NEWARK, NJ — The following article is republished with permission from Rutgers-Newark. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.
Rutgers University–Newark welcomed the Class of 2030 and the start of a new school year with a spirited convocation ceremony filled with clanging cowbells, cheer routines, and a choral rendition of RU–N's alma mater.
This year's incoming class totals more than 2,500, including first-year students and first-semester transfer students. Rutgers–Newark Provost Jeffrey Robinson gave his annual rundown of class statistics, noting that 55 percent are first-generation and 10 percent of the class are from Newark. Seven percent are from out of state and four percent are international students.
The theme of convocation, held in the Golden Dome Athletic Center, was "Rooted in Newark, Rising in Excellence." Speakers—including Chancellor Tonya Smith-Jackson, Rutgers University President William F. Tate IV and Newark Mayor Ras Baraka—emphasized RU–N's connection to the city and its tradition of scholarly achievement. They urged students to seize opportunities to learn and grow.
"You are not a guest in the classroom. You are a partner in learning, a contributor to discovery and a creator of knowledge, not merely a consumer of it," said Smith-Jackson. "The future of this university will be shaped not only by what we teach you, but also by what you teach us and the rest of the world."
She praised the city of Newark and encouraged students to regard it as a partner in their academic journey. "We are rooted in a city defined by resilience, creativity, courage and possibility," the chancellor said. "Make Newark part of your education and let your education become part of Newark's future."
As examples of what students and faculty have achieved at RU–N, Smith-Jackson named several who had made important discoveries or won prestigious honors within the past year.
Among them was political science student Moujan Moghimi, who was named a 2025–2026 Newman Civic Fellow for civic leadership and community impact. Students Juan Ruiz and Fatima Bey became the first Rutgers–Newark students selected for nationally recognized Ford Predoctoral Fellowships, Smith-Jackson said.
She also mentioned physics professors Lucien Dupuy and Neepa Maitra, who won international recognition last year for their work combining artificial intelligence and advanced computational science. Rigoberto González, director of Rutgers–Newark's MFA Program in Creative Writing, received the Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize last year, one of the nation's most prestigious lifetime achievement awards.
The chancellor also congratulated Professor Stefon Harris, an acclaimed jazz artist who released a new album, "Legacy Dances," last week.
"All of our achievements matter because they show you what is possible here," said Smith-Jackson. "Other Scarlet Raiders have opened doors. Now it is your turn to walk through them and then hold those doors open for someone else."
The chancellor ended her remarks by inviting students to say hello if they spot her on campus.
"You'll see me at events, in classrooms, at games and walking through our community. You will see me in the dining halls, likely eating cheese pizza. When you see me, feel free to stop and chat. I want to hear from you," Smith-Jackson said..
In his welcoming speech, Rutgers University President William F. Tate IV invoked Dolly Parton, who passed away last week, and Newark native Whitney Houston. Together, they illustrate how students can take what they learn at Rutgers and create something new, informed by their own perspectives, he said.
Parton, whom he described as a great songwriter and humanitarian, wrote "I Will Always Love You," a beautiful, poignant song that topped the country-and-western charts. But when Houston covered the song as an R&B ballad, it became an international hit and timeless classic.
"She did Dolly's song and did something extraordinary with it. She did not write 'I Will Always Love You,' but she owned it," he said. "She threw her talent, experience, discipline and voice behind those lyrics, and she transformed them."
"That's what you are about to do in college. You will encounter the ideas of people who came before you. You will read their words. Your job is not to simply repeat them; it is to do what Whitney did. Make them your own," said Tate. "Find your distinctive voice, discover what you can contribute to and carry it into your life."
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, who speaks at convocation every year, told students how glad he was to be back.
"I always feel good in this room. It warms my heart. It encourages me to see the amount of diversity that exists here at Rutgers–Newark. It's not every university where you'll see what we see here," he said. "You see the reality of what America really looks like: people from many different backgrounds. Some are first-generation college students, some are immigrants and some are from a few blocks away."
He encouraged the students to make the most of their education at Rutgers–Newark, not only for themselves but also for others who haven't had the chance to attend college.
"There are a lot of people who would love to be in these seats. But they are not. You are. That's something to contemplate every day. There are people on your block, in your neighborhood, who would like to be here," said Baraka. "You don't just sit in this seat for yourself; you sit there for them. Your role is to make what's going on in the world better."
A highlight of the convocation ceremony was the Rutgers–Newark Choir's performance of RU–N's alma mater, which is sung to the tune of the Rutgers University alma mater, "On the Banks of the Old Raritan."
But it substitutes different lyrics, including a reference to librarian John Cotton Dana, a national figure who democratized the library system in America and pushed to establish the Newark Museum of Art. Rutgers–Newark's Dana Library is named for him.
John Dana's dream for this Old Newark/of an educated human will/Lives on in sturdy walls of Rutgers' urban halls/on the slopes of Academic Hill.
Smith-Jackson reflected on the lyrics.
"Our alma mater speaks of the 'educated human will' and declares that Rutgers is 'here for one and for all,'" the chancellor said. "The educated human will is knowledge joined with courage, discipline, imagination and purpose. It is the determination to use what you learn to improve lives and shape a better world."
Also speaking at the ceremony were Daniel Cortez, president of Rutgers–Newark's Student Governing Association, and student speaker Kalila Scott, a business major and president of the Rutgers–Newark chapter of the National Association of Black Accountants.
"Show up for the version of yourself you're trying to build because no one will do that for you," said Cortez. "Your representation can alter the way this country moves forward."
"This is more than just a welcome. It is your official beginning, the moment you step into this community and realize you are part of something bigger than yourself," said Scott.
After the ceremony, the Rutgers–Newark Cheer Team led students to a Weeks of Welcome festival and barbecue. Students also received commemorative T-shirts designed by students Ana Barrios-Mejia and Amelia Proszowski from the Department of Arts, Culture and Media.
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