Trenton, NJ – May 23, 2025. The African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey (AACCNJ) announced that on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, John E. Harmon, Sr., IOM, AACCNJ, Founder, President & CEO, gave the undergraduate commencement address to the class of 2025, and was bestowed with an honorary doctor of humane letters degree, from William Paterson University at the Prudential Center, in Newark, NJ.
“It’s a tremendous honor when a university gives you an honorary degree and asks you to speak at its graduation ceremonies,” said John E. Harmon, Sr. “As the only one, out of seven siblings, in my family to graduate from college, I take great pride in receiving this honorary degree from William Paterson University, where thirty fifty percent of the 2025 commencement class are first generation college graduates”, said Harmon.
Harmon was awarded an honorary doctor of humane letters degree in recognition of “his achievements as a public servant, his initiatives focused on African American residents and businesses in the State of New Jersey, and for his leadership.
“You are a pioneer…one who seeks to discover, one who has the aptitude to lead and not follow, one who seeks to apply an innovative approach to getting something done!” Harmon said. “You must be mindful of who you are and this institution, which provided the environment, nurturing, direction, and resources that allowed you to cultivate your dreams into a plan of action.”
He continued, “Now, it is incumbent of you to take the investment made by William Paterson University in you to solve the challenges that are awaiting post-graduation. As you ponder your pathway to success, you must constantly remind yourself that you have what it takes to succeed. Why? Because your mind is the most powerful tool at your disposal.”
John E. Harmon, Sr., IOM, ABA, BA, ABA, h.c., BS, L.H.D. h.c. holds an associate degree in Business Administration from Mercer County Community College and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Management, Fairleigh Dickinson University, 1983. Shortly before graduating in 1983, Harmon received a call from FDU’s career development office encouraging him to apply for a management training program for future bank presidents. Of 150 candidates, he was one of only 12 chosen – and the only African American. Mr. Harmon also successfully completed a one-year Fellowship on Regionalism and Sustainability sponsored by The Ford Foundation and completed the Minority Business Management Seminar at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, in 2009. Additionally, Mr. Harmon completed a four-year Chamber Executive Management Program, at Villanova University, sponsored by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, in 2014. Harmon was conferred with an honorary associate’s degree in business administration from Rowan College Burlington County, in 2014. Harmon was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters (L.H.D.), honoris causa, from Fairleigh Dickinson University in May of 2022. Harmon was bestowed with an honorary degree of Doctor of Business Administration. from Georgian Court University, Lakewood, NJ in 2024.
About the African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey
The African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey (AACCNJ) is dedicated to economically empowering and sustaining African American communities and businesses through entrepreneurship and capitalistic initiatives throughout the state of New Jersey and through its partnership with the National Black Chamber of Commerce, Inc. AACCNJ joins the top 3% of all chambers in the U.S. that are accredited, is the only accredited chamber in New Jersey, and is the only accredited African American chamber in the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Federation.
The AACCNJ performs an essential role in the economic viability of New Jersey. While providing a platform for New Jersey’s African American business leaders to speak with a collective voice, the AACCNJ advocates and promotes economic diversity fostering a climate of business growth through major initiatives centering on education and public policy. The Chamber serves as a proactive advocacy group with a 501(c) 3 tax exemption, which is shared by the National Black Chamber of Commerce.
