Former Camden Mayor Dana Redd SBC’96 to Deliver Commencement Keynote

The Honorable Dana Redd SBC’96, former mayor of the City of Camden, was named as the keynote speaker for the 2023 Rutgers University–Camden and Graduate School Commencement, to be held Monday, May 15 at 4 p.m. Redd, who transformed and revitalized Camden during two terms as mayor from 2010 to 2018, will also receive an honorary doctor of letters at the ceremony, as confirmed by the Rutgers University Board of Governors on Thursday, April 20.

“Dana Redd is a change agent of the highest caliber, and our city continues to build on the foundation she put into place,” said Rutgers–Camden Chancellor Antonio D. Tillis. “The arc of her career has been dedicated to the people and communities of New Jersey. I have no doubt that she—by the example of her life and through the words of her speech—will encourage our graduates to leverage what they have learned at Rutgers–Camden to improve their communities and the world.” 

Under Redd’s leadership, Camden transitioned to a new, community-based model of public safety, whose success motivated President Barack Obama to visit the city. She led a state intervention for the public school system to improve academic outcomes among the city’s children, and her financial management earned Camden its first investment grade rating from Standard & Poor’s in more than 15 years.

After completing her two terms as mayor, Redd served as CEO of the Rowan University/Rutgers–Camden Board of Governors, where she managed the construction and operations of the Joint Health Sciences Center and secured $4.5 million in state funding for new health initiatives. Currently, Redd serves as CEO of the nonprofit Camden Community Partnership, where her work continues to elevate the City of Camden. She is a member of the Rutgers–Camden Finest, a distinction reserved for the university’s most prominent alumni.

In addition to Redd, four other prominent South Jersey leaders will deliver keynote speeches at the Convocation ceremonies of Rutgers–Camden’s four academic units. The schedule of ceremonies and speakers is detailed below.