239 graduates will receive their law degrees at Mitchell Hamline’s spring commencement on Sunday, May 19. The ceremony begins at 2 pm at the St. Paul RiverCentre.
The new graduates will join the ranks of more than 20,000 alumni.
A reception for graduates and their families will be held the day before graduation, Saturday, May 18, from 4 to 6 pm in the Mitchell Hamline Auditorium.
The Office of Diversity and Inclusion is hosting a celebration for Mitchell Hamline’s culturally diverse graduates on Friday, May 17, 5—7 pm in the Kelley Board Room. Alums are welcome to attend and can RSVP by contacting Diversity and Inclusion manager Sharon Van Leer.
Sunday’s ceremony will feature a commencement address by Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Paul C. Thissen. Thissen was sworn in to the state’s highest court in 2018. He is a former Minnesota legislator who served as speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives.
The student speaker will be Essence Cleveland. Originally from the Dallas/Fort Worth area, Cleveland is a mother of five and United States Air Force veteran. During her final year at Mitchell Hamline, Cleveland served as a Mitchell Hamline Law Review associate. She plans to pursue a career in criminal law.
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Peter Knapp will give the Charge to the Class. Knapp will serve as the school’s interim president and dean starting July 1 as the school searches for the successor to current president and dean Mark Gordon. The graduates selected Professors Leanne Fuith ’10, Jim Hilbert, Jim Morrow ’78, and John Sonsteng to hood them.
You can watch a live stream broadcast of the ceremony starting at 2 pm on Sunday.
Parking information and tips on public transportation options can be found on the RiverCentre website.