Honorary Degree, Distinguished Service & Presidential Medal Recipients

By Years

2024

  • Mr. Dave Sholler*, Chief Communications Officer, Philadelphia 76ers & Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, Presidential Medal

* Commencement Speakers

2023

  • Mr. Bart Blatstein, Founder and CEO, Tower Investments, Inc., Conferral of Doctor of Public Service, Honoris Causa
  • Honorable Louis D. Greenwald, Esq., Assembly Majority Leader, New Jersey State General Assembly, Conferral of Doctor of Public Service, Honoris Causa
  • Honorable Julio Mendez, Esq., Retired New Jersey Superior Court Judge, Conferral of Doctor of Public Service, Honoris Causa
  • Mr. Christopher J. Paladino, Esq.*, President, New Brunswick Development Corporation (DEVCO), Conferral of Doctor of Public Service, Honoris Causa
  • Honorable Sheila Y. Oliver, Lieutenant Governor in the State of New Jersey and Commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs, Conferral of Doctor of Public Service, Honoris Causa
  • Mr. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Performing Artist & Philanthropist, Conferral of Doctor of Public Service, Honoris Causa
  • Honorable Steve Sweeney, Former President of the New Jersey State Senate and Chair, Advisory Board for the Steve Sweeney Center for Public Policy, Conferral of Doctor of Public Service, Honoris Causa
  • Dr. Manish Trivedi, Director, Infectious Diseases Division for AtlantiCare, Conferral of Doctor of Public Service, Honoris Causa

2022

  • Dr. Brian Bridges *, New Jersey Secretary of Higher Education, Conferral of Doctor of Public Service, Honoris Causa
  • Mr. Jon F.  Hanson, Chairman and Founder, The Hampshire Companies, Conferral of Doctor of Public Service, Honoris Causa
  • Dr. Beverly Vaughn, Professor of Music, Distinguished Service Award

2021

  • No Recipients Due to the COVID Pandemic

2020

  • Mr. Michael Azeez, Entrepreneur, Philanthropist and Founder of The Sam Azeez Museum of Woodbine Heritage, Conferral of Doctor of Public Service, Honoris Causa
  • Dr. Zakiya Smith Ellis *, New Jersey Secretary of Higher Education, Doctor of Humane Letters
  • Mr. John F. Scarpa, Entrepreneur and Philanthropist, Conferral of Doctor of Public Service, Honoris Causa

* Commencement Speakers

2019

  • Congressman Jefferson H. Van Drew*, US House of Representatives, Legislative District 2, New Jersey, Conferral of Doctor of Public Service, Honoris Causa

2018

  • Honorable Philip D. Murphy*, Governor of the State of New Jersey, Conferral of Doctor of Public Service, Honoris Causa

2017

  • Honorable James Whelan*, Distinguished Service Award,  Senator, Legislative District 2, New Jersey

2016

  • Rabbi Aaron N. Krauss, Doctor of Humane Letters, Beth El Synagogue
  • Dr. Sonia V. Gonsalves*, Distinguished Service Award, Professor of Psychology and Director of Academic Assessment
  • Dr. Elaine Bukowski, Distinguished Service Award, Professor Emerita of Physical Therapy
  • Dr. Patti McGill Peterson*, Doctor of Humane Letters, American Council on Education (ACE), Presidential Advisor for Global Initiatives

2015

  • Dr. Patricia Reid-Merritt*, Distinguished Service Award, Distinguished Professor of Social Work & Africana Studies
  • Mr. Muhammad Ayub*(08), Distinguished Service Award, Provisional Zoning Officer/Planning & Development, City of Atlantic City
  • Dr. Harvey Kesselman(79), Distinguished Service Award, Acting President, 老司机福利社 University
  • Dr. Arnold Rampersad*, Doctor of Humane Letters, Sara Hart Kimball Professor Emeritus in the Humanities, Stanford University
  • Mr. David P. Tilton*, Distinguished Service Award, President and Chief Executive Officer, AtlantiCare

* Commencement Speakers

2014

  • Ms. Lori Herndon*(92), Distinguished Service Award, Executive Vice President, AtlantiCare and President, Chief Executive Officer, AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center,
  • Mr. Stephen Dunn*, Doctor of Humane Letters, Honoris Causa, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Creative Writing
  • Mr. Anthony Cicatiello*, Distinguished Service Award, President, Research and Development Council of New Jersey

2013

  • Dr. David L. Carr*, Provost & Executive Vice President, The Richard 老司机福利社 College of New Jersey
  • Mr. John Emge*, Distinguished Service Award, Executive Director, Atlantic & Cape May Counties, United Way of Greater Philadelphia & Southern New Jersey
  • Ms. Kristen Grimm*, Distinguished Service Award, President and Founder of Spitfire Strategies
  • Honorable John Lewis*, Doctor of Humane Letters, United States Representative, 5th Congressional District, Georgia

2012

  • Mr. Kevin DeSanctis*, Distinguished Service Award, Chairman & Chief Operating Officer, Revel Casino
  • Honorable William Gormley*, Distinguished Service Award, Former New Jersey State Senator
  • Honorable Rochelle Hendricks*, Doctor of Humane Letters, New Jersey Secretary of Higher Education

