Penn State Dickinson Law celebrates 2026 commencement in Carlisle and University Park

CARLISLE AND UNIVERSITY PARK, PA—Penn State Dickinson Law held commencement on May 15 in University Park and May 16 in Carlisle, recognizing more than 350 J.D., S.J.D., and Master of Laws (LL.M.) candidates.

Both ceremonies featured honored guests, speakers with deep ties to Penn State Dickinson Law, and student speeches that earned thunderous applause from the Class of 2026.

University Park ceremony: ‘Today is not an end; it's just the beginning’

The University Park commencement ceremony took place at Eisenhower Auditorium. The event opened with the national anthem, sung by Kirahy W. Meyers ’26, followed by a welcome and introduction from Penn State Dickinson Law and School of International Affairs Dean and Donald J. Farage Professor of Law Danielle M. Conway. She urged friends and family of the graduates to celebrate loudly throughout the ceremony to honor their outstanding achievements.

Penn State University Executive Vice President and Provost Fotis Sotiropoulos delivered remarks before LL.M. student speaker Fatima Midrar ’26 LL.M., a Fulbright Scholar from Pakistan, took the stage. “No one could fathom that in the middle of Pennsylvania, we would find so many people from various countries and states within the U.S., that we would have a place to exchange views and ideas. And this is all possible thanks to Penn State Dickinson Law and, specifically, the professors. I thank all my professors for creating an inclusive environment,” said Midrar.

Brandon Biegenzahn ’04, president of McDermott + Bull Executive Search and a member of the Penn State Dickinson Law Leadership Council Advisory Board, delivered the commencement address. “You're moving on to something amazing. Today is not an end; it's just the beginning as you step into what comes next,” said Biegenzahn. He then shared four lessons he learned in his career, including the importance of aligning your career with your life and the critical role of relationship-building.

Sotiropoulos recognized Emeritus Trustee George T. Henning Jr., a business consultant and a retired chief financial officer of LTV Corporation, who offered congratulations and authorized the conferring of degrees on behalf of the Penn State Board of Trustees. Next, Conway conferred the degrees, which Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Clinical Professor of Law Michele Vollmer presented.

After Conway presented the Class of 2026, J.D. student speaker Gregory Heider ’26, the outgoing Student Bar Association president, delivered his remarks.

The ceremony closed with a rendition of the alma mater and graduates exiting in a recessional.

View candid photos from the Penn State Dickinson Law University Park Graduation Ceremony:

Carlisle ceremony: ‘This is a time of great opportunity’

The Carlisle commencement ceremony took place at The Forum in Harrisburg. The event opened with a greeting from Conway, who repeated the previous day’s appeal to graduates’ families and friends to be vocal. She recognized Penn State University Senior Vice Provost and Interim Dean of Undergraduate Education Dr. Kathleen Bieschke, who commended the graduates for their hard work and determination.

Conway then introduced LL.M. student speaker Ilze Ambrasa’26 LL.M., a Fulbright Scholar from Latvia. “One of our professors always ended her class with a wish to be good to yourself and others,” said Ambrasa. “By overcoming our differences and working together as a team, we go far in upholding the rule of law in times of uncertainty.”

Commencement speaker Noreen M. Tama ’86, general counsel at All Sober, a Public Benefit Corporation, encouraged the graduates to embrace courage and community in their legal careers. “This is a time of great opportunity. You are each more powerful than you may believe. As lawyers, you'll be called upon as among the most important players in our society,” said Tama, who received the Annual Hon. Sylvia H. Rambo Award from the Women’s Law Caucus at Penn State Dickinson Law in 2021.

Emeriti Trustee Abraham Amoros, director of operations at the PA Municipal League, authorized the conferring of degrees on behalf of Penn State's Board of Trustees, reminding graduates of the opportunities to remain involved with Penn State long after commencement.

Conway conferred the degrees, which Vollmer again presented. Additionally, four Penn State Dickinson Law alumni presented family members with their diplomas: Jared Childers ’08; Benjamin Cox ’96; Danny Gray ’21; and John Greiner ’22.

Catalina Peñéñory ’26, the J.D. student speaker, closed the ceremony by urging her fellow graduates to use their legal skills responsibly and to strive to be good people.

Like the University Park ceremony, the Carlisle ceremony also closed with a rendition of the alma mater and graduates exiting in a recessional.

View candid photos from the Penn State Dickinson Law, Carlisle Graduation Ceremony: