UIS celebrates commencement on May 16

Commencement ceremonies for the University of Illinois at Springfield will begin at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 16, at the Prairie Capital Convention Center, Ninth and Adams streets in downtown Springfield. Of the 1,132 students eligible to graduate, 635 will participate in the ceremony.

This year, tickets are not required for admission; ample seating will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. There is no reserved seating except for special needs such as interpretive services and wheelchairs. The doors to the main floor of the center will open at 1 p.m.

The commencement speaker will be Dr. Matthew Holden, who was recently designated as the first Wepner Distinguished Professor in Political Science at UIS and is expected to formally join the UIS Department of Political Science in the College of Public Affairs and Administration this fall.

Holden is the Henry L. and Grace M. Doherty Professor Emeritus of Politics at the University of Virginia. His wide-ranging scholarly interests, many of which are directly related to the legacy of Abraham Lincoln, include public administration and policy, public law, urban politics, and race and politics. Holden received his Ph.D. in Political Science from Northwestern University.

Dr. Paul McDevitt, Associate Professor of Business Administration and Director of the MBA Program at UIS, has been chosen to serve as grand marshal. The student speaker will be Paul Gesterling, who will receive a master’s degree in Public Administration.

Faculty and students in each academic program select one graduating student who best exemplifies the goals and spirit of that program to serve as student marshal for the ceremony.
This year’s marshals are:

Accountancy: Suzanne Marguerite Meyer – B.A., Kathleen Marie Nash – M.A.

Biology: Amy Joelle Schutte – B.S., Michelle R. Randle – M.S.

Business Administration: Katherine Marie Shaffer – B.B.A, Brenna Elizabeth Coffman – M.B.A., Sara Louise Dill – M.B.A. (Peoria)

Chemistry: Jennette Danelle Hansen – B.S.

Clinical Laboratory Science: Faiza M. Luteify – B.S.

Communication: Joseph Cory Pelc – B.A., Kelsi Megan Kerns – M.A.

Computer Science: Joshua A. Bailey – B.S., Joshua Lewis Smith – M.S.

Criminal Justice: Howard Lee Purdue – B.A., Ashley Ryan Douglas – B.A. (Peoria)

Economics: Bryan Justin Barth – B.A.

Educational Leadership: Melody Lou Trout – M.A.

English: Mary C. Colligan – B.A., Charlene Kay Summers – M.A.

Environmental Studies: Abby Lynn Hahne– M.A.

History: Amanda L. Dahlquist – B.A., Marilyn Mueller – M.A.

Human Development Counseling: Sarah Elizabeth Chism – M.A.

Human Services: Elizabeth Marie Slater – M.A.

Individual Option: Lisa Maria Long – M.A.

Legal Studies: Amy Suzanne Elhoffer – B.A., K. Joy McCulloch – M.A.

Liberal Studies: Annamarie Israel – B.A.

Management: Billy Serbousek – B.A., Raymond A. Byrd – B.A. (Peoria)

Management Information Systems: Robert William Hamilton – M.S.

Mathematical Sciences: Charles J. Lee – B.A.

Philosophy: Marie S. Lyle – B.A.

Political Studies: Katherine Elizabeth Wood – B.A., Laura Roche – M.A.

Psychology: Keith A. Huddleston – B.A.

Public Administration: Katie Jo Miller – M.P.A., Tosha E. Cantrell-Bruce – D.P.A.

Public Affairs Reporting: Kari Lynn Andren – M.A.

Public Health: Kathleen Kay Thacker – M.P.H.

Social Work: Amy Noel Dennison Gorens – B.S.W.

Sociology/Anthropology: Craig James Pelka – B.A.

Teacher Leadership: Janet Kay Walch – M.A.

Visual Arts: Dannyl M. Madura – B.A

A number of events are planned for graduates, their families and guests, beginning with a reception for Peoria-area students on Friday, May 8. A Late Night Breakfast will be held Wednesday, May 13. A brunch for online degree graduates is scheduled for Saturday morning, May 16. UIS’ four colleges will hold individual receptions.

Admission to some commencement events is by invitation only. Updated information, including a complete list of events, is available from the commencement website at www.uis.edu/commencement/.

The ceremony will be webcast live at www.uis.edu/technology/uislive.html. DVDs ($25) can also be ordered from the Office of Electronic Media, phone 217/206-6799.

For more information, go to the UIS Commencement website at www.uis.edu/commencement/.