Erica Nichols Cook is a staff attorney at the Illinois Innocence Project at the University of Illinois Springfield (UIS) and a Legal Studies graduate! Ms. Nichols Cook enrolled in the Legal Studies Bachelor’s Degree Program at UIS because she was able to work towards her degree and retain her full-time job as a paralegal by attending evening classes.
Mr. Bryant Hitchings is currently an Assistant State’s Attorney of Coles County Illinois. Mr. Hitchings is a former graduate of the University of Illinois Springfield’s Legal Studies Bachelor’s Degree Program and has received his J.D. from the Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Michigan. Prior to working as an Assistant State’s Attorney, Mr. Hitchings was a legal clerk at the Strong Law Offices in Peoria, Illinois. Similar to many other Legal Studies alumni, Mr.
Rodney Perry is an independent consultant and expert witness in commodity futures and options compliance…and a University of Illinois Springfield’s (UIS) Legal Studies Department graduate! Mr. Perry graduated with his Master’s Degree in Legal Studies from UIS in 2010. He chose the online Legal Studies Master’s Degree Program at UIS as a way to help him professionally, while preparing him for law school.
The old saying you can’t teach an old dog new tricks couldn’t be less accurate for Ms. Tracey Jensen. Ms. Jensen decided to pursue the Legal Studies Master’s Degree Program at the University of Illinois Springfield (UIS) 15 years after receiving her Bachelor’s Degree.
Dr. Hendricks-Sturrup is currently a postdoctoral research fellow in the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute at Harvard Medical School. After graduating with her master’s degree in legal studies, she earned her Doctor of Health Science degree from Nova Southeastern University. Her current work is centered around utilizing mixed methods research to examine issues at the intersection of precision medicine and health policy.
Wilverlyn Joye Williams experienced the excellence the University of Illinois Springfield offers both on-campus and online. Ms. Williams first attended UIS as an undergraduate, majoring in legal studies. Ms.
As a legal studies student, you are assigned an advisor to assist you in scheduling your courses and in choosing electives that best match your educational and professional goals.
As a freshman, Joseph McGee set a goal of becoming president of the Student Government Association at the University of Illinois Springfield by his senior year. Thanks to his hard work and the opportunities available to him at UIS, he achieved his goal in 2014.
As a freshman, Vanessa Pratt started the Mock Trial team at the University of Illinois Springfield. The team now competes against other universities throughout the state. On campus, Pratt is a member of the Capital Scholars Honors Program, Pre-Law Society, Model Illinois Government, the Christian Student Fellowship and works for UIS Admissions. Pratt chose UIS because her father and uncle are alumni. Following graduation, she plans to attend law school and hopes to become a prosecuting attorney.
The University of Illinois Springfield has empowered Briana Rodriguez to become an advocate for issues she believes are important. The sophomore legal studies major recently participated a rally in support of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program at the Illinois State Capitol.