IIT President Emeritus Lewis M. Collens and Illinois Supreme Court Justice Anne M. Burke '83 will serve as honorary co-chairs of IIT Chicago-Kent's 125th Anniversary Gala.

Illinois Supreme Court Justice Anne M. Burke ’83 and Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) President Emeritus Lewis M. Collens will serve as honorary co-chairs of IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law’s 125th Anniversary Gala. The black-tie event will be held on Saturday, February 23, from 5:30 to 11 p.m. in the Great Hall of Chicago Union Station, 210 South Canal Street in Chicago. Music will be provided by the Robin Simone Band.

“I am delighted that Justice Burke and former IIT President Collens are serving as honorary co-chairs of the event and look forward to listening to their remarks at the event itself,” said IIT Chicago-Kent Dean Harold J. Krent.

Justice Anne Burke is a 1983 graduate of IIT Chicago-Kent whose judicial career began with an appointment by Governor Jim Thompson to the Illinois Court of Claims. As the first woman to serve in that court, Burke was later reappointed by Governor Jim Edgar. She has served as Special Counsel for Child Welfare Services and as a member of Governor Edgar’s Legislative Committee on Juvenile Justice. As Special Counsel, Justice Burke initiated significant reforms in the Cook County juvenile justice system that resulted in the improvement of child protection services. Justice Burke was appointed to the Appellate Court in 1995 and was elected in 1996 to the Appellate bench, where she served until 2006. She was appointed to the Illinois Supreme Court in 2006 and was elected to a full ten-year term in 2008.

Lewis Collens has been a member of the IIT Chicago-Kent faculty since 1970 and is currently professor emeritus. He served as dean of the law school from 1974 to 1990. Under his leadership, IIT Chicago-Kent became widely known for its innovative programs, distinguished faculty and outstanding student body. Professor Collens was named president of Illinois Institute of Technology in 1990, serving in that position until his retirement in 2007. Professor Collens is a director of AMSTED Industries Incorporated; Dean Foods Company; Alion Science & Technology; The Colson Group; All Cell Technologies; The Chicago Council of Science & Technology; and The Civic Consulting Alliance. He also serves on the Advisory Committee of The Partnership for New Communities.

IIT Chicago-Kent’s 125th Anniversary Gala is presented by the law school’s Alumni Board of Directors. The planning committee, chaired by Paul A. Miller ’00, also includes Tarek A. Fadel ’03, Robert A. Heap ’83, Barbara D. Klein ’78, Bruce M. Kohen ’79, Nancy Krent, Kerry R. Peck ’78, Mary T. Nicolau Smith ’85, and the Honorable Bruno J. Tassone ’69. For tickets and more information, visit www.alumni.kentlaw.edu/125gala or contact the IIT Chicago-Kent Alumni Association at alums@kentlaw.iit.edu or (312) 906-5240.