UIS to hold 45th commencement ceremony on May 14 in downtown Springfield

Commencement ceremonies for the University of Illinois Springfield will begin at 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 14, at the Prairie Capital Convention Center, Ninth and Adams Streets in downtown Springfield. Of the 1,716 students eligible to graduate, 1,106 will participate in the ceremony.

Tickets are not required for admission and 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 will open at 3 p.m.

Because of the large number of graduates and the seating capacity of The Center, it is recommended that no more than six guests attend per graduate, though overflow seating will be provided.

Healthcare executive Donna Sollenberger is the UIS Commencement speaker 

The UIS Commencement speaker will be UIS alumna and Springfield native Donna Sollenberger who was part of the first graduating class of Sangamon State University, now UIS. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Literature in 1971 and a master’s degree in Literature in 1974.

Since 2009, Sollenberger has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) Health System, where she oversees all clinical strategy and operations of a system that includes five hospitals and 90 clinics, plus a healthcare system that serves the health care needs of two-thirds of Texas’ prison system.

Under her leadership, UTMB has made numerous quality improvements, including increases in patient satisfaction and reductions in death from sepsis, and achieved many awards and accolades, including designation as an ANCC Magnet for Nursing, accreditation by The Joint Commission for stroke and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease care, and the American Heart Association’s Get with the Guidelines—Resuscitation Gold Quality Achievement Award.

Throughout her tenure at UTMB, she has overseen plans for numerous health care facility renovations and construction projects, including opening two new hospitals for the system. She has also supported the implementation of various cutting-edge health information technologies, including the installation of a state-of-the-art electronic medical record system, and has been influential in developing many community partnerships across the region.

Prior to joining UTMB Health, Sollenberger was Executive Vice President and CEO of the Baylor Clinic and Hospital. She also served as president and CEO of the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics (UWHC), Executive Vice President and COO of City of Hope National Medical Center in Los Angeles and Vice President for Hospital and Clinics at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.

In 2005, Sollenberger was honored with the University of Illinois Alumni Achievement Award and named one of the Top 25 Women in Healthcare by Modern Healthcare.

Faculty & student marshals announced 

Lynn Fisher, associate professor of sociology/anthropology, has been chosen to serve as grand marshal. The student speaker will be Robyn Nicole Crutchfield, who will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in communication.

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: Christian M. Brown – B.A. (Peoria), Quentin Kuntzman – B.A., Vivica Autumn Futrell – M.A.

Biology: Janell Monee Mathus – B.S.

Business Administration: Gabrielle Daphne Little – B.B.A., Katherine Marie Shaffer – M.B.A., Scott Michael Shoff – M.B.A. (Peoria)

Chemistry: Daniell Marie Bennett – B.S.

Clinical Laboratory Science: Jennifer Chao Ching Esquivel – B.S.

Communication: Tayla Jenkins – B.A., Caitlyn Elizabeth Barnes – M.A.

Computer Science: Daniel Joseph Evertz – B.S., Justin Allen Snyder Day – M.S.

Criminal Justice: Sophia G. Matthews – B.A.

Economics: Andrew Cole Bergschneider – B.A.

Educational Leadership: Miranda Braye – M.A.

English: Bobby Max Bolt – B.A.

Environmental Studies: Preston Robert Marucco – B.A., Diana Sue Fuller – M.A.

Global Studies: Manuel Gomez – B.A.

History: Thomas J. Clatterbuck – B.A., Beth Anne Kruse – M.A.

Human Development Counseling: Gregory Franklin Irwin – M.A.

Human Services: Michael Todd Cheek – M.A.

Information Systems Security: Jessica D. Williams – B.S.

Legal Studies: Josh M. Lawson – B.A., Shannon Anthony Holubetz – M.A.

Liberal and Integrative Studies: Hannah Rucker – M.A.

Liberal Studies: Rose Elizabeth Beauchamp – B.A. Management: Sean Alexandre Vaughan – B.A.

Management Information Systems: Natalie T. Nowak – B.S., Jared Ross – M.S.

Mathematical Sciences: Benjamin W. Stull – B.A. Philosophy: April M. McKinnery – B.A.

Political Science: Ramon Alvarez – B.A., Salam A. Awad – M.A.

Psychology: Mackenzie Jo Atchie – B.A.

Public Administration: Jasmine Jetton-Gonzales – M.P.A., Sarah Wolin Mackey – D.P.A.

Public Affairs Reporting: Ashley Alaundrea Lisenby – M.A.

Public Health: Ometere Osilama Topah – M.P.H.

Social Work: Amber Nicole Darrow – B.S.W.

Sociology/Anthropology: Jessica Erin Kaspar – B.A.

Teacher Leadership: Tobias J. Gass – M.A.

Visual Arts: Caytlin McCormick – B.A.

A number of events are planned for graduates, their families and guests, including a reception for Peoria-area students on Friday, May 6. Separate brunches for CAP Honors graduates and online degree graduates are scheduled for Saturday morning, May 14.

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

The ceremony will be webcast live. DVD copies of the ceremony can be purchased from the Office of Electronic Media for $25. Orders can be placed online or by phone at 217/206-6799.

For more information, go to the UIS Commencement website.