Patrick Kennedy accepts his honorary doctoral diploma from D.C. Campus President Orlando Taylor and Trustee Paul Dillon.

Taking center stage at The Chicago School’s 2011 Commencement Ceremony, the Honorable Patrick J. Kennedy encouraged graduates to take active roles in “a new civil rights movement” to ensure mental health care for every American citizen.

Patrick Kennedy

Evoking President Kennedy’s inaugural address 50 years ago, Kennedy challenged graduates to serve not only as psychology practitioners, but as “guardians and advocates for our country’s attitudes toward mental illness,” leading the fight against the stigma that he noted had marginalized many Americans suffering from traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other psychological and neurological disorders. He also stressed the need for incorporating mental health care into an overall approach to health care.

“Just as we can’t have colored water fountains, we can’t have a system that is only for mental health,” he told the 3,000 degree candidates and guests who filled the Civic Opera House on June 10. “We need a (healthcare) system that has mental health as part of it. History is upon us and we must answer the call. ‘Separate but equal’ is unequal.”

TCSPP Graduates

Prior to delivering the commencement address, Kennedy—son of the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy and a former Congressman from Rhode Island—received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree, which recognized his work in passing the Mental Health Parity Law of 2008. Kennedy is also co-founder of the One Mind for Research Campaign, which has brought together prominent neuroscientists, governmental representatives, advocacy groups, and the pharmaceutical industry to improve funding for brain science research.

More than 500 doctoral, master’s, and education specialist candidates crossed the stage for The Chicago Campus’ 27th annual Commencement, accepting diplomas from President Michele Nealon-Woods, a 2001 graduate herself, and being hooded by members of their respective academic departments.

TCSPP Graduates

The Rev. Dr. Thomas N. Pelton (Psy.D. ’91) was honored by the Alumni Council with the 2011 Distinguished Alumnus Award. Presented by Dr. Susanne Francis-Thornton (Psy.D. ‘03), Council chair, the honor recognizes Dr. Pelton’s work with cancer and AIDS patients in Chicago’s Hispanic neighborhood of West Humboldt Park. (See page 26 for an alumni profile of Dr. Pelton.)