Former New Jersey governor, chairperson of the 9/11 Commission to receive honorary degree

NEW PALTZ — Thomas H. Kean, former New Jersey Governor and Chairperson of the 9/11 Commission, will receive an honorary doctorate of humane letters at the State University of New York at New Paltz Commencement Exercises at 10 a.m., Sunday, May 20, on the Old Main Quadrangle.

Thomas H. Kean

Gov. Kean will deliver the undergraduate commencement address after receiving the honorary degree, the highest honor that the State University of New York can bestow upon an individual.

Gov. Kean, who recently retired from the presidency of Drew University, has been active in politics and education for several decades, serving on a number of national committees and commissions. He served as New Jersey Governor from 1982-1990 and spent 10 years in the New Jersey Assembly, where he served as majority leader, minority leader and speaker. As leader of the bipartisan 9/11 Commission, Gov. Kean has demonstrated his strengths as a consensus-builder and has ratcheted up his reputation as an effective statesman.

Gov. Kean has a longtime commitment and active involvement in education as both a college president and a politician who has participated in a number of education- and youth-related initiatives. Given the nation’s increased attention to terrorism since Sept. 11, 2001, Gov. Kean has emerged as a familiar face in addressing the needs of the nation in terms of terrorism preparedness and has spearheaded some tough scrutiny of the nation’s intelligence services in order to improve the country’s readiness for future terrorist attacks.

"Thomas Kean has a distinguished career as a public servant and educator," said College President Steven Poskanzer. "His work as New Jersey’s Governor, as Chairperson of the 9/11 Commission and as president of Drew University make him an inspiring role model for our students."

Gov. Kean earned an A.B. from Princeton University and an M.A. from Columbia University’s Teachers College. In addition, he is chairman of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Carnegie Corporation of New York and holds more than 25 honorary degrees from colleges and universities and numerous awards from environmental and educational organizations.

The college will hold the May Graduate Commencement Ceremony at 6 p.m. on Friday, May 18, in the college’s new Athletic and Wellness Center.

Both commencement ceremonies are ticketed events, and all graduation candidates and spectators must present a ticket to participate. For more information, visit www.newpaltz.edu/commencement.