Rowan U commencement today; Patti Smith honored

Rocker Patti Smith and Dr. James A. Kutsch, Jr., president of The Seeing Eye, Inc., will receive honorary degrees today at Rowan University's 84th annual undergraduate commencement.

Smith will receive an honorary Doctor of Letters degree in recognition of her success in the fields of music, literature and art. Kutsch will accept an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree for his work as an advocate for people with visual impairments.

Smith, who grew up in South Jersey and attended Deptford High School, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007. Additionally, her artwork has been exhibited in galleries and museums in New York, Japan, Paris and Rome.

Smith attended Rowan-then known as Glassboro State College-from 1964 to 1966, before leaving to pursue a career in music.

Kutsch, of Morristown, leads the oldest existing guide dog school in the world.

The ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. on the University Green. Pulitzer Prize-winner Leonard Pitts, Jr., a nationally syndicated columnist, will give the commencement address to 2,000 undergraduates.