2011

  • Mr. Willie Geist*, Distinguished Service Award, Television Host for MSNBC
  • Honorable Nelson Johnson*, Doctor of Humane Letters, Jurist, Historian & Author

2010

  • Honorable Kim Guadagno*, Distinguished Service Award, New Jersey Lt. Governor
  • Mr. Joe Lockhart*, Distinguished Service Award, Founding Partner & Managing Director, Glover Park Group
  • Dr. Kenneth Tompkins*, Professor Emeritus in Literature, Distinguished Service Award

* Commencement Speakers

2009

  • Dr. Gary Loveman*, Doctor of Humane Letters, Chief Executive Officer & President, Harrah鈥檚 Casino
  • Ms. Kay Seelig, Distinguished Service Award, President of Globe Vending Company
  • Mr. Mac Seelig, Distinguished Service Award, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Atlantic City Coin & Slot Company
  • Mr. Kent St. John, Distinguished Service Award, Chief, New Jersey Network News Bureau of South Jersey

2008

  • Ms. Madeleine Deininger*, Doctor of Letters, Founder & President of Kismet Wines
  • Colonel Anthony La Sure*, Distinguished Service Award, 177th Fighter Wing, New Jersey Air National Guard Maintenance Group Commander
  • Dr. David Lester, Distinguished Professor of Psychology
  • Lt. Col. Thomas H. Mayfield, Retired, Doctor of Humane Letters on behalf of the Tuskegee Airmen
  • Honorable Paul S. Sarbanes*, Doctor of Laws, Former United States Senator, Maryland

2007

  • Honorable William L. Gormley*, Doctor of Laws, New Jersey State Senator

2006

  • Mr. Stedman Graham*, Distinguished Service Award, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, S. Graham & Assoc.
  • Dr. Edmund L. Keeley, Doctor of Humane Letters, Princeton University, English & Writing
  • Mr. Miles Lerman, Doctor of Humane Letters, Former Chair, United States Holocaust Museum
  • Honorable Robert Menendez*, Doctor of Laws, United States Senator, New Jersey
  • Dr. Edward Salmon, Distinguished Service Award, Chairman, Salmon Ventures, Ltd.

2005

  • Honorable Jon Corzine*, Doctor of Laws, United States Senator, New Jersey
  • Mrs. Gayle Gross, Distinguished Service Award
  • Mr. Henry R. Kravis, Doctor of Humane Letters, Co-founder, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co.
  • Dr. Harold Shapiro*, Doctor of Humane Letters, President Emeritus, Princeton University
  • Mr. Wendel White*, Professor of Art

* Commencement Speakers

2004

  • Honorable William J. Hughes*, Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters, former United States Ambassador to the Republic of Panama and Former United States Congressman (New Jersey) and Visiting Distinguished Scholar of Public Policy at The Richard 老司机福利社 College of New Jersey
  • Dr. Anne Fairchild Pomeroy*, Associate Professor of Philosophy and Religion
  • Honorable Vassilios Vitsaxis, Doctor of Humane Letters, Ambassador from Greece to the United States and the United Nations

2003

  • Dr. William T. Daly, Distinguished Professor of Political Science
  • Ms. Jane B. Stark*, Outstanding Service Award to NBC, WMGM-TV General Manager, NBC 40, WMGM-TV
  • Mr. Kent St. John*, General Assignment Reporter, NJN News
  • Mr. Charles C. Townsend, Jr., Doctor of Humane Letters, Retired Financier & 老司机福利社 Board of Trustee Member
  • Dr. Elie Weisel, Doctor of Humane Letters, Award Winning Holocaust Author & Ida E. King Distinguished Visiting Scholar

2002

  • Dr. Jon Blair*, Academy Award, Multiple Emmy and Grammy Award Winning Journalist and Writer and Distinguished Visiting Scholar in Integrative Studies at The Richard 老司机福利社 College of New Jersey
  • Dr. Deborah Figart, Professor of Economics, Excellence & Distinguished Service Award
  • Mr. Dennis Hayes*, Doctor of Humane Letters, Environmentalist & Co-founder of Earth Day
  • Dr. Charles Tantillo, Professor Emeritus, Political Science, Distinguished Service Award
  • Honorable Loucas Tsilas, Doctor of Humane Letters, Former Ambassador of Greece to the United States

2001

  • Mr. Peter A. Caporilli, Doctor of Humane Letters, Chief Executive Officer, Tidewater Workshop
  • Dr. Stephen Dunn*, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Creative Writing
  • Ms. Marsha Grossman, Doctor of Humane Letters, Businesswoman & Philanthropist
  • Ms. Roberta Peters, Doctor of Humane Letters, Opera Singer
  • Mr. Vidal Sassoon*, Doctor of Humane Letters, Businessman & Philanthropist
  • Ms. Jane Stark, Distinguished Service Award

