The University of Illinois College of Law is honored to announce Emanuel “Chris” Welch, Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives, will deliver the convocation address to the Class of 2024. The College of Law Convocation Ceremony will take place Saturday, May 11, at 4:30 p.m. in the Great Hall of Krannert Center for the Performing Arts.
Welch has served as a representative of the 7th district of Illinois since 2013 and was elected Speaker of the House in January 2021. As a representative, he has been a champion for marginalized individuals, as a sponsor of the Homeless Bill of Rights, and an advocate for adding black and brown people to the boards of publicly held corporations, through means such as sponsoring legislation requiring Illinois corporations to annually disclose their board composition. One of Welch’s priorities has been improving education in Illinois, which he has worked toward through legislation supporting four-year MAP grant awards and the AIM High Scholarship as well as serving as chairman of the House Higher Education Committee and co-chair of Governor J.B. Pritzker’s Educational Success Transition committee.
Promoting education is at the root of Welch’s public service career. He served 12 years on the Proviso Township High School Board of Education, including the last ten years as Board chair, prior to joining the House of Representatives. Education was also a part of his work in private practice, where he represented local school districts and municipalities as a partner at Sanchez, Daniels and Hoffman, LLP from 2007 to 2018.
“We feel privileged to have Speaker Welch delivering the convocation address to the Class of 2024,” Dean Jamelle Sharpe said. “His career provides an inspiring example of how one can serve the people with distinction, whether in private practice, in local government, or now as one of the senior leaders of our state. His insights and wisdom will help us celebrate the well-earned accomplishments of our graduates.”
Welch is a graduate of Proviso West High School (‘89), Northwestern University (‘93), and The John Marshall Law School (’97), where he was inducted to the Wall of Fame in 2016. He is married to ShawnTe and has two children, Tyler and Marley.
For more information about Convocation for the Class of 2024, please visit our website.