Rutherford, NJ – May 2022 – President James W. Crawford, III and the Felician University Board of Trustees are proud to announce that Jeh Johnson will receive an honorary doctor of letters degree and serve as keynote speaker at this year’s Commencement. He will address the graduates during the ceremony which will begin at 10am on May 21st at American Dream. Mr. Johnson is the former Secretary of Homeland Security under President Barack Obama and is a partner with the law firm of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton, & Martin.

Secretary Johnson was chosen for his life’s work which connects deeply to the mission of the University. His story includes a passion for issues related to social justice, civil rights and economic equality, and numerous efforts on behalf of justice and peace.

Jeh Johnson earned his JD from Columbia University Law School and his BA from Morehouse College. In 2021, he was a recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from The American Lawyer and Savoy magazine recognized him as one of the most influential black corporate directors in America. He holds 11 honorary degrees and three Department of Defense medals for distinguished public service. Johnson also serves on the Board for Lockheed Martin, US Steel, Columbia University, Council of Foreign Relations, the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, and the Center for a New American Security.

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About Felician University

Felician University inspires and engages more than 2,300 undergraduate, graduate, and adult education students through programs in its schools of Arts & Sciences, Business, Nursing, and Education. In the past three years, Felician University has ranked 3rd in New Jersey in “Best Return on Investment for Private Colleges” by the PayScale.com College ROI Report and the “#1 Safest College Campus in NJ” by niche.com. With campuses in Rutherford and Lodi, New Jersey, the Franciscan values of social justice, compassion, and respect for human dignity serve as an inclusive foundation for transforming the lives of tomorrow’s leaders. For more information, please visit https://felician.edu.