Constitution Day 2026

Penn State Dickinson Law’s Center for Immigrants' Rights Clinic and the Penn State School of International Affairs (SIA) will host "Global Challenges, Constitutional Commitments: Immigration, Diplomacy, and Crisis Management," a guest-speaker event in celebration of Constitution and Citizen’s Day.

This event will take place on Thursday, September 17, from 5:00 to 6:15 P.M., and is open to the entire law school and SIA community. It will be held in-person in University Park in the Greg Sutliff Auditorium, Lewis Katz Building, and simulcast to Carlisle, Room 114. Registration is required.

We will offer 1 credit of PA Substantive CLE for this program.

Constitution Day is a federal observance that commemorates the signing of the U.S. Constitution on September 17, 1787. The observance was established by law in 2004. September 17 is also recognized as Citizenship Day, which honors U.S. citizenship and the rights, responsibilities, and civic duties that come with it. Together, Constitution Day and Citizenship Day offer an opportunity to reflect on constitutional principles, civic identity, public service, and the role of government institutions in shaping citizenship, immigration, and national security.

This year’s program will also provide an opportunity to consider these themes in connection with the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, including their lasting impact on immigration policy, diplomacy, national security, and executive branch decision-making.

About Ian Hopper

Ian Hopper is the Government Relations Director for Green & Spiegel and a retired Senior Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. Department of State. During nearly 23 years of service, Hopper specialized in consular work, including immigration, visas, and the protection of U.S. citizens abroad. His career included ten overseas tours, leadership roles in Canada, Iraq, and Jordan, and extensive experience in crisis response, immigration policy, and executive branch decision-making.