Carlina Tapia-Ruano

Carlina Tapia-Ruano To Address Illinois Wesleyan’s Commencement

April 14, 2004

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Carlina Tapia-Ruano, a nationally known immigration lawyer, will serve double duty when she returns to her alma mater as the principal speaker for Illinois Wesleyan University’s Commencement on May 2.

Not only will Tapia-Ruano, a 1977 Illinois Wesleyan graduate, be addressing the approximately 500 graduating seniors and their families on "Strength Through Diversity," but she will also be celebrating the graduation of her son, Tristan T-R Gunn, a member of the Class of 2004.

The University’s graduation ceremony in its 154th year will take place at 1 p.m. on the Eckley Quadrangle. In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will be held at the Shirk Center.

Born in Havana, Cuba, Tapia-Ruano immigrated to the United States as a refugee before becoming a naturalized citizen. She graduated from Illinois Wesleyan magna cum laude with a B.A. in history and went on to receive her law degree from DePaul University Law School.

Throughout her professional career, Tapia-Ruano has practiced in the field of immigration law. She is currently a principal with the Chicago law firm of Minsky, McCormick & Hallagan, P.C. Her practice involves every area of immigration law, though she has been especially active in immigration defense and regularly appears before the immigration court and in federal court. Tapia-Ruano has represented hundreds of foreign nationals from all parts of the world seeking benefits or protection from the United States’ immigration laws.

In addition to her practice, Tapia-Ruano has given numerous presentations on immigration law and practice in this country and abroad. She has also been active in local and national professional associations, currently serving as second vice president of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA). Tapia-Ruano is the author of several articles and legal chapters in her field and has also served as co-chair of the leadership Council of the Midwest Immigrants Human Rights Coalition. She has provided services as a volunteer attorney for both the AILA/Salvadoran and Guatemalan Consulates Immigrant Defense Project and for the Chicago Volunteer Legal Services Foundation.

Since 1995, Tapia-Ruano has held an adjunct teaching position at the Illinois Institute of Technology-Kent College of Law, where she teaches immigration law.

In addition to Tristan, Tapia-Ruano and her husband, Jeffrey W. Gunn, also a 1977 Illinois Wesleyan graduate, are parents of a daughter, Elena.