Convocation
2025 May Convocation
The Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering is planning an in-person convocation ceremony to celebrate your academic achievements. The departmental convocation recognizes ChBE graduates who earned bachelor's and master's degrees and includes a hooding ceremony for our doctoral graduates. Please note that this ceremony is separate from the university's Commencement ceremony; see commencement.illinois.edu for details about the campus event.
When:
Sunday, May 18, 2025
9:30 a.m. | Doors open at 8:30 a.m.
Where:
Krannert Center, Tryon Festival Theater (500 S. Goodwin Ave., Urbana)
Reception to follow at Illini Union, Room ABC (1401 W. Green St., Urbana) | 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Keynote:
We are pleased to welcome alumnus Kirk A. Nass as our keynote speaker.
Registration:
Registration is required to participate in the ceremony. Registration guarantees you six guest tickets. Deadline to register is Friday, April 18, 2025.
Email chbe-ugprogramoffice@illinois.edu with questions.
Watch:
The ceremony will be streamed live and available for watching. A link to the Livestream will be available on this page in advance of the ceremony.
Regalia:
Academic attire is required for all graduates who participate in our convocation ceremony; information about academic attire, including how to order, is available on the U. of I. Commencement website.
Notes:
- This event is for graduating ChBE students only, and is separate from any college and campus ceremonies. Students may choose to attend those ceremonies as well.
- Instructions to change how your name will appear on your diploma and transcript can be found on the Registrar’s website. Diploma names dictate what is displayed on your diploma and are used in the convocation program, lists of graduates, etc. If you have any questions about your diploma, please call the Office of the Registrar at (217) 333-0210.
- The university plans to capture photographs and video of this event. Be aware that if you attend, you are consenting to the possibility that your image and likeness may be shared or published by the university for marketing-communications purposes.
Contact chbe-ugprogramoffice@illinois.edu with any questions about this event. If you are a person with a disability who requires accommodation(s), please fill out this form from Krannert to make accommodations and contact us as soon as possible. Some accommodation requests (such as American Sign Language Interpreters) received after the registration deadline will be given due diligence to be filled but may not be guaranteed.
These plans are subject to change — check this page for updated event details going forward.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Kirk Nass (BS 83)
Kirk A. Nass received a B.S. in chemical engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (1983) and a Ph.D. in chemical engineering from the University of Washington in Seattle (1989). He retired from Chevron in 2020 after working for 31 years at the Richmond Technology Center in the San Francisco Bay Area, first as a polymer R&D engineer and later as a technical manager overseeing the development of performance additives for lubricating oils and gasoline. Nass holds several U.S. and international patents and received two company Presidential awards for his contributions.
In 1991, Nass was a founding Board member of the Chevron Lesbian and Gay Employees Association, now known as Chevron PRIDE, and held various Board positions, including Chair, for 10 years. During that time, Chevron added sexual orientation to its non-discrimination and non-harassment policies, extended domestic partner benefits to all employees, and officially recognized employee diversity networks. Nass and his husband, Michael E. Gillespie, have established scholarships intended for LGBTQ engineering undergraduates at both the University of Illinois and the University of Washington to support the development and mentorship of diverse STEM talent.
Take the Chancellor's Senior Survey
Graduating seniors are invited to take the Chancellor's Senior Survey and share about your Illinois experience! The survey will remain open for the rest of the semester, but complete the survey by March 31 for a chance to win an Amazon gift card, VIP Commencement tickets, and University of Illinois Alumni Association Membership and gift basket!
The University of Illinois commencement website contains detailed information about the May and December campus ceremonies. Visit their site to learn more about planned celebrations, details for graduates, and resources for family and guests.