law school designation of honors *
highest honors
Thomas J. Armstrong III
Sarah Bigley
Michael J. Blankenship
Brooke De Noble
Andrew Fisher
Daniel Fournier, Jr.
Marie E. Gernes
William R. Keck
Rachel Alice Rozendaal
Alexander James Stegen
Kathryn Zack
high honors
Sarah Abu-Nameh
Ashley Beitelspacher
Katherine Christine
Chapman
Nicholas DeAngelo
Nicholas Downey
Margaret L. Garbin
Katherine Olivia
Greenwood
Eli Harris
Carter Hartman
Brigid Hecht
Jordan Heeter
John C. Humphrey
Wiley Hunt
Kathryn Husted
Zachary John Miller
Maxwell Oelmann
Kaylee Ranae Olivares
Anna Olson
Alicia Elizabeth Rupp
Katelyn Schmitz
Jebadiah Schwager
Kelsey J. Sissel
Rylie Smith
Jon Sterk
Samantha Stewart
Joseph Swinton
Abigayle R. Thomas
honors
Johnathan Bartholomew
Delaney K. Buisker
Corbin Cline
Karrecia Crawley
Jack Groepper
Wyatt J. Harlan
Abrielle Jean Luther
Gregory McGovern
Jacob Cozad McKinney
Micheal Milan
Tess Paxson
Lauren Danielle Ratliff
Mackenzie Elizabeth
Roberts
Pamela Sanders-Booker
Kaitlyn J. Scott
Kaille A. Simmons
Isaac O. Strohman
Ginger Thompson-Schulte
Mitchell Timm
Ryleigh Jane Travers
Isabelle Judith Webber
Mary Katherine H. Wille
* The degree may be conferred with “Highest Honors” upon a student who graduates in the top 10 of their graduating class, with “High Honors” upon a student whose final cumulative grade point average is 3.5 or above, but is not included in the top 10, and with “Honors” upon a student whose final cumulative grade point average is 3.25 to 3.49. A degree may be conferred “with honors” upon a student only if that student’s final cumulative grade point average places him or her in the top 40 percent of his or her class. The honors designations in the program are based upon grades earned through the Fall 2025 semester, without regard to the top 40 percent requirement and are subject to change based upon grades earned thereafter. This commencement program, therefore, does not constitute an official list of confirmed graduates or confirmed academic honors for the May 16, 2026, commencement at Drake University. Participation in the commencement ceremony does not signify that degrees and academic honors have been awarded unless all pertinent academic requirements have been met.
academic program certificates **
artificial intelligence certificate
Jack Terrence Norton
Kaylee Ranae Olivares
business law certificate
Sarah Abu-Nameh
Cameron Jean Annis
Thomas J. Armstrong III
Ali Kay Bestell
Matthew Clarke
Noah Ryan Crist
Brooke De Noble
Andrew Fisher
Daniel Fournier, Jr.
Brookelyn D. George
Meredith Thomas Gill
Gregory McGovern
Micheal Milan
Arturo Montes
Lauren Danielle Ratliff
Samantha L. Ruhland
Abigail E. Thompson
Allison M. Van
Spencer J. Warfield
Ryan Williams
Kathryn Zack
civil litigation and dispute resolution certificate
Joseph Swinton
constitutional law and civil rights certificate
Kayla Marie Dienberg
Mikayla Beate Ganan
Brookelyn D. George
Ryan Yian Lee
Zachary John Miller
Alicia Elizabeth Rupp
criminal law certificate
Marisa Anderson
Anne Matilda Archer
Sidnie Mae Baier
Katherine Christine Chapman
Corbin Cline
Karrecia Crawley
Katherine Olivia Greenwood
Mercedes Moriah Lundberg
Samantha Michalczyk
Mackenzie Elizabeth Roberts
Hannah Tedrow
food and agricultural law certificate
Julie Anderson
Andrew Fisher
Wyatt J. Harlan
Lyn Jensen
Ellen N. Phillips
Nicholas J. Romano
Jebadiah Schwager
Ryleigh Jane Travers
intellectual property law certificate
Cameron Jean Annis
Nicole Delores Frazier
Carter R. Holm
Jack Terrence Norton Katelyn Schmitz
international law and global citizenship certificate
Matthew Clarke
Meredith Thomas Gill
Zachary John Miller
Rachel Alice Rozendaal
legislative practice certificate
Julie Anderson
Kayla Marie Dienberg
Seth Jones
William R. Keck
Nicholas J. Romano
Rachel Alice Rozendaal
Kaille A. Simmons
Isaac O. Strohman
David Wade
Isabelle Judith Webber
public service certificate
RoxSanna Drew Allen
Ali Kay Bestell
Sarah Bigley
Katherine Christine Chapman
Corbin Cline
Daniel Fournier, Jr.
Carter Hartman
Brigid Hecht
Wiley Hunt
Lennon Janes
William R. Keck
Maci Ellen Kluesner
Abrielle Jean Luther
Zachary John Miller
Kaylee Ranae Olivares
Anna Olson
Tess Paxson
Nicholas J. Romano
Rachel Alice Rozendaal
Samantha L. Ruhland
Jon Sterk
Abigail E. Thompson
Allison M. Van
social justice and public interest lawyering certificate
Brigid Hecht
Lennon Janes
Anna Olson
Tess Paxson
** Students who complete a required set of courses and internships receive a certificate recognizing their area of specialization.
