—Ben Jones ’63, internationally renowned artist, to receive President’s Medal
—Carla Temple, former member of University Board of Trustees; Peter Fan, outgoing member of Board of Trustees; and Bonnie Watson Coleman, assemblywoman and majority leader, New Jersey General Assembly, to receive honorary degrees

Ben Jones, a 1963 graduate of William Paterson and an award-winning New Jersey artist, will receive the President’s Medal, and Carla Temple, former member of the University’s Board of Trustees, Pater Fan, outgoing member of the Board of Trustees, and Bonnie Watson Coleman, assemblywoman and majority leader, New Jersey General Assembly, will receive honorary degrees as part of the University’s 186th commencement ceremonies on Tuesday, May 19, 2009.

Separate ceremonies will be held for undergraduate and graduate students. The commencement ceremony for undergraduate students will begin at 10:30 a.m., and will be held on Wightman Field; the rain date is May 20. The graduate ceremony will begin at 5 p.m. in the Recreation Center, and will take place rain or shine.

Jones will receive the President’s Medal and Temple will receive an honorary doctor of laws degree at the undergraduate ceremony. Watson Coleman will receive an honorary doctor of laws degree at the graduate ceremony, where she will be the speaker.

At the undergraduate ceremony, Jones will receive the President’s Medal; Temple will receive an honorary doctor of laws degree and Fan will receive an honorary doctor of science degree. Watson Coleman will receive an honorary doctor of laws degree at the graduate ceremony, where she will be the speaker.

Bachelor’s degrees will be conferred upon 978 undergraduates, all of whom have completed their degree requirements between August 2008 and May 2009. Master’s degrees will be conferred on 189 students who completed their degree requirements between August 2008 and May 2009.

Jones, who defines himself as a "social-activist-artist," has been a professor at New Jersey City University since 1967. His work has explored spirituality, politics, religion, and African culture through painting, sculpture, and mixed media artwork for more than 40 years. The Jersey City Museum recently presented “Deliverance,” a retrospective exhibit of Jones’s work; in a review, the New York Times said that Jones “has chosen to spend the better part of his career making art according to imperatives that have nothing to do with artistic fashion. That takes dedication.”

Alumni from the Class of 1959, who graduated when William Paterson was called New Jersey State Teachers College at Paterson, will be present at the morning ceremony and attend a 50th reunion luncheon sponsored by the Alumni Relations Office. The Alumni Association’s Young Alumni Chapter will host a Senior Send-Off reception on Monday, May 18 at 7 p.m. in the University Commons.