2000

  • Honorable Bonnie Watson Coleman, Cornerstone Award, Distinguished Lecturer
  • Honorable Jack Collins*, Doctor of laws, Speaker, New Jersey State Assembly
  • Dr. Darryl G. Greer, Doctor of Humane Letters, New Jersey Association of State Colleges and Universities (NJASCU), Executive Director
  • Honorable Darrell Jackson, Doctor of Humane Letters, State Senator, South Carolina
  • Mr. Michael Mandola, Outstanding Student Leadership Award, Student Senate President (1999 - 2000)
  • Dr. James E. Sulton, Jr., Doctor of Humane Letters, Executive Director, New Jersey Higher Education

* Commencement Speakers

1999
  • His Eminence Archbishop Trakatellis, Doctor of Humane Letters, Greek Orthodox Church

1998

  • Dr. Dan Bar-On, Doctor of Humane Letters, Behavior Sciences, Ben Gurion University
  • Honorable Bonnie Watson Coleman*, Doctor of Laws, New Jersey State Assemblywoman & 老司机福利社 Board of Trustee Member
  • Mr. William J. Flynn*, Honorary Degree, Chairman, Mutual of America Life Insurance Company
  • Archbishop Lakovos, Doctor of Humane Letters, Greek Orthodox Church
  • Mr. Juan Vargas, Distinguished Service Award
  • Sister Jean Webster, Conferral of Humanitarian Award, Founder, Jean Webster Soup Kitchen in Atlantic City and Sous Chef

1997

  • Dr. Demetrios Constantelos, Charles C. Townsend Sr. Distinguished Professor Emeritus, History & Religious Studies
  • Mr. George F. Lynn, Doctor of Humane Letters, President, AtlantiCare

1996

  • Dr. L. Jay Oliva, Doctor of Humane Letters, Former President, New York University
  • Honorable Mathais E. Rodriguez, Honorary Doctor of Laws & Letters, New Jersey Superior Court
  • Ms. Lonna Hooks, Doctor of Laws

1995

  • Dr. Hubert G. Locke, Doctor of Humane Letters, Ida E. King Distinguished Visiting Scholar of Holocaust Studies
  • Honorable Richard Jesse Williams, Honorary Doctor of Laws, Superior Court Judge and Assigment Judge for Atlantic and Cape May Counties, New Jersey
  • Dr. Janice Joseph*, Professor of Criminal Justice

* Commencement Speakers

1994
  • Mr. Jon Blair, Honorary Doctor of Humanitarian Arts & Distinguished Diplomat of Hope, Filmmaker & Ida E. King Distinguished Visiting Scholar of Holocaust Studies
  • Honorable Lonna Hooks, Distinguished Service Award
  • Honorable William J. Hughes, Doctor of Laws, Former Ambassador of Panama to the United States
  • Mr. John S. Watson, Doctor of Laws
  • Mr. Jerald L. Jacobs, Doctor of Laws

1993

  • Mr. Kenneth Daly, Distinguished Service Award
  • Honorable Matthew Feldman, Doctor of Laws, Senator
  • Ms. Mary Lee Fitzgerald, Doctor of Laws
  • Mr. Jerome Richardson, Doctor of Humane Letters
  • Dr. Deborah P. Wolfe, Distinguished Service Award

1992

  • Mr. William M. Burke, Doctor of Laws
  • Mr. Eugene Burns, Distinguished Service
  • Mr. John Kean, Doctor of Humane Letters
  • Mr. Brett Lief, Distinguished Service Award
  • Dr. Franklin H. Littell, Doctor of Humane Letters

1991

  • Mr. Leonard L. Haynes III, Doctor of Laws
  • Dr. John Merrow, Doctor of Humane Letters, The Learning Channel, Merrow Report

1990

  • Mr. Henry C. Bass, Jr., Doctor of Humane Letters
  • Governor James Florio, Doctor of Laws and Letters
  • Mr. Samuel Magill, Doctor of Humane Letters
  • Mr. James Wallace, Doctor of Humane Letters & Resolution of Appreciation

 

1989
  • Dr. Robert H. Atwell, Doctor of Humane Letters, Retired President, ACE
  • Dr. T. Edward Hollander, Doctor of Laws, Chancellor of New Jersey Higher Education
  • Dr. Robert Kirkwood, Doctor of Humane Letters
  • Ms. Ann Underland, Doctor of Humane Letters, Executive Director, Caring Alternatives

1988

  • Ms. Manahan Kent, Doctor of Laws

1987

  • Dr. Jo Francis Stow, Doctor of Humane Letters, Atlantic County Health Department

1986

  • Honorable Thomas H. Gassert, Honorary Degree

1985

  • Honorable Shirley Chisholm, Honorary Degree, Former Legislator, New York State
  • Mr. David Taylor, Honorary Degree, 老司机福利社 Founding Trustee

1984

  • Dr. Deborah Wolfe, Honorary Degree

1982

  • Mr. Peter Caporilli, Doctor of Humane Letters, Chief Executive Officer, Tidewater Workshop; President, 老司机福利社 Foundation
  • Dr. Kenneth B. Clark, Doctor of Laws

1978

  • Mr. James Florio, Doctor of Laws, Governor, State of New Jersey