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The IU McKinney alumni family grew during commencement exercises on the IUPUI campus May 9, and those students were honored during a graduation recognition celebration hosted by the law school.

The law school’s graduation recognition event took place at the Murat Theater at Old National Centre on May 8. The law school celebrated 261 graduates from 17 countries, 25 states, and 31 Indiana counties. A total of 58% of the class is female, 42% is male, and 20% are people of color. The oldest graduate just shy of 64 and the youngest just turned 23.

Graduating students and their families heard remarks from Jimmie L. McMillian, J.D. ’02, senior corporate counsel and chief diversity officer of Penske Entertainment, a subsidiary of Penske Corporation. In those capacities, he provides legal counsel to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, INDYCAR, and IMS Productions, and directs all corporate diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. His counsel responsibilities include negotiating the Speedway’s licensing, music concert, construction, and indemnity contracts. His diversity portfolio includes Penske’s “Race for Equality & Change,” an initiative to provide opportunities in the motorsports industry and open wheel racing for women and men from historically underrepresented groups.

Prior to his current assignment at Penske Entertainment, McMillian was a partner in the litigation department of Barnes & Thornburg, one of the nation’s 100 largest law firms. There he represented corporate clients in a wide range of litigation involving commercial contracts, products liability, personal injury and wrongful death claims, construction disputes, and internal and criminal investigations. After graduating from McKinney Law and before beginning work at Barnes & Thornburg, McMillian was a law clerk for former Indiana Supreme Court Justice Frank Sullivan, Jr., who is now a professor of business and commercial law courses at McKinney.

It wasn’t the first time McMillian was at the podium during such an event. He was the speaker for his graduating class in 2002 and he addressed the class of 2024 during their orientation exercises in 2021.

Student speakers included Makayla Phillips, who spoke on behalf of the M.J. division; Kenyi Kenyi, who spoke for the LL.M. division; Hunter Foist, who spoke for the full-time J.D. students; and Lance Howard, who spoke for the part-time division.

Isra Haider was awarded the faculty prize. Haider was on the Dean’s List throughout her law school career and graduated at the top of her class. She was a Kennedy Scholar, an ICLEO Fellow, and won the 2022-2023 Papke Prize for Best Law Review Note. She will work as a law clerk for Indiana Supreme Court Justice Christopher Goff later this year. In the photo at left, Isra Haider, left, recieved the faculty prize from Vice Dean Cynthia Adams, J.D. '83.

The law school awarded 235 Juris Doctor degrees, 12 Master of Jurisprudence degrees, and 14 Master of Law degrees. The law school also awarded 118 graduate certificates in the areas of civil and human rights law, criminal law, health law, corporate and commercial law, environmental and natural resources law, intellectual property law, and international and comparative law. In addition to their academic pursuits, the class of 2024 contributed 5, 544.68 hours of pro bono service to the central Indiana community while attending law school.

Professor Frank Sullivan and Associate Dean of Graduate and International Programs Tom Wilson served as hooding faculty for the Master of Laws and Master of Jurisprudence students. Professor Sullivan also served as hooding faculty for the Juris Doctor students, along with Professor Florence Wagman Roisman and Professor Lahny Silva. Faculty marshals were Professor James Dimitri and Professor Julie Gilgoff. Alumni marshals were Judge Fredric D. Roberson, J.D. ’02; and Anne M. Young, M.J. ’18.