Rutgers University–New Brunswick and Rutgers Health Commencement 

Freeman A. Hrabowski III, an American educator and mathematician, served as the President of UMBC and holds a Bachelor of Science in mathematics from Hampton Institute, and earned his Master's and Ph.D. in higher education administration/statistics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; he's a fervent advocate for STEM education and minority participation in STEM fields, notably founding the Meyerhoff Scholars Program at UMBC, and has received numerous awards for his contributions to education and civil rights advocacy.

Dr. Jelani Cobb, an distinguished scholar with a Ph.D. in American History from Rutgers University, currently serves as the Ira A. Lipman Professor of Journalism at Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, while also contributing to The New Yorker, authoring notable books such as "The Substance of Hope: Barack Obama and the Paradox of Progress," and being recognized for his expertise in race, politics, and culture in America.

William E. Best, senior vice president at PNC Bank, spearheads efforts to drive growth and prosperity for low to moderate income segments across New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, and Boston. During his tenure as chair of Rutgers University's Board of Trustees, Mr. Best led a Task Force on Student Aid, resulting in the creation of the Scarlet Promise Endowment, a lasting resource dedicated to providing need-based student aid.