Commencement 2025 to honor leaders in business, higher education and engineering

Rowan University’s main Commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 10, will recognize Christopher DeMayo ’02, as Distinguished Alumnus of the Year, and Nicholas Peppas, who will receive an Honorary Doctor of Entrepreneurship degree.

DeMayo, who after graduating from the Rohrer College of Business (RCB) returned and completed his MBA in 2004, is partner, chief operating officer and board member at Princeton-based Withum, one of the nation’s top 25 tax and accounting firms.

A certified public accountant, he was promoted to partner in 2013 – just nine years after graduating. In 2022, he established the Christoper M. DeMayo Endowed Scholarship in Accounting within the RCB.

Peppas is the Cockrell Family Regents Chair in Engineering No. 6 at the University of Texas at Austin, with appointments in the Department of Biomedical Engineering, the McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, the College of Pharmacy and the Dell Medical School.

He is a biomedical and chemical engineer, materials scientist and nanotechnologist whose research contributions, innovations and inventions have led to 20 chemical, medical and pharmaceutical products.

A world leader in biomaterials, controlled drug delivery and bionanotechnology, Peppas has published or edited 37 books and more than 2,100 articles. His contributions have been referenced in more than 230,000 references, making him one of the world’s most cited chemical or biological scientists.

In addition to Peppas and DeMayo, Rowan will welcome Wawa Chairman and CEO Chris Gheysens as the University’s 2025 Commencement keynote speaker. In his current role, Gheysens, who’s been with Wawa for nearly 30 years, oversees a chain of more than 1,100 convenience stores across the Mid-Atlantic, Southeast and Washington, D.C.

Following Rowan’s main Commencement ceremony in Coach Richard Wackar Stadium, the University will celebrate 10 individual college and school ceremonies from Monday, May 12, to Thursday, May 15, also in Wackar Stadium.

Graduates will receive a minimum of six guest tickets to ceremonies in Wackar Stadium. Should ceremonies be moved indoors due to inclement weather, graduates will receive two tickets for entry to Esbjornson Gymnasium. If needed, severe weather ceremonies will take place at the same dates and times.

The School of Graduate Studies hooding ceremony for Ed.D., Ed.S. and Ph.D. candidates begins at 3 p.m. Friday, May 9, in Esbjornson Gymnasium with a reception to follow.

In case of extreme weather on May 10, the University’s main ceremony will take place on Sunday, May 11, at 3 p.m. in Wackar Stadium.

For more information, including a full Commencement schedule, visit Rowan’s main Commencement page.