administration
Marty Martin, B.A., J.D., LL.M., President of the University
Roscoe Jones, Jr., B.S., J.D., Dean and Professor Law
Anthony J. Gaughan, B.A., M.A., Ph.D., J.D., Associate Dean and Kern Family Chair in Law and Professor of Law
John D. Edwards, B.A., J.D., M.A.L.S., Associate Dean for Information Resources and Technology, Director of the Law Library and Professor of Law
Elizabeth Battles, B.A., J.D., Assistant Dean for Student Services
Ashley R.A. Madsen, B.A., J.D., Director of Academic Success
J. Kara Blanchard, B.S., M.S., Assistant Dean for Admission and Financial Aid
Matt Johnson, B.S., B.S.B.A., M.P.A., Ph.D., Director of Admission and Financial Aid
Brianna Leistikow, B.A., Assistant Director of Admission and Diversity Initiatives
Laurie Dufoe, B.A., M.A., Assistant Dean of Career Development
Annie Reser-Moorehead, B.M., M.M, J.D., Director of Career Development
Lonique Jackson, A.A., Clinic Operations Coordinator
Susan Edwards, A.A., Budget and Office Manager
Lori Chappell, B.B.A., Director of External Relations (spring administrator)
Theresa Howard, B.A., M.A., Director of Communication, Alumni Relations and Special Events (fall administrator)
Andrea Solomon, B.A., M.P.A., Advancement Officer
faculty
James A. Albert, B.F.A., J.D., Professor of Law
Jerry L. Anderson, B.S., J.D., Richard M. and Anita Calkins Distinguished Professor of Law
Hon. Brent Appel (Ret.), B.A., J.D., Distinguished Lecturer and Jurist in Residence
Sayoko Blodgett-Ford, B.S., M.S., M.A., J.D., Sease Faculty Research Scholar and Associate Professor of Law
Alexandra Brennan, B.A., J.D., Reference and Instruction Librarian and Instructor of Law Librarianship
Hunter R. Clark, A.B., J.D., Professor of Law
Colleen Cullen, B.A., J.D., Director of the Criminal Defense Clinic and Assistant Professor of Law
Steven Foritano, B.A., J.D., Practitioner in Residence
Sally B. Frank, A.B., MAT/CLE, J.D., Professor of Law
Sydney Gangestad, B.A., J.D., Director of the Legislative Practice Center and Instructor of Law
Anthony J. Gaughan, B.A., M.A., Ph.D., J.D., Kern Family Chair in Law and Professor of Law
David B. Hanson, B.A., M.A.L.S., Collection Management and Metadata Librarian and Associate Professor of Law Librarianship
Kristi Harshbarger, B.A., J.D., Director of the Entrepreneurial and Transactional Clinic and Assistant Professor of Law
Christoph Henkel, J.D., LL.M., S.J.A., Professor of Law
Mark S. Kende, B.A., J.D., Director of the Constitutional Law Center, James Madison Chair in Constitutional Law and Professor of Law
Jeremy Kidd, B.A., Ph.D., J.D., Professor of Law
Erin C. Lain, B.A., J.D., Ph.D., Professor of Law
Rebecca A. Lutkenhaus, B.A., M.A., J.D., Reference and Instruction Librarian and Professor of Law Librarianship
Natalie Banta Lynner, B.S., J.D., Dwight D. Opperman Distinguished Professor of Law
Allison McCarthy, B.A., J.D., Director of the Refugee Clinic and Instructor of Law
Nickole Miller, B.A., J.D., Director of the Middleton Children’s Rights Center and Associate Professor of Law
Alexa Perez, B.A., J.D., Assistant Professor of Law
Suzan M. Pritchett, B.A., M.A., J.D., Director of Clinical and Experiential Programs and Professor of Law
Joe Schomberg, B.A., J.D., Assistant Professor of Law
Miguel Schor, B.A., M.A., J.D., Class of 1977 Distinguished Scholar and Professor of Law
Dean Strang, A.B., J.D., Director of the Institute for Justice Reform and Innovation
Danielle M. Shelton, B.A., J.D., Professor of Law
Karen L. Wallace, B.A., M.A., Circulation/Reference Librarian and Professor of Law Librarianship
Melissa H. Weresh, B.A., J.D., Dwight D. Opperman Distinguished Professor of Law and Herb and Karen Baum Chair of Ethics in the Profession
Ellen L. Yee, B.A., J.D., Director of International Programs and Professor of Law
Jennifer Zwagerman, B.S., J.D., LL.M., Director of the Agricultural Law Center and Associate Professor of Law faculty emeriti
James A. Adams, A.B., J.D., Professor Emeritus
Hon. Mark W. Bennett (Ret.), B.A., J.D., Former Director of the Institute for Justice Reform and Innovation
Andrea S. Charlow, A.B., J.D., LL.M., Professor Emeritus
Laurie Kratky Doré, B.A., J.D., Professor Emeritus
Matthew G. Doré, B.A., J.D., Professor Emeritus
Neil D. Hamilton, B.S., J.D., Professor Emeritus
Robert C. Hunter, B.A., J.D., Professor Emeritus
Suzanne J. Levitt, A.B., J.D., LL.M., Professor Emeritus
Russell E. Lovell II, B.B.A., J.D., LL.M., Professor Emeritus
David E. McCord, B.A., J.D., Professor Emeritus
Keith C. Miller, B.A., J.D., LL.M., Professor Emeritus
James R. Monroe, B.A., M.B.A., J.D., LL.M., Professor Emeritus
Robert R. Rigg, B.A., J.D., Professor Emeritus
Maura I. Strassberg, B.A., M.A., J.D., Professor Emeritus
Allan W. Vestal, B.A., J.D., Professor Emeritus
David S. Walker, B.A., J.D., Professor Emeritus
acknowledgment
Drake University and the Law School gratefully acknowledge the Law School Endowment Trust for its financial support of the Law School Commencement.
A reception will be held immediately following the Commencement Ceremony at the Courtside Club in Shivers Practice Facility. Refreshments will be provided. The graduates, their families and friends, alumni, faculty, staff, and other law students are cordially invited to attend the reception.
