Dr. Mary Robinson, the first female President of Ireland and former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, will deliver the commencement address at Cleveland State University’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law’s graduation ceremony for the class of 2016. The ceremony will take place Sunday, May 15, at 2:00 p.m. at CSU’s Bert L. and Iris S. Wolstein Center.

Robinson, chancellor at the University of Dublin since 1998, will receive an honorary Doctor of Laws degree during ceremony.

Robinson served as the seventh President of Ireland from 1990 to 1997, after rising to prominence as a member of the Irish Senate for 20 years.   During her time in office, she is credited with shaping the role of inclusiveness, equality and peace building incumbent of the Irish presidency.  During her tenure with the United Nations, Robinson presided over the first World Conference against Racism and became the first UN High Commissioner to visit Tibet.

In addition, Robinson has brought attention to international issues as honorary president of Oxfam International, an organization that strives to end the injustices that cause poverty, as chair of the board of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations and as president of Realizing Rights: The Ethical Globalization Initiative. In 2009, President Barack Obama recognized Robinson's life’s work with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor awarded by the United States.

In addition, Robert H. Rawson, Jr., CSU Board of Trustees chairman and former partner-in-charge of Jones Day’s Cleveland office, will also receive an honorary Doctor of Laws degree during CSU’s graduation ceremony on May 14.

A ticket is required for all attendees of the law commencement ceremony. Immediately following, graduates and guests will be invited to attend a reception at Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, 1801 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland.