commencements in New Jersey over the years.
Stevie Wonder performed several songs, including “I Just Called To Say I Love You,” after receiving an honorary degree at Rutgers University in 1999. Actor Bruce Willis and baseball legend Yogi Berra both spoke at Montclair State University’s commencement in 1996.
Last year’s celebrity speakers included: “Dawson’s Creek” actor James Van Der Beek; YouTube star Marques Brownlee; astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson; and musician Tariq Trotter, the artist better known as Black Thought and co-founder of The Roots.
This year’s commencement ceremonies are listed below. Some schools have not announced a speaker or said they do not plan to have a commencement speaker this year.
Bloomfield College
Speakers: None
Date: Thursday, May 8, at 9:30 a.m.
Location: Prudential Center in Newark
Caldwell University
Speakers: None announced
Date: Sunday, May 18; School of Business & Computer Science and School of Nursing & Health Services at 10 a.m., School of Arts & Sciences at 3 p.m.
Location: George R. Newman Center
Centenary University
Speaker: New Jersey State Police Superintendent Col. Patrick J. Callahan
Dates: Saturday, May 10, at 11 a.m.
Locations: Anderson Field
Drew University
Speakers: Craig Drinkard, the executive officer of the Victoria Foundation, will speak at the Drew Theological School commencement. David Epstein, an investigative reporter and best-selling author, will address the the College of Liberal Arts and Caspersen School of Graduate Studies.
Date: Saturday, May 17; at 9:30 a.m. for the Drew Theological School; at 1 p.m. for the College of Liberal Arts and graduate students in the Caspersen School of Graduate Studies data science, education, finance, and teaching programs.
Location: Outdoors on the Drew campus on the Mead Hall Lawn
Fairleigh Dickinson University
Speaker: Eric LeGrand, former Rutgers University football player who became an activist for spinal cord injury research after being injured in a game.
Date: Wednesday, May 14, at 9:30 a.m.
Location: MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford
Felician University
Speaker: None announced
Date: Thursday, May 22, at 9:30 a.m.
Location: The Rink at American Dream in East Rutherford
Georgian Court University
Speakers: Former New Jersey Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno, now executive director of the Mercy Center in Asbury Park, will address graduates. Tara Chalakani, an integrative psychotherapist and CEO of Preferred Behavioral Health Group in Lakewood, will address undergraduates.
Dates: Thursday, May 15, at 12:30 p.m. for undergraduates and 5 p.m. for graduates.
Location: Wellness Center Arena on the university’s campus in Lakewood
Kean University
Speaker: Olympic gymnast Laurie Hernandez, who won a gold medal in the women’s team gymnastics event and a silver on the balance beam at the 2016 Olympics.
Date: Tuesday, May 13, at 8 a.m.
Location: Prudential Center in Newark
Monmouth University
Speakers: None announced
Dates: Wednesday, May 14, at 10 a.m. for graduates; Thursday, May 15, for undergraduates — 10 a.m. for the Leon Hess Business School, 1 p.m. for Wayne D. McMurray School of Humanities and Social Sciences, and 4 p.m. for the Marjorie K. Unterberg School of Nursing and Health Studies, School of Social Work, School of Education, and the School of Science.
Locations: OceanFirst Bank Center in West Long Branch
Montclair State University
Speakers: None
Dates: Wednesday, May 7, at 9:30 a.m., for the College of the Arts, College for Community Health, College for Education and Engaged Learning, College of Science and Mathematics, School of Nursing
Location: Prudential Center in Newark
New Jersey City University
Speakers: Julissa Reynoso Pantaleón, formerly the U.S. ambassador to Spain and Uruguay, and chief of staff to former First Lady Jill Biden; and George Helmy, who served as a U.S. senator for four months last year and previously was Gov. Phil Murphy’s chief of staff
Date: Wednesday, May 28, at 8 a.m.
Location: Prudential Center in Newark
New Jersey Institute of Technology
Speakers: Kevin O’Toole, chairman of the Board of Commissioners of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, will address undergraduates. Maria Vasquez Karim, engineering program manager for YouTube ML hardware readiness at Google, will address master’s graduates at Ying Wu College of Computing graduates. Ken Colao, CEO of construction management company CNY Group, will address master’s graduates at the Newark College of Engineering, Hillier College of Architecture and Design, Jordan Hu College of Science and Liberal Arts and Martin Tuchman School of Management. Anita La Salle, former program director at the Division for Computer and Network Systems at the National Science Foundation, will address doctoral candidates.
