Way to go, Class of 2025! Spirited University-wide ceremony kicks off Commencement Week

Ownership is everything.

Nurture your EQ.

Be open while being true to your core values.

Those were some of the insights Commencement speaker Chris Gheysens, chairman and CEO of Wawa, shared with Rowan University’s Class of 2025 during the institution’s University-wide Commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 10, at Coach Richard Wackar Stadium.

See photos of Commencement Week in this View story.

Speaking before a packed stadium on a spectacularly sunny, breezy morning, Gheysens told graduates and their guests that artificial intelligence, machine learning and automation are changing the way we live. But “AI will never replace the human connections that are so important to us,” he said.

Gheysens used Wawa, a family- and associate owned company that boasts 1,100 convenience stores, as an example. At new Wawa stores, Gheysens said, more than 40 percent of customers use self-checkout. But at older, existing stores, “it’s about half that adoption rate,” he said.

“Our customers tell us they still want a personal interaction with a familiar face, a consistent presence in their life, someone they’ve gotten to know, and maybe someone who has gotten to know them.

“In other words,” he continued, “they want an authentic connection with an authentic human being.

“That authenticity is ingrained in all of us, in all of you. I can feel it in this stadium today,” added Gheysens, who grew up in South Jersey and attended Saint Augustine Preparatory School in Richland. He’s a graduate of both Villanova and Saint Joseph’s universities.

Considering IA…not AI

Rather than AI, it’s IA – individual authenticity—“that truly holds the key to unlocking your potential now and in the future,” Gheysens told the class, which included graduates across all schools and colleges at all levels—bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral and medical school programs. Altogether, there are more than 5,500 Rowan graduates this spring.

Gheysens urged graduates to consider three tenets to live and lead with authenticity:

Ownership is everything: “Stand behind your actions and operate with intention. Good or bad, take accountability for the outcomes of your behavior.”

Nurture your EQ: “In the world of AI, emotional intelligence is actually the new global currency. In business and, frankly, in life, your self-awareness will set you apart from the pack. The ability to understand, to use and to manage your own emotions in positive ways is worth its weight in gold.”

Be open while being true to your core values: “Don’t let one-off experiences or a social medial video crystallize you into rigid mindsets or mentalities. Stay curious. Remain conceptually open. Seek to learn from fresh perspectives, especially if they are vastly different from your own. In times of difficulty or confusion, always stay true to your core values. Never lose sight of those ideals and principles that make you…you.”

Honoring excellence

Gheysens, who accepted Rowan’s Medal of Excellence for Entrepreneurship, was one of three honorees during Commencement.

In recognition of his profound impact on the field of biomedical engineering and society, Nicholas Peppas, a biomedical and chemical engineer, materials scientist and nanotechnologist at the University of Texas at Austin, received an honorary Doctor of Entrepreneurship degree. His research contributions, innovations and inventions have led to patents on dozens of chemical, medical and pharmaceutical industry products.

Christopher DeMayo ’02 MBA’04 accepted the Distinguished Alumnus Award. An alumnus of the Rohrer College of Business, DeMayo is chief operating officer and elected member of the board of directors at Withum, one of the country’s top 25 advisory, accounting and tax firms.

Board of Trustees Chairman Chad Bruner conferred the degrees of all the graduates.

‘In order to succeed, you will have to adapt’

Rowan President Ali A. Houshmand told graduates that the pursuit of their degrees at the nation’s third fastest-growing public research institution will serve them well.

He listed the University’s recent accomplishments, including, among many others, the new Edelman Fossil Park & Museum of Rowan University, the Shreiber School of Veterinary Medicine (New Jersey’s first veterinary school) and partnerships with healthcare, industry and community colleges.

“You came here in part because of our successes and vision. You trusted us to prepare you for the future. And you were right,” Houshmand said.

“My message for you today is there will be change. In order to succeed, you will have to adapt. And you will. You know how to do that. We’ve given you what you need to influence change, to lead change, to transform challenges into opportunities.”

For three graduates, opportunity came straight to Wackar Stadium when they won cash giveaways chosen at random and sponsored by generous University partners.

Nexus Properties sponsored $10,000 in prizes—$6,000 for a doctoral student and $4,000 for a master’s-level student. Winners were Sanaz Shahi, who earned a Ph.D. from the College of Education, and Sanjana Reddy Nimmala, who earned a master’s degree in computer science.

Ansh Patel, who earned his bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering, took home a $2,500 check, courtesy of Gourmet Dining.

‘The power of community’

In his Class Farewell, Student Government Association President Zackary Brown, who earned bachelor’s degrees in public relations and philosophy, told his classmates to treasure the community they found at Rowan.

“In a world that can often feel divided, we found unity here. That is the power of community,” said Brown, who is headed to graduate school to study public administration.

“As we step forward, I hope we carry that with us. Our stories are not just our own. They are part of something greater. As we leave Rowan University, let us carry more than just ambition. Let us carry purpose. Let us build connections, spread hope and leave every space better than we find it.

“The future is not just something we step into. It is something we shape together.”

The University-wide ceremony was part of Rowan’s annual week of Commencement celebrations. During ceremonies for the University’s schools and colleges, graduates will cross the stage to accept their diploma covers.