U.S. Senator Cory Booker to Speak at Kean Undergraduate Commencement

U.S. Senator Cory Booker, a widely respected political leader who served as mayor of Newark before being elected to the U.S. Senate, will speak to more than 2,500 students and their families on May 17 during Kean University’s Undergraduate Commencement at Newark’s Prudential Center.

“We are thrilled that Sen. Booker will be our commencement speaker,” said Dawood Farahi, Ph.D., Kean’s president. “His leadership on a host of issues from the local to the national level provides a strong example to our students of what they can achieve and how they can make a difference in our world.”

Booker was first elected to the Newark City Council at age 29 and is credited with improving the city’s economy, public schools, city services, and affordable housing opportunities during his seven-year tenure as mayor.

In 2013, Booker won a special election to represent New Jersey in the U.S. Senate, and he was re-elected to a full six-year term the following year. Since joining the Senate, he has advocated for federal resources to modernize New Jersey’s transportation infrastructure, pushed for criminal justice reform and partnered with other political leaders on a host of economic initiatives. He has been a passionate and consistent voice in advocating for common sense gun safety measures and immigration reform.

“Commencement is always such an exciting time for our graduates and their families, and I cannot think of a better person to address them than Sen. Booker,” said Ada Morell, chair of the Kean Board of Trustees. “We look forward to hearing the message he has for our graduates as they embark on the next chapter of their lives as Kean alumni.”

Diane Miron ’61 will receive an honorary degree at the Undergraduate Commencement. The University’s Miron Student Center is named after Diane and Bob Miron, who made a major gift to Kean. Diane Miron graduated with a degree in elementary education after growing up in economically challenged circumstances. She credits Kean with helping her to pursue her passion for teaching.

Kean University is expected to award more than 2,500 undergraduate degrees and nearly 700 graduate degrees at this year’s commencement ceremonies, similar to the number of graduates in 2017.