More than 3,000 graduates will receive doctoral, master’s, bachelor’s and associate degrees at the University’s 65th Commencement ceremony on Tuesday, May 20, at 10 a.m., at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, N.J.

The University will confer honorary doctor of humane letters degrees on Michael Chertoff, secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security; Rodney Frelinghuysen, representative for New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District; and George Martin, FDU alumnus BA’87 (Ruth), business leader, athlete, volunteer and activist. Chertoff will deliver the Commencement Address.

From left are George Martin, Rodney Frelinghuysen and Michael Chertoff.

The campus provosts will present the Student Pinnacle awards to a student from each campus who has demonstrated academic excellence, public service and commitment to the University. Each winner will deliver remarks.

Jennifer Lehr, communication and director, MA in corporate/organizational communication (Flor), and Joseph Kiernan, interim University provost and senior vice president for academic affairs (Metro/Flor) and economics/finance (Metro), will read the names of the graduates.

Antoinette Anastasia, biological sciences (Metro), is the ceremony’s grand marshal. Head marshals are Julie Mazur, assistant dean of students and director, residence life (Flor), and Nestor Melendez, assistant dean of students (Metro).

Student Pinnacle Award Recipients

The College at Florham Student Pinnacle Award will be presented by Campus Provost Kenneth Greene to Dean Chamberlain, Jr., who will graduate with a bachelor of science degree in biology, magna cum laude. Chamberlain has achieved outstanding honors in his field of bioloogy. His research has been accepted by the American Society for Microbiology’s annual meeting, awarded first place at the Metropolitan Association of College and University Biologists meeting and published in The Bulletin of the New Jersey Academy of Science.

As a campus leader, Chamberlain served as vice president of academic affairs and academic affairs senator of the Student Government Association and was a resident assistant. He also organized events to promote awareness of biology and environmental issues as vice president of the Biology Club and member of the Green Club. As a volunteer emergency management technician with the Florham Park emergency squad, Chamberlain assisted students on campus who needed emergency care. He also worked in a hospital emergency department, where he prepared patients for examination.

Chamberlain was recognized as a Col. Fairleigh S. Dickinson Scholar, Charter Day Scholar and a member of the Phi Omega Epsilon Honors Society. He will begin medical school at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey School of Osteopathic Medicine this fall.

Robert Greenfield, interim campus provost (Metro), will present the Student Pinnacle to Nirodha Wijeyewickrema, who will graduate with a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering, summa cum laude. A native of Sri Lanka, Wijeyewickrema came to FDU to pursue a major in electrical engineering. Over her four years on campus, she held leadership positions in the Residence Hall Association, International Student Association (ISA), University Players Theater Group, Catholic Campus Ministry and the Society for Women Engineers, among others.

As a member of the International Student Focus Group, she served as an adviser to the Office of the Provost and Office of International Student Services, helping to shape major policy changes that benefit new international students. Off campus, Wijeyewickrema visited local elementary schools to teach students about Sri Lankan culture through ISA and worked as a technology business analysis intern for Thomson Financial Core Product Management.

Wijeyewickrema was recognized as a Col. Fairleigh S. Dickinson Scholar, recipient of the Patricia and Albert Baron award for commitment and contributions to the community and member of the Phi Zeta Kappa Honor Society. After graduation, Wijeyewickrema plans to work for a year before pursuing an MBA in project management or finance.

Honorary Degree Recipients

Michael Chertoff is the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. He formerly served as U.S. circuit judge for the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. The Senate previously confirmed Chertoff in 2001 to serve as assistant attorney general for the Criminal Division at the Department of Justice. As assistant attorney general, he oversaw the investigation of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He also formed the Enron Task Force, which produced more than 20 convictions. Chertoff spent more than a decade as a federal prosecutor. Among the cases he prosecuted was the case in which the leaders of La Cosa Nostra were sentenced to 100 years in prison. He is a magna cum laude graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School.

Rodney Frelinghuysen is serving in his seventh term as the representative for New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District (56 municipalities including all those in Morris County and several communities in Sussex, Somerset, Passaic and Essex Counties). In the 110th Congress, he serves as New Jersey’s senior member of the House Appropriations Committee and on two appropriations subcommittees: commerce, justice, science and related agencies, of which he is the ranking member and defense. He is also a member of the Select Intelligence Oversight Panel. The New York Times called him “New Jersey’s go-to-guy.” He continues to focus on critical issues facing New Jersey, including securing its homeland, expanding its mass transportation systems, preserving open space, creating jobs and supporting veterans.

George Martin, FDU alumnus, BA’87 (Ruth), former New York Giants’ defensive lineman and vice president of AXA Sports Financial Services, has achieved success and supported the achievements of others as a business leader, athlete, volunteer and activist. Martin is now nearing completion of “A Journey for 9/11,” a 3,500-mile walk from New York to California. His mission is to raise $10 million to help provide health care for the rescue and recovery workers who fell ill after the 9/11 attacks. From 1975 to 1988, Martin played a pivotal role with the New York Giants as a defensive lineman. During his professional football career, he set the National Football League record for most touchdowns by a defensive lineman and was a member of the Super Bowl XXI championship team.

For full background information on the honorees, visit http://view.fdu.edu/default.aspx?id=751 .

Commencement Logistics

Faculty, staff and candidates for graduation must arrive at the Izod Center no later than 8:30 a.m. Marshals must arrive by 8 a.m. Because of parking reconfiguration and traffic lane construction in the area, attendees should allow 45 minutes to one hour extra travel time. Families and friends of the graduates should also allow for the extra travel time. Backpacks and large bags will not be permitted for security reasons. Participants should enter the arena between Gates A and D and use the escalators to go down to the floor level. There, signs will be posted for robing rooms and for volunteers to receive instructions. Students will be lined up on the arena floor level according to degree and by college. All graduates will have their names called and will walk across the stage; photographs will be taken of each graduate.

The ceremony should end by 1 p.m. Graduates will be able to pick up their diplomas in the Offices of Enrollment Services on each campus starting Monday, June 23, or diplomas can be mailed to the graduates’ homes.

The College at Florham marshals’ meeting will take place on Wednesday, May 14, at 11:30 a.m. in the Bottle Hill Room, Student Center. A training session for Metropolitan Campus faculty and staff marshals and volunteers will be held on Thursday, May 15, at 3 p.m. in the Multipurpose Room, Student Union Building.

Faculty and staff must return their academic regalia in the original boxes to their respective campus bookstores no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, May 23. Charges will be incurred if the regalia is not returned on time. Both campus bookstores will be open Monday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For more information on commencement and full background information on the honorees, visit http://view.fdu.edu/default.aspx?id=751 .

April/May 2008

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Flor =
College at Florham, Madison, N.J.

Metro =
Metropolitan Campus, Teaneck, N.J.

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