MLS Commissioner Don Garber Will Deliver Montclair State's 2016 Commencement Address

Montclair, NJ – If you’re a soccer fan, Montclair State University’s 2016 Commencement Address should give you some kick.

MSU officials have announced that longtime Montclair resident and Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber will be its 2016 honorary degree recipient and will deliver the keynote address at the university’s annual commencement ceremony, which will be held May 25 at the Prudential Center in Newark.

"Don Garber’s personal and professional accomplishments make him a very worthy candidate for this recognition," Montclair State University President Susan Cole stated. "Our region has felt the positive economic and societal effects of the advancements made by our Major League Soccer clubs, and Don’s vision has been at the heart of those developments.”

According to a university news release, Garber joined Major League Soccer (MLS) in 1999 as commissioner after spending 16 years with the National Football League.

During his 17 years with MLS, the league has expanded from 10 to 23 teams, added 20 new owners and secured long-term broadcast agreements with ESPN, FOX Sports and Univision. He has also led efforts to develop more than 15 soccer-specific stadiums in the United States and Canada.

Early in his tenure, Garber created MLS WORKS, a league-wide community outreach initiative dedicated to addressing important philanthropic and social issues. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the FC Harlem Youth Soccer Club and is a founding board member of the Hope and Heroes Children’s Cancer Fund at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York.

In addition to his role as MLS commissioner, Garber serves as the CEO of Soccer United Marketing (SUM), an affiliate of MLS and one of the world’s leading commercial and media soccer companies.

A longtime resident of Montclair, Garber has garnered numerous industry awards and recognitions, including a listing among the most influential people in American sports by Time magazine and Bloomberg Business Week, and a ranking for 10 consecutive years (2006-2016) as one of SportsBusiness Journal’s 50 Most Influential People in Sports.

"I am honored to receive this very special recognition from Montclair State University," said Garber. "As a Montclair resident for more than 20 years, I have witnessed the tremendous growth of the University and the positive impact it is having on many young people in New Jersey. I am pleased to accept this honor from an institution that is truly committed to providing life-changing educational opportunities for so many students."

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Photo courtesy of Montclair State University