Dorothy Roberts (above)—scholar, public intellectual, and social justice advocate—delivered the keynote address at the Rutgers University–Newark Commencement on May 22 at the Prudential Center in Newark. Roberts also received an honorary doctor of laws degree. Wayne Winborne (inset), executive director of the Institute of Jazz Studies, acknowledged jazz great and Newark native Wayne Shorter, who received an honorary doctor of fine arts degree in absentia. 

Roberts spoke about her work to  highlight discriminatory assumptions  and practices in society. She encouraged graduates to imagine a path leading to a society that is humane and just, and to work with others who share the same  vision. “You inspire me to act as if the world I imagine can become reality,” Roberts said.

The civil rights advocate Vanita Gupta was the keynote speaker for the Rutgers Law School graduation ceremony on May 24, addressing graduates at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark. Gupta is president and CEO of the Leadership  Conference on Civil and Human Rights, the nation’s oldest and largest civil rights  coalition. William J. Federici LC’81, RBS’82, a retired senior vice president and chief financial officer of West Pharmaceutical  Services, Inc., was the keynote speaker at the ceremony for graduate students of Rutgers Business School–Newark and New Brunswick, held on May 24 at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center.