CCCA and CPA Commencement celebrates 500 graduates

“Be critical, ignore criticism.”

So said Ken Tucker, and he ought to know.

Tucker, who was Commencement keynote speaker for the College of Communication & Creative Arts (CCCA) and the College of Performing Arts May 14, is pop-music critic for National Public Radio’s “Fresh Air with Terry Gross” and a TV critic and critic-at-large for Yahoo.

The winner of two National Magazine Awards and a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in criticism, Tucker advised graduates to pursue passion projects, to seek careers and goals that are meaningful to them, and to never be dissuaded by negative feedback.

“Do what your years at Rowan taught you to do,” Tucker said, urging graduates to live in the moment. “Put down your device and experience the experience.”

A professional critic since at least 1980, long before many from the Class of 2015 were born, Tucker said good criticism need not be negative.

“Tell people what you like,” he said. “Share things, pictures, examples of writing that you like and inspires you. Be pro-stuff, not anti-stuff, it will make your life better.”

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View video coverage of the ceremony here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-EwEToZoLo

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The morning program on University Green, the third day of four in Rowan University’s new weeklong program of Commencement ceremonies, celebrated the graduation of nearly 500 students from the two colleges.

It is also the first year that most colleges awarded Medals of Excellence and Tucker received one following his address for distinguished service to his profession.

The ceremony also honored 1985 graduate Ed Glavin as Distinguished Alumnus of the Year. Glavin, who was a Radio, Television & Film (RTF) major, is one of three executive producers for The Ellen DeGeneres Show on NBC.

On campus in April to celebrate the retirement of his mentor, RTF Professor Ned Eckhardt, Glavin accepted his award during the CCCA’s third annual Student Showcase and Awards Ceremony April 18.

Addressing graduates by video, he urged them to seek success and to never be afraid of making mistakes.

“I’ve made more mistakes than you ever will,” he said from a screen at the foot of Bunce Hall. “And look at me, I’m a distinguished alumnus.”

Moments earlier, President Ali Houshmand reminded the graduates that Rowan, like them, is becoming bigger and better, “poised to be a national leader.”

“Your Rowan degree is your entree to your future and as Rowan evolves it will be ever more valuable,” he said.

Following the program, RTF graduate Sol Baez of Camden said her immediate career plans include landing a local television internship and selling a movie treatment she’s writing for an animated program geared toward young adults.

Draped with a yellow and white cord in honor of her fundraising for the University, Baez said she personally donated $1,000 to Rowan since she began her studies as a transfer.

“I’m very excited,” she said. “Giving back was important to me because I know how hard it is for some students to go to college.”