CSU Announces 2025 Commencement Speaker and Honorary Degree Recipients for 372^nd Commencement

Honoring Excellence, Leading Change: CSU’s 372nd Commencement To Spotlight Keynote Speaker Freeman-Wilson, Honorary Degree Recipients Houston, Reynolds

Chicago, IL—The Chicago State University Board of Trustees announced the list of recipients who will receive honorary doctorate degrees from the University in 2025. The degrees will be granted during the 372nd Commencement. The 2025 Commencement Ceremony will take place at 10:45 am on May 15, 2025, in the Emil and Patricia Jones Convocation Center on CSU campus. During the event, the University will celebrate the academic achievements of the graduating class and formally recognize the extraordinary accomplishments of these individuals.

Honorary degree recipients are renowned lawyer, public official and public service contributor Karen Freeman-Wilson, our 2025 Commencement Speaker and Honorary Degree recipient; an acclaimed playwright, television writer, and former CSU professor, Honorary Degree recipient Christine Houston and nationally recognized champion for economic equity and visionary finance leader Honorary Degree recipient James Reynolds Jr.. These recipients exemplify the values and mission of CSU. We are honored to award them the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Humane Letters.

“The recipients of our 2025 honorary degrees are individuals whose professional achievements are defined by the impact they've had through service and the meaningful difference they've made in their fields,” said Z. Scott, president of Chicago State University. “Like Chicago State, which is driven by the core values of service and social justice, these honorees are inspired by their commitment to social justice and their dedication to serving and giving back to their communities. As we celebrate our 372nd Commencement, we embrace and recognize our honorees for their contributions both within and outside of the University. They have dedicated their talents and lives to improving the world – and for that we honor them.”

Karen Freeman-Wilson is the President and CEO of the Chicago Urban League. An innovative public servant and accomplished attorney, Freeman-Wilson was the first Black woman elected mayor in the state of Indiana, serving her hometown of Gary from 2012 to 2019. Her prior leadership roles include Indiana Attorney General, Director of the Indiana Civil Rights Commission, and CEO of the National Association of Drug Court Professionals. A graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School, Freeman-Wilson continues to advocate for economic empowerment, equity, and justice through her work in nonprofit leadership and national service.

Christine Houston, an acclaimed playwright, television writer, and former CSU professor, is recognized for her groundbreaking work in storytelling and media. A Chicago native, Houston is the creator of the hit 1980s sitcom 227, which was adapted from her award-winning play Two Twenty-Seven. Her television writing credits include The Jeffersonsand Punky Brewster, and her literary work spans dozens of one-act plays and the novel Laughing Through the Tears. As a professor at Chicago State University, Houston mentored aspiring writers and screenwriters, encouraging students of all ages to pursue their creative passions.

James Reynolds, Jr., Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Loop Capital, is recognized for his visionary leadership in finance and his longstanding commitment to economic equity. Since founding Loop Capital in 1997, Reynolds has guided the firm’s growth into a nationally recognized investment bank with divisions spanning corporate finance, asset management, and infrastructure investment. A dedicated civic leader, Reynolds serves on the boards of the Chicago Community Trust, World Business Chicago, Intersect Illinois, and the Chicago Urban League. He holds a master’s degree in finance from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse.

About Chicago State University

Chicago State University, founded in 1867, is the oldest public university in the Chicago Metropolitan area. The University’s four colleges offer nearly 60 undergraduate and graduate degree-granting and non-degree programs. CSU is committed to equity in education, serving as the only U.S. Department of Education-designated four-year Predominantly Black Institution in Illinois and ranked by a Harvard economist in the top 4% of public and private universities nationwide in supporting our graduates’ economic mobility. The University serves as a prominent civic space on the greater South Side of Chicago by hosting a multitude of athletic, educational, cultural, and recreational activities. The University is located near public transit that provides convenient access to the campus. For more information, visit here.