April 25, 2016

Raymond W. Kelly, Former Commissioner of the NYPD and Vice Chairman at K2 Intelligence, to Serve as Commencement Speaker

With 50 years in public service, including 14 years as Police Commissioner of the City of New York, Raymond W. Kelly is one of the world’s most well-known and highly esteemed leaders in law enforcement.  Kelly was appointed Police Commissioner in January 2002 by Mayor Michael Bloomberg, making Kelly the longest serving Police Commissioner in the city’s history, as well as the first to hold the post for a second, separate tenure.  He served as Police Commissioner under Mayor David N. Dinkins from 1992-1994.

In 2002, Commissioner Kelly created the first counterterrorism bureau of any municipal police department in the country.  He also established a new global intelligence program and stationed New York City detectives in 11 foreign cities. Under Kelly’s leadership, the NYPD lowered violent crime by 40% from 2001 levels, while also dedicating extensive resources to the successful prevention of any future terrorist attacks. Commissioner Kelly also established the Real Time Crime Center, a state-of-the-art facility that uses data mining to search millions of computer records and put investigative leads into the hands of detectives in the field. These department-wide improvements have served as the model for other law enforcement agencies around the world.

The former commissioner opens up about his life in law enforcement and his fight against international terrorism post-9/11 in his memoir Vigilance: My Life Serving America and Protecting its Empire City, released September 2015 by Hachette Book Group.

Commissioner Kelly recently joined K2 Intelligence, an industry-leading investigative, compliance and cyber defense services firm as Vice Chairman. In his role, Kelly provides valuable insight into the design and development of tailored enterprise risk solutions for K2 Intelligence clients around the world.

In addition to twice serving as the New York City Police Commissioner, Kelly’s career in public service includes directing the International Police Force in Haiti (appointed by then President Bill Clinton), and serving as a Vice President of Interpol from 1996-2000.

As Commissioner of the U.S. Customs Service, Kelly managed the agency’s 20,000 employees and $20 billion in annual revenue. For his accomplishments, Commissioner Kelly was awarded the Alexander Hamilton Medal for Exceptional Service. As Under Secretary for Enforcement at the U.S. Treasury Department (the third highest post in the department at the time), he supervised the Department’s enforcement bureaus including the U.S. Customs Service, the U.S. Secret Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms; and the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center. For his service as Director of the International Police Monitors in Haiti, Commissioner Kelly was awarded the Exceptionally Meritorious Service Commendation by the President of the United States.

A 43-year veteran of the NYPD, Commissioner Kelly served in 25 different commands before being named Police Commissioner. He was appointed to the New York City Police Department in 1963. Shortly thereafter, he accepted a commission to the United States Marine Corps Officer Program. He served on active military duty for three years including a combat tour in Vietnam. He remained in the Marine Corp Reserve and attained the rank of Colonel.

Kelly returned to the NYPD in 1966 and entered the New York City Police Academy, graduating with the highest combined average for academics, physical achievement and marksmanship. He was also a member of the inaugural class of the New York City Police Cadet Corps for three years while a student at Manhattan College. During his tenure time in the NYPD, Kelly received 14 citations of merit for outstanding police work. Commissioner Kelly retired as a Colonel from the Marine Corps Reserves after 30 years of service.

Commissioner Kelly holds a BBA from Manhattan College, an MPA from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, an LLM from New York University Graduate School of Law, and a JD from St. John’s University School of Law.
In addition to Commissioner Kelly, Chris Treanor, Centenary University’s 3rd Vice-Chairman of the Board of Trustees and President of Programs and Specialty Products for HUB International, will be receiving an Honorary Doctorate degree in Humane Letters.

Treanor is the President of Programs & Specialty Products for HUB International, a large insurance brokerage firm.  Treanor has been a member of the Centenary University Board of Trustees since 2001 and currently serves as Third Vice Chairman and is a member of the Personnel and Audit Committees.  He is also Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Freedom House, a residential and outpatient substance abuse treatment center based in Glen Gardner with operations throughout New Jersey.

He has spent his entire career in insurance brokerage.  Prior to joining HUB International, Treanor held senior executive positions at Marsh & McLennan and launched and ran his own brokerage firm.  He received an AB in Economics and History magna cum laude from Duke University in 1985 and received his MBA from Columbia University in 1991.

In addition, Nancy Johns Paffendorf ‘79/’81/‘06, Dean for Community and College Affairs, will be receiving the coveted Dominick V. Romano Volunteer Award at Commencement for her efforts in the area of community relations throughout the region.  Paffendorf has held many positions at Centenary University including Acting Registrar, Director of Alumni Affairs and Dean for Academic Policy and Programs.  She served on the Alumni Association Executive Board for 20 years and is one of Centenary University’s original 125 Distinguished Alumni.  Paffendorf holds three degrees from Centenary University:  A.S. in Liberal Arts, B.A. in Individualized Studies and M.A. in Leadership and Public Administration.  
 
“I am so pleased that we can honor all of these individuals in this manner,” says Dr. Barbara-Jayne Lewthwaite, President of Centenary University.  “I also want to congratulate our graduating class on their accomplishments and have great confidence regarding their future achievements. This Commencement is extra special for me because it is my last one as College President.”

The graduating class will include undergraduate and graduate students from the main campus in Hackettstown and the Centenary University School of Professional Studies learning centers in Parsippany and Edison.  Degrees that will be awarded to the 525 graduates participating in the ceremony are as follows: 10 Associate of Arts, 2 Associate of Science, 135 Bachelor of Arts, 36 Bachelor of Fine Arts, 192 Bachelor of Science, 13 Bachelor of Social Work, 57 Master of Arts, 7 Master of Education and 73 Master of Business Administration.  Forty of the graduating seniors are from Centenary’s School of International Programs.
 
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 is designed to provide an educational experience that prepares students to succeed in the increasingly global and interdependent world.

Centenary University’s main campus is located in Hackettstown, N.J., with its equestrian facility in Washington Township (Morris County).  The Centenary University School of Professional Studies offers degree programs in two locations: Parsippany and Edison, online and at corporate sites throughout New Jersey.  The School of International Programs recruits international students for study at Centenary and Centenary students for study abroad opportunities.