HACKETTSTOWN — Jen Pace, senior manager of preschool production and development at Nickelodeon, the number-one entertainment brand for kids, will deliver the keynote address at Centenary University’s 143rd commencement on Saturday, May 12, at 1:00 p.m. The ceremony will be held on the front lawn of the Edward W. Seay Administration Building located at 400 Jefferson Street, Hackettstown.
Pace, who will be awarded an honorary doctorate of humane letters, joined Nickelodeon in 2011 and has quickly risen through the ranks at the network. She oversees production on hit preschool series including “Bubble Guppies,” “Nella the Princess Knight,” “PAW Patrol,” “Rusty Rivets,” “Top Wing,” “Wallykazam!” and “Zoofari.” A Centenary University graduate, Pace earned a bachelor of arts degree in communications, with a concentration in radio and television. She also holds an associate of arts degree in communications from Warren County Community College.
During the ceremony, more than 450 graduates will receive associate, bachelor’s and graduate degrees. A hooding ceremony for students earning graduate degrees will be held on Wednesday, May 9, at 7:00 p.m. in the Sitnik Theater. The Class of 2018 includes graduates from Centenary’s main campus in Hackettstown, as well as the School of Professional Studies in Parsippany and Edison.
Seating for guests will be on a first come, first served basis. The event will be live streamed at several other locations across campus to accommodate additional guests. In case of severe weather, the ceremony will move indoors to the gymnasium in the John M. Reeves Student Recreation Center; tickets will be required for the indoor ceremony.
Founded in 1867 by the Newark Conference of the United Methodist Church, Centenary University’s academic program integrates a solid liberal arts foundation with a strong career orientation. This mix provides an educational experience that prepares students to succeed in the increasingly global and interdependent world. The University’s main campus is located in Hackettstown, with its equestrian facility in Washington Township. The Centenary University School of Professional Studies offers degree programs at two locations, Parsippany and Edison, as well as online and at corporate sites throughout New Jersey.