Gies College of Business

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Gies College of Business students at Convocation

Convocation

May 2025 Gies Convocation Ceremony

Gies graduates from August 2024, December 2024 and May 2025 are eligible to participate in the May 2025 Convocation Ceremony. Please note, graduates are only eligible to participate in the ceremony for their respective degree.

Master’s degree candidates with 8 or fewer hours remaining or Bachelor’s degree candidates with 13 or fewer hours remaining who expect to complete their degree requirements in August 2025, may participate in Convocation.

 

iDegree In-Person Convocation (iMBA, iMSA, iMSM)

Friday, May 16, 10 – 11:30 am
State Farm Center

Undergraduate and Residential Graduate Program In-Person Convocation

Friday, May 16, 2 – 4:30 pm
State Farm Center

Dean's Message

Dean Brooke Elliott

W. Brooke Elliott
Josef and Margot Lakonishok Professor in Business and Dean,
Gies College of Business

Welcome to the May 2025 Convocation Ceremonies of Gies College of Business

We are honored to celebrate this major milestone with you today and are exceptionally proud of all you’ve achieved – successfully completing a rigorous curriculum, earning your degree, and exploring your passions and purpose.

We hope you’re graduating with confidence in yourself to take what you’ve learned and apply it toward whatever is next in your journey. As you move on to that next experience, please look back on the memories and relationships you’ve made in your program – and the support you’ve received along the way, whether from family, friends, faculty, staff, or alumni.

We’re all excited to see where your future takes you and the impact you will make in the lives of others. I know you will continue to make the College proud. Please carry the passion, purpose, and integrity of your Gies Business experience with you always. Proudly share what you have learned. And remember, once you are part of the Gies Business community, you are always part of the Gies Business community. Congratulations to the Class of 2025.

Convocation Speaker

Convocation speaker and alumnus Doug Dossey

Doug Dossey ‘95
Co-Founder and Co-Managing Partner, Tensile Capital Management LP

Doug Dossey is the co-founder and co-managing partner of Tensile Capital Management, where he leads the firm’s private equity investment activities. He focuses on sourcing, researching, executing, and managing both public and private investments.

Prior to Tensile, Doug was a managing partner and co-portfolio manager at Blum Capital. From 1998 to 2009, he served as a managing director and co-owner of FdG Associates, a middle-market private equity firm. Earlier in his career, he was an investment banking analyst and associate with Merrill Lynch.

Doug has extensive board experience, having served on 32 corporate boards of directors, including 15 as chairman. Beyond his professional commitments, he is a member of the Dean’s Legacy Council at Gies College of Business and serves as chairman of the Investment Committee for Summer Search.

Doug received his Bachelor of Science in Accountancy with High Honors from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 1995 and passed the Certified Public Accountant examination that same year. He also earned four varsity letters as a high jumper on the men’s track and field team and was a 1994 Big Ten Conference champion.

A native of Eureka, IL, Doug resides in San Anselmo, CA, along with his wife, Kathrin Dellago, and two sons, Finn and Bode.

State Farm Center Policies

A clear bag policy will be in effect for the Convocation Ceremony. Guests attending Convocation ceremonies will be permitted to carry one clear plastic or vinyl bag that does not exceed 12"x6"x12", or one clear drawstring bag not to exceed 12"x12", or one, one-gallon clear plastic or zip-lock bag. A small clutch no larger than 4.5"x7" may also be carried in addition to one clear bag. Additional details are available online.

Requests and Accommodations

Guests:

Parking for those with disabilities is available in each of the parking lot quadrants surrounding State Farm Center. The spaces are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. The circle drive areas located on the East & West side of the building and are available for drop-off and pick-up. 

There are accessible seating areas throughout the State Farm Center, available on a first-come, first-serve basis; including companion seating. There will be State Farm Center staff at the entrances, who can help direct to accessible seating and/or answer any on-site questions. 

Graduates:

If you will need accessibility-related accommodations in order to participate in this event, please indicate when registering for the ceremony.

Universitywide Commencement Ceremony

Saturday, May 17, 2025, 9:30 – 11:30 am
Memorial Stadium

Information for the Universitywide Commencement Ceremony is available online. All questions should be directed to commencement@illinois.edu.

December 2025 Gies Convocation Ceremony

Information will be posted during Summer 2025

Student Resources and Questions

Registration/Ceremony: If you have questions about registration or the ceremony, please contact our office at Gies-Convocation@illinois.edu.

Academic: If you have academic-related eligibility questions, undergraduate candidates should contact the Office of Undergraduate Affairs at undergrads@business.illinois.edu or 217-333-2740.

Master’s, MBA, and PhD candidates should contact their respective degree program office with questions.

2024 December Convocation Ceremony

iDegree and Residential Program

December 20, 2024