Whoopi Goldberg to Address Kean Class of 2020

Whoopi Goldberg will speak to the Kean University Class of 2020 during virtual Commencement on May 29.

Goldberg is one of an elite group of artists to have won the Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony awards.

“We take great pride in announcing that Whoopi Goldberg will join us virtually for Commencement, continuing the Kean tradition of bringing insightful, important, diverse voices to celebrate our Kean graduates,” said Kean President Dawood Farahi, Ph.D.

“Our Class of 2020 is strong, resilient and accomplished. We could not be more proud of the way our Kean students have risen above the challenges the world faced this semester. We are honored to have Ms. Goldberg play such an important part in our first-ever virtual Commencement.” 

Kean will celebrate the accomplishments of more than 4,000 undergraduate and graduate students during the online event, which will feature musical performances, a virtual tassel turn, and speeches from Martin Luther King III, U.S. Senator Cory Booker, student leaders and others.

A New Jersey resident, Goldberg recently joined forces with other Garden State celebrities for the Jersey 4 Jersey TV benefit to raise money for the New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund.

“Commencement is a time not only to celebrate our students’ accomplishments but to inspire them,” said Ada Morell, chairwoman of the Kean Board of Trustees. “Whoopi Goldberg is just the person to do that, and I know our graduates will benefit from hearing her message.”

The virtual commencement will premiere at 10 a.m. on Friday, May 29 at kean.edu/commencement.