An award-winning singer and actress is delivering this year’s commencement address at Rutgers University-Newark. The university announced on Wednesday that Newark native Queen Latifah will address the class of 2018 as the commencement speaker during the upcoming ceremony.
According to the university’s news release, one reason she was chosen to be the commencement speaker is because she serves as an inspiration to the students. “Queen Latifah is inspiring to us as students because she always projects herself through her work as a strong woman,” undergraduate student and selection committee member Adebimpe Elegbeleye said. “She shows young women that we can do that too and young men that they need to respect that.” The icon and humanitarian will also receive an honorary doctorate in fine arts.
Rutgers University-Newark is pleased to announce this year's 2018 Commencement speaker and honorary degree recipient will be, Newark's own, @IAMQUEENLATIFAH!: https://t.co/KCctMI5tdV #RutgersNewark #Newark #Commencement2018 pic.twitter.com/9K7vSlyoYg
— Rutgers-Newark (@Rutgers_Newark) February 7, 2018
Meanwhile, another feminist icon was chosen to speak at the commencement ceremony for Rutgers University-Camden. NJ.com reports that attorney and law professor Anita Hill will deliver the commencement address and receive an honorary doctorate of laws. Rutgers-Camden Chancellor Phoebe Haddon said in the university’s news release that Hill “is the ideal role model to charge graduating students to take what they learned at Rutgers-Camden and work to improve their communities and world.”
Previous commencement day speakers at Rutgers University-Newark include Interfaith Youth Core founder Eboo Patel, broadcast journalist Soledad O’Brien, Andrew W. Mellon Foundation President Earl Lewis and Audible CEO Donald Katz. This year’s ceremony for Rutgers-Newark will take place May 14 at the Prudential Center in New Jersey.
See how social media reacted to Queen Latifah being chosen as the 2018 commencement speaker below:
Social Media Reacts to Queen Latifah Delivering the Commencement Speech at Rutgers University-Newark
YES to Queen Latifah being the 2018 @Rutgers_Newark Commencement Speaker!
— Jaime Brown (@JaimeABrown) February 8, 2018
Rutgers Newark finally did something right….QUEEN LATIFAH IS GIVING THE COMMENCEMENT SPEECH FOR THE CLASS OF 2018
— Manal (@Nally345) February 8, 2018
omg QUEEN LATIFAH is speaking at Rutgers Newark’s graduation this year, that would have made my life
— nicole (@jicolenarvis) February 8, 2018
I'm glad to see #QueenLatifah will be coming home to be the commencement speaker at my alma mater! #NewJersey #Rutgers https://t.co/scXrNuxLOY
— LaMar Giles (@LaMar_Giles) February 8, 2018
Rutgers Newark’s commencement speaker is Queen Latifah and if Rutgers New Brunswick doesn’t get someone as cool as her I’m going to be so mad #joebidenpls
— val (@vaalllyt) February 7, 2018
Queen Latifah is my commencement speaker okaaay Rutgers!!
— inwhyeeshaye (@shebawse_) February 7, 2018
So excited that the pathblazer a colleague & I proposed as @Rutgers_Newark #Commencement speaker was selected & will be receiving an honorary degree this year: #Newark native & super-talented icon #QueenLatifah!: https://t.co/rxDZ8RU5EJ
— Jstheater (@jstheater) February 8, 2018
Queen Latifah and Anita Hill are doing Commencement addresses for Rutgers this year. Strong picks.
— Central NJ Yimby (@YIMBY_Princeton) February 7, 2018
What are your thoughts on Queen Latifah being chosen as the commencement speaker at Rutgers University-Newark? Who would you choose for the commencement address? Sound off in the comments section below!
Photo credit: Urbanworld Film Festival, Flickr