Dates: Monday, May 19, at 9 a.m. for the Ying Wu College of Computing; 1 p.m. for the Newark College of Engineering, Hillier College of Architecture and Design, Jordan Hu College of Science and Liberal Arts, and Martin Tuchman School of Management; 4 p.m. doctoral candidates ceremony. Wednesday, May 21, at 9 a.m. for undergraduates.
Locations: Joel & Diane Bloom Wellness and Events Center on the campus in Newark for master’s and doctoral candidates; Prudential Center in Newark for undergraduates
Pillar College
Speaker: Joshua Rodriguez, one of two lead pastors at The Cityline Church in Jersey City
Dates: Friday, May 16, at 2 p.m.
Location: Zarephath Christian Church in Franklin Township
Princeton University
Speakers: Jay Shetty, host of mental health podcast “On Purpose,” will address Princeton seniors at the Class Day ceremony
Dates: Class Day ceremony for seniors is Monday, May 26, at 10:30 a.m. Commencement is Tuesday, May 27, at 10 a.m., for all graduates.
Locations: Class Day is at Cannon Green on campus. Commencement is at Weaver Stadium in Princeton.
Ramapo College
Speakers: New Jersey Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin will address undergraduates
Dates; Thursday, May 15, at 8:40 a.m. for undergraduates. Thursday, May 22, at 5:15 p.m. for graduates.
Locations: Prudential Center in Newark for undergraduates. Bill Bradley Sports and Recreation Center on campus for graduates.
Rider University
Speakers: U.S. Sen. Andy Kim and Rosephanye Powell, a prominent choral composer whose work has been performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Spivey Hall and London’s Cadogan Hall.
Dates: Saturday, May 17; Graduate commencement at 9:30 a.m., undergraduate commencement at 2 p.m.
Locations: Cure Insurance Arena in Trenton
Rowan University
Speaker: Wawa CEO Chris Gheysens
Date: Saturday, May 10, at 10 a.m
Location: Wackar Stadium
Rutgers University - New Brunswick and Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
Speakers: Peter Seligmann, a longtime conversationist who co-founded the environmental nonprofits Conservation International and the global collaborative Nia Tero
Dates: Sunday, May 18, at 10 a.m.
Locations: SHI Stadium in Piscataway
Rutgers-Newark
Speakers: Ramy Youssef, a Golden Globe-winning actor, producer, director and comedian
Dates: Thursday, May 22
Locations: Prudential Center in Newark
Rutgers-Camden
Speakers: Mickalene Thomas, a visualist and filmmaker
Dates: Tuesday, May 20
Locations: Freedom Mortgage Pavilion
Saint Elizabeth University
Speakers: None announced
Dates: Thursday, May 15, at 10 a.m.
Locations: Front lawn of the Sisters of Charity Motherhouse
Saint Peter’s University
Speakers: U.S. Foreign Service Officer Marta Costanzo Youth, a 1987 graduate
Dates: Monday, May 19 at 11 a.m.
Locations: PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel
Seton Hall University
Speakers: Outgoing Provost and Senior Executive Vice President Katia Passerini, who served as Seton Hall’s interim president in 2023 and 2024, and in July will become president of Gonzaga University
Dates: Monday, May 19 at 9 a.m.
Locations: Prudential Center in Newark
Stevens Institute of Technology
Speakers: Emilio A. Fernandez, an entrepreneur, innovator and emeritus trustee at Stevens
Dates: Wednesday, May 21 at 9 a.m. for undergraduates and 3 p.m. for graduates
Locations: PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel
Stockton University
Speakers: Dwight McBee, chief patient experience officer at RWJBarnabas Health, will speak at both commencements for undergraduates.
Dates: Tuesday, May 13 at 2 p.m. for doctoral and master’s graduates; Friday, May 16 at 9:30 a.m. for undergraduates from School of Education, School of General Studies, School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics and School of Social & Behavioral Sciences. 2:30 p.m. for undergraduates from School of Arts and Humanities, School of Business and School of Health Sciences.
Locations: Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City for undergraduates. Stockton University Sports Center in Galloway for graduates.
The College of New Jersey
Speakers: None announced
Dates: Thursday, May 22, 8:30 a.m. for undergraduates
Locations: Lions Stadium
William Paterson University
Speakers: John E. Harmon Sr., founder, president, and CEO of the African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey
Dates: Tuesday, May 20, at 9 a.m. for undergraduates; Thursday, May 22 for master’s and doctoral degree candidates: 9 a.m., Cotsakos College of Business; 1:30 p.m., College of Science and Health; 6 p.m. the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Science and the College of Education
Locations: Prudential Center in Newark for undergraduates; the Sports and Recreation Center on William Paterson’s Wayne campus for master’s and doctoral degree candidates
Stories by Rob Jennings
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Rob Jennings may be reached at rjennings@njadvancemedia.com.