Gov. Richard J. Codey, your contributions to the people of New Jersey and distinguished career as Assemblyman, State Senator, Senate President, and Governor have set a high standard for public service achievement in our state.

Your commitment to ethics in government, the environment, consumer protection, public safety, education, health issues, fiscal responsibility, and the rights of women, minorities, and workers have left an indelible mark on New Jersey.

During your legislative career, you set an example by going undercover and exposing lax employee hiring standards at State psychiatric hospitals, leading to the enactment of strict background checks and improved training standards.

As Governor, you passed laws banning public smoking, increasing consumer protection against identity theft, providing more support for mental health, and establishing a State-funded drug testing program for high school athletes to end steroid abuse.

In recognition of a lifetime of service and dedication to our society, Montclair State University proudly bestows upon you, Richard J. Codey, the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa.

Dr. Yu, your ongoing efforts to advance collaboration between globally focused institutions of higher education in China and the United States have opened the door for many students to benefit from an international education.

 Over the past two decades, you have demonstrated great commitment to the profession of teaching and the study of the environment.  Your accomplishments in these fields led to your becoming president, first of Shanghai Normal University and now of East China Normal University, one of China’s important institutions of higher learning.

As a leading expert on environmental change, your scientific research on coastal environments and environmental magnetism has made significant contributions to our understanding and protection of the environment.

You have helped to build strong collaborations between Montclair State University and the Chinese universities that you have led, building a distinguished educational partnership through faculty exchange and students’ study abroad.