The University of Illinois Springfield will hold two commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 14, 2022, at the Bank of Springfield (BOS) Center, Ninth and Adams Streets in downtown Springfield. Of the 1,131 UIS students eligible to graduate, 622 will participate in the ceremonies.

The first ceremony for students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences will begin at 12:30 p.m. The second ceremony for students in the College of Business and Management, College of Education and Human Services and College of Public Affairs and Administration will start at 5:30 p.m.

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 an hour before each ceremony. Overflow seating will be provided in the lower level of BOS Center.

Student speaker and faculty grand marshal announced

Antone Evans Jr., who will be graduating with a master’s degree in computer science, has been chosen as the student commencement speaker for the 12:30 p.m. ceremony. Jocelyn Nelson, who is graduating with a master’s degree in human services, will be the student commencement speaker at the 5:30 p.m. ceremony.

Heather Dell, associate professor of Sociology/Anthropology, has been named the faculty grand marshal for both ceremonies. Dell earned her doctorate in cultural anthropology at Duke University in 1999. She was director of Women's Studies at Rosemont College in Pennsylvania before joining the Department of Women and Gender Studies at UIS in 2000. She joined the Department of Sociology/Anthropology in 2021.

Student marshals announced

Faculty 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: Allie N. Fry – B.A., Jessica A. Simmons – M.A.

Athletic Training: Malcolm Taylor – M.A.

Biology: Angelina M. Einert – B.S.

Biochemistry: Becky Lynn Rose – B.S.

Business Administration: Menno Servaes – BBA, Olivia N. Klein – MBA

Chemistry: Matthew Joseph Lapsley – B.S.

Communication: April Bergman – B.A., Claire Starling – M.A.

Computer Science: Zelal S. Mustafaoglu – B.S., Antone J. Evans – M.S.

Criminology and Criminal Justice: Yelixa Lopez – B.A.

Data Analytics: Adam S. Avalos – M.S.

Economics: Rommel C. Shaw – B.A.

Education: Ellen Linderman – M.A.

Educational Leadership: Paula Marie Stewart – M.A.

Elementary Education: Nyla Y. Cooper – B.A.

English: Alison W. Pfaff – B.A., Cindy M. Daugherty – M.A.

Environmental Sciences: Grace DeCarlo – M.S.

Environmental Studies: Abigail Way – B.A.

Exercise Science: Daniel J. Mahony – B.S.

Global Studies: Angelica M. Linaries – B.A.

History: Anna M. Curry – B.A., Katie L. Brethorst – M.A.

Human Development Counseling: Ashley Pruitt – M.A.

Human Services: Jocelyn M. Nelson – M.A.

Information Systems Security: Meredith M. Niermann – B.S.

Legal Studies: Claire E. Oettel – B.A., Abigail R. Smallman – M.A.

Liberal and Integrative Studies: Amilyn M. Gabbard – M.A.

Liberal Studies: Michelle J. De Sutter – B.A.

Management Information Systems: Kaitlyn J. Kemper – B.S., Apoorva Acharya Lingachar – M.S.

Mathematical Sciences: Rachel Nicole Huls – B.A.

Medical Laboratory Sciences: Mildred L. Wallace – B.S.

Middle Grades: Grace Negron – B.A.

Philosophy: Kathleen Conlon Wasik – B.A.

Political Science: Taryn M. Christy – B.A., True Merritt – M.A.

Psychology: Christa Cheyenne Willoughby – B.A.

Public Administration: Danielle P. Kyle – M.P.A., Joseph J. Schweickert – D.P.A.

Public Affairs Reporting: Taylor A. Vidmar – M.A.

Public Health: Benjamin C. Fletcher – M.P.H.

Social Work: Janet Rodriguez – B.S.W.

Sociology/Anthropology: Skye Williams – B.A.

Visual Arts: Hasani A. Cannon – B.A.

Pre-commencement events planned

A number of events are planned for graduates, their families and guests before the ceremonies at the BOS Center. Admission to some commencement events is by invitation only. Updated information, including a complete list of events, is available on the commencement website at uis.edu/commencement/. 

The ceremonies will be webcast live at uis.edu/technology/uislive/. DVD copies of the ceremonies can be purchased from the Office of Electronic Media for $25. Orders can be placed by phone at 217-206-6799 or at go.uis.edu/CommencementDVD.

For more information, visit the UIS Commencement website at uis.edu/commencement/.