SIULAW Commencement for the Classes of 2020 and 2021 is Friday, May 7th.

CARBONDALE, Ill. – Former Illinois State Sen. Paul Schimpf, a 2000 SIU School of Law alumnus, will deliver the keynote address during commencement ceremonies on May 7.

The in-person ceremony at 2 p.m. in Saluki Stadium is for 61 graduates in the Class of 2021 and 102 graduates from the law school’s 2020 class. The ceremony will follow protocols of the Restore Illinois Plan. Social distancing and masks will be required for all participants, guests and staff.

Chancellor Austin Lane will confer degrees at the ceremony led by Steve Macias, School of Law associate dean.

“We are very proud of the Classes of 2020 and 2021 for their resilience, cooperation and achievements during these challenging times for our community,” School of Law Dean Camille Davidson said. “We want to thank the faculty, staff, families and friends who provided invaluable support. We look forward to seeing all of our graduates as alumni in person at future School of Law receptions and reunions.”

The Class of 2021 selected Patricia Pfeiffer, a graduating law student from Carbondale, to be the class speaker, with Steve Ellingsworth of Paducah, Kentucky, a May 2020 graduate, representing that class.

The ceremony marks the 45th anniversary of the law school’s first graduating class of 1976. Professors Angela Upchurch and Cynthia Fountaine will represent the Classes of 2021 and 2020, respectively, as faculty speakers. The ceremony will also feature law school alumni formally hooding six family members who are students from the two classes.

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