Former President Biden Returns to Syracuse University for Portrait Unveiling

Biden reflects on his SU education and its impact on his career in public service.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 2:39am

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A warm, cinematic painting of a solitary portrait of a man in a suit, bathed in soft light and deep shadows, conceptually representing the legacy of a public servant.The portrait of former President Joe Biden will hang in the Kozar Reading Room at Syracuse University's College of Law, a lasting reminder of his lasting impact on public service.Syracuse Today

Former President Joe Biden returned to Syracuse University's College of Law for the first time in a decade to attend the unveiling ceremony of his portrait, which will hang in the school's Kozar Reading Room. Biden gave a speech reflecting on how his SU education prepared him for a career in public service, saying 'Everything I did as an elected official was all an extension of what I learned here at Syracuse.'

Why it matters

Biden's portrait at the SU College of Law serves as a reminder to students of the impact a law degree can have on a career in public service. The ceremony also highlighted the Biden family's longstanding ties to the university, including the Beau Biden Memorial Scholarship Fund created in honor of the former president's late son.

The details

The portrait was commissioned by Biden's former classmate Bill Brodsky and painted by artist Michael Shane Neal. SU officials, including Dean Terence Lau and Board of Trustees Chairman Jeffrey Scruggs, praised Biden's leadership and the federal investments made in central New York during his presidency, such as the Micron semiconductor facility and the Interstate-81 viaduct project.

  • Biden last visited Syracuse in 2024 to commemorate the CHIPS and Science Act.
  • The Beau Biden Memorial Scholarship Fