Sheryl Lee Ralph has been named one of the speakers for Rutgers University-New Brunswick and Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences’ 257th anniversary commencement on May 14.

The Emmy Award-winning actress and Rutgers alumna is best known for her roles in “Abbott Elementary” and “Dream Girls.” She also will be awarded an honorary doctorate.

"As we celebrate the birthday of Paul Robeson, great actor, great artist, outstanding athlete, outstanding student, I’m so happy to represent his legacy as one of the first women, especially one of the first Black women, to graduate from Rutgers College. Legacy matter," Ralph said.

Terence Blanchard, world-renowned jazz musician, composer and educator, will deliver remarks at Rutgers University-Newark’s commencement ceremony on Tuesday, May 16 at the Prudential Center in Newark.

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Rutgers University-Camden will hold the Rutgers University-Camden and Graduate School Commencement on Monday, May 15 at the Freedom Mortgage Pavilion in Camden. Dana Redd, former mayor of Camden and a 1996 graduate of the Rutgers School of Business-Camden, will deliver the keynote address.