Honorary Degree, Distinguished Service & Presidential Medal Recipients

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

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, �� 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 �� 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

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’s 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

2006