School of Integrative Biology Convocation
Looking for the digital convocation program?
Title
Graduating in May? Congratulations!
Next Steps:
Don't forget to sign up to participate in the graduation ceremonies.
SIB 2025 Convocation will be at 1:00 p.m. Sunday, May 18th, 2025 at at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts. Students are recognized individually, by name, at this ceremony and Ph.D. candidates are hooded. An informal reception in the Krannert Center lobby will follow the ceremony. Please note -- participating in convocation does require excessive walking, standing, and stair climbing.
For SIB convocation registration please register here. Questions about the SIB convocation can be sent to sib@life.illinois.edu or by calling 217-333-3044.
The university-wide Commencement is at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, May 17, 2025, at Memorial Stadium.
The campus doctoral hooding event is at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 15, 2025, at State Farm Center.
Graduates may participate in as many ceremonies and celebrations as they would like. However, separate registration is required for each ceremony and participants must order a cap and gown to wear for the ceremonies. The same cap and gown can be worn at all ceremonies and celebrations.
When:
Sunday, May 18, 2025
1:00 p.m. | Doors open 12:00 p.m.
Keynote speaker:
SIB is pleased to welcome back alumni Eric Giesing as our keynote speaker.
Who can participate:
Students who graduate in Fall 2024, Spring 2025, or Summer 2025 are eligible to participate in the 2025 SIB Convocation.
Tickets:
Tickets will be required for this event. Tickets may be picked up in 286 Morrill Hall, Monday through Thursday, May 12- 15, between the hours of 1:00 - 4:30 p.m., but are initially limited to 6 per participant. Additional tickets will be available on a first come, first served basis on Friday, May 16, from 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. or 1:00 - 4:30 p.m.
Accessibility:
Building Accessibility form: Krannert provides accessibility via their accessibility site. Please used the listed form when it becomes available to request accommodations.
Accessibility-related accommodations: If you will need accessibility-related accommodations in order to participate, please contact the SIB Office at sib@life.illinois.edu. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet your access needs.
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Keynote Speaker: Eric Giesing
Eric Giesing is a dynamic life sciences executive with a career spanning academia, biotech, pharmaceuticals, and private equity-backed ventures. Eric graduated from the University of Illinois with a B.S. in Integrative Biology in 2008 followed by a M.S. in 2010 under Dr. Alison Bell, where he studied the effects of maternal predator exposure on offspring behavior in three-spined sticklebacks.
Eric began his professional journey as a wildlife biologist and educator at Fort Hays State University and the Kansas Wetlands Education Center. Transitioning into the pharmaceutical industry, he held sales roles with inVentiv Health and Forest Laboratories, before joining Danaher, a Fortune 150 where he rose from entry level sales to managing a $500M business at Beckman Coulter Life Sciences.
His career continued with a Harvard Business School certificate, operational leadership as COO of a drug manufacturing company and work as an operating partner for life science focused private equity firms. He later served as Chief Commercial Officer at Fortis Life Sciences, leading strategy and global commercial execution. Currently, Eric serves as Chief Executive Officer of Savillex, a conglomerate of three private equity-backed life science companies, holds several board positions, and most proudly, boasts the title of “Girl Dad.”
Senior Checklist!
Don't forget you must register to participate in the university-wide Illinois Commencement ceremony at Memorial Stadium as well as the School of Integrative Biology Convocation ceremony. Please use links below for additional information.
Consider using the Senior Checklist below to guide you through preparing for graduation!