Richard Irvin Joins Aurora University Roster As Adjunct Professor

AURORA, IL — Richard Irvin has taken on another title in addition to mayor of Aurora: Criminal justice professor at Aurora University.

Irvin kicked off the second semester at Aurora University as the new adjunct professor of a 300-level criminal evidence and procedure course. Now, a group of college students can say they were taught by the official elected to lead the second-largest city in Illinois.

The course analyzes evidence and the rules governing its admissibility as well as the theoretical and pragmatic considerations of laws affecting arrest, search and seizure.

"When I was in school, many of professors would teach in a way that was way over our heads," Irvin told students, per a news release from the city. "That won't happen here. I'm going to break it down for you in such a way that it is easy to understand and fun and prepares you for whatever plans you have in the criminal justice field."

Irvin, a seasoned attorney and former prosecutor, will lean on his experience in the field to teach the course as well as bring in experts as guest lecturers, according to the release.

Before opening a private law practice in downtown Aurora, Irvin practiced law as an assistant state's attorney for the Cook County State's Attorney's Office, a prosecutor for the Kane County State's Attorney's Office and as a community-based prosecutor for the Weed and Seed Program in Aurora. Irvin is currently an attorney at Castle Law in Oak Brook.

His new role at Aurora University isn't the mayor's first time teaching. Irvin previously taught undergraduate courses at his alma mater, Robert Morris University, for eight years and at Northern Illinois University while in law school.