Commencement highlights: Rowan to honor Edelman, Cosgrove, Hamill

Amid the celebration of Rowan University’s Centennial, this year’s Commencement Week promises to be bigger and more exciting than ever!

The main University ceremony Saturday, May 4, in Wackar Stadium, will celebrate the achievements of 5,652 students, including 4,225 undergraduates, 1,109 graduate students, 208 students from Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine, and 110 from Cooper Medical School of Rowan University.

The May 4 program will feature a keynote address by legendary financial advisor Ric Edelman ’80, the bestowing of an honorary Doctor of Entrepreneurship on Joseph Cosgrove ’00, and the recognition of writer Janet Hamill ’67 as Distinguished Alumna.

Edelman, top left, is a New York Times-bestselling author and perhaps the best-known financial advisor in America. He, along with his wife Jean ’81, founded Edelman Financial Services after college. The company in 2018 acquired Financial Engines to form Edelman Financial Engines and today manages more than $270 billion in assets.

The Edelmans’ generosity has helped propel Rowan forward with such key initiatives as the Jean & Ric Edelman Fossil Park & Museum, the Ric and Jean Edelman Planetarium and the Edelman Scholars fund, which supports top students in the Ric Edelman College of Communication & Creative Arts.

Cosgrove, a 2000 graduate of the Rohrer College of Business (RCB) who became Rowan’s newest Board of Trustees member April 10, is president, chief executive officer and board member of Colorado-based Leiters Health, a provider of compounded medications and pharmacy services.

Rowan’s Distinguished Alumnus in 2022, Cosgrove is a recognized innovator in health care services with more than 30 years of experience. In addition to serving on Rowan’s Board of Trustees, he’s an advisory board member and Entrepreneur in Residence for RCB.

Hamill, at right, is a prolific poet and author who’s been nominated for some of the greatest awards in letters, including the Pushcart Prize and the William Carlos Williams Prize.

The author of 10 books of poetry and fiction, Hamill’s debut volume of stories, “Tales from the Eternal Café,” was named one of the best books of 2014 by “Publisher’s Weekly”.

Commencement Week 2024 runs from Friday, May 3, through Thursday, May 9. Launching the festivities, the School of Graduate Studies will hold its Hooding Recognition Ceremony & Reception for Ed.D., Ed.S. and Ph.D. graduates on Friday, May 3. For more information and a full schedule of ceremonies, please visit Rowan’s Commencement 2024 webpage.