NJ Senate Majority Leader M. Teresa Ruiz Receives Honorary Degree from Montclair State University
New Jersey State Senator and Senate Majority Leader M. Teresa Ruiz received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Montclair State University at its Winter Commencement on Monday, January 13 at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.
Ruiz delivered an inspiring speech on perseverance, dedication and the transformative power of education. In 2007, Ruiz made history as the first Puerto Rican elected to the New Jersey State Senate, and today she serves as Senate Majority Leader – the highest-ranking Latina legislator in state history.
In her Commencement address, Ruiz encouraged the Class of 2025 to remember that no matter where they go in life, it’s not the title or what’s on a business card that truly matters. What truly matters is the sense of community and the significance of the present moment.
“Get your degree, get your job, live your life, make your mistakes, fall in public – and that’s OK,” Ruiz said. “We get embarrassed when we fall down, but what we should be more embarrassed about is how we get up. When you get up, show those who question you because of your last name, how you look, who you love, or where you’re from, that they don’t know your destination or your abilities.”
