Ali and Joe Torres

Rider University will confer honorary Doctor of Laws degrees on New York Yankees Manager Joe Torre and his wife, Alice, who is president of the Joe Torre Safe At Home Foundation, at its 141st commencement on Friday, May 12.

“Joe Torre has distinguished himself through a long baseball career capped by his success as manager of the New York Yankees,” President Rozanski said. “He not only has brought much joy to many Yankee fans, but has also demonstrated strong leadership and exemplary integrity on and off the field. Ali Torre’s work as president of The Joe Torre Safe At Home Foundation, which combats domestic violence and its devastating effect on children, provides our graduates a wonderful model of community engagement.”

Joe Torre’s baseball career stretches over 46 years – 17 as a player and 29 as a manager. His managerial career began in 1977, but his fame and national visibility as a manager really magnified when he was named manager of the New York Yankees in November 1995. Since then, he has guided the Yankees to four World Series championships and 10 straight post-season appearances.

Today, Torre is recognized for his strong leadership skills and successful management philosophy. His book, "Joe Torre’s Ground Rules for Winners," outlines 12 keys to success that are directly applicable in business and in life. In the book, Torre shares his wisdom on the universal concerns of managers – handling tough bosses, dealing with setbacks and success, earning the trust and respect of your team players and bringing together a diverse group of individuals into a cohesive unit willing to make the sacrifices necessary to achieve goals.

Alice Torre, called Ali, and Joe married in 1987. Ali is a graduate of Georgia State University with a bachelor in business administration. The majority of her career has been as a community volunteer, with a focus on marketing and development. As a member of the Board of Directors, she chaired the Fundraising Committee for The Caring Program for Children. She has worked to provide health care for uninsured children and to prevent child abuse. When Joe was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1999, Ali helped him through the ordeal. She has shared her experience publicly to help others facing similar challenges.

Ali Torre founded the Joe Torre Safe At Home Foundation along with her husband, Joe, in the spring of 2002. Established as a result of Joe’s own personal experience as a childhood survivor of domestic violence, the Foundation is dedicated to ensuring that every child and every family have a safe environment to develop and grow. As president of the Board of Directors, Ali has improved the lives of others through her leadership and commitment of educating to end the cycle of domestic violence and save lives. Ali is the ninth of 16 children and the mother of 10-year-old daughter, Andrea.

Commencement Traditions

Presiding over her last Commencement as vice president for academic affairs and provost, Dr. Phyllis Frakt, who retires from the University this June, will announce the recipients of the 2006 Rider University Awards for Distinguished Teaching. The distinguished teaching awards have been presented annually since 1961 to a pair of outstanding Rider faculty members.

In addition, Amy Wirth ’06 of Manchester, a bachelor’s degree candidate in psychology with minors in business administration and dance, will give the student commencement address. Completing her studies at Rider University in three years, Wirth is an Edward Bloustein Urban Scholar and a member of Omicron Delta Kappa and Psi Chi honor societies. While at Rider, she has served as president and founder of the Racing with Embraced Vehicle Design (REVD) car club, director of academics for the psychology club, and resident advisor. She has also participated in Rider dance program productions.

Senior class president, Jennifer Hiras ’06 of White House Station, a biochemistry major, will present this year’s Class Pride legacy gift. Members of the Class of 2006 were given the option to have their contribution directed toward improvements to the Rider Pub or to the University's Annual Fund. Gifts to the Pub will go toward the purchase of new tables and chairs and the creation of a Senior Picture Memory Wall. Donations to the Annual Fund will support many University needs, including student financial aid, campus improvements and technology upgrades.

Dr. Howard Schwartz, professor of communication, will lead the 9:30 a.m. commencement procession as the grand marshal. Schwartz joined Rider’s faculty in 1968 and is one of seven retiring faculty members.

Sarah M. Toben ’06 of Bensalem, PA, a master’s degree candidate in reading language arts, will sing the national anthem. The processional, recessional, and other accompanying music will be performed by The Blawenburg Band, conducted by Dr. Jerry Rife, professor of fine arts.