Class of 2026: Arizona Law Graduation Highlights
The University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law celebrated the Class of 2026 during its annual convocation ceremony, held Saturday, May 16, at Centennial Hall. The ceremony honored the hard work, resilience, and commitment of 120 Juris Doctor (JD) graduates, 152 Master of Legal Studies (MLS) graduates, 37 Master of Laws (LLM) graduates, two Scientiae Juridicae Doctor (SJD) graduates, and seven Graduate Certificate graduates as they marked the culmination of their legal education journeys.
Outgoing Student Bar Association President Taylor Alexander opened the ceremony, reflecting on her time at Arizona Law and formally presenting the class of 2026 to Dean Jason Kreag.
Dean Kreag welcomed all in attendance, thanked family, friends, faculty and staff who helped support the graduates to reach this moment. He advised graduates with three important points, the first being to remember what motivated them to come to law school in the first place.
“For many of you, your decision to study law was related to a desire to make an impact, to be an advocate, to contribute to and to improve your community, to be of assistance to others. Now, the path through law school might have had some unexpected, welcomed and unwelcomed turns. You now might be starting a career that you didn’t even know existed before law school. But the person who started the path toward law school is still inside of you. And I think it makes sense to honor that person. That version of you as you walk across the stage today to celebrate,” said Kreag.
He reminded grads how the rule of law depends on lawyers being willing to be both fierce advocates for clients, for their causes, and fierce defenders and protectors of the institutions and procedures that help us settle disagreements, and finally, to show up and share their voice.
“The people who make a difference aren’t always the ones with the most credentials or the biggest platform. They are often simply the people who show up,” he said. “They show up when it’s inconvenient, when it’s difficult, when it matters. So, show up for your clients. Show up for your profession. Show up for your community even when no one’s watching.”
Student speakers Arjun Puri and Renee Redshirt each reflected on their time at Arizona Law and their hopes for their classmates as they head into their careers.
“As my elders have taught me in our Navajo culture, remembering is a recalling of values, of who you are today and of who you are still becoming. It grounds us and over time it becomes a way of being. Not turned inward toward the self but outward toward our relations. It deepens us in life and in character in the legal profession. Whatever paths we enter, the question is not only what we will do, but who will we be,” said Redshirt. “As we go forward from here, may we be bold, may we disrupt what is unjust, and may we help build what comes next together and for one another.”
Paul Charlton (JD ‘88, BA ‘83), partner at the international law firm Dentons and former U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona, delivered the keynote address. Charlton shared lessons from his career and offered the graduating class a charge for the road ahead: like showing up in person, something AI can never replace, and to draw lines in their careers that they will always know to stay away from, and to speak up when they can.
“Our drawn lines preserve the rule of law and our nation’s future,” he said. “So, class of 2026, the next great generation, show up, draw your lines, and bear down.”
Kreag closed the ceremony by conferring degrees and closing by congratulating the graduates.
“The degrees you receive today reflect not only your academic achievement, but also your resilience, your character, and your commitment to serving something larger than yourselves,” said Kreag. “We’re very proud of what you’ve accomplished, and we’re excited to see the impact you will make in Arizona, across the country, and around the world. Wherever your path leads you, you will always remain part of this college and part of this community.”
Arizona Law Alumni Receives Alumni Achievement Award at U of A Commencement
University of Arizona Arizona Law alumni Cisco Aguilar (’04 JD, MBA ’04, BA ’00) received the Alumni Achievement Award at this year’s University of Arizona Commencement.
Aguilar serves as Nevada’s Secretary of State. As secretary, he is focused on modernizing, innovating and building transparency in the office.
Under Secretary Aguilar’s leadership and vision, the office took on two major technology projects to modernize the state’s elections and business filings. The business filing system is making business easier in Nevada, and the statewide voter registration system— implemented in just 14 months — increases security and streamlines the voter experience. Thanks to dedicated efforts to expand access to the ballot box, tribal voting turnout increased by 34% during the 2024 election.
Prior to being elected, Secretary Aguilar served 12 years as general counsel for Agassi Graf, the management company for Andre Agassi and Stefanie Graf, and the Andre Agassi Foundation for Education.
In 2020, Secretary Aguilar launched Blueprint Sports, a sports technology startup, facilitating over $140 million in name, image and likeness earnings for over 25,000 NCAA student-athletes since 2021.
Secretary Aguilar graduated from the University of Arizona in 2000 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration; 2004 with a master’s degree in business administration; and 2004 with a Juris Doctor.
Passionate about education, Secretary Aguilar is the founding chairman of Cristo Rey St. Viator High School, which provides an innovative workforce development program in one of Las Vegas’ most vulnerable neighborhoods.
Secretary Aguilar also served on the Nevada Athletic Commission regulating boxing and mixed martial arts for eight years, two of which he served as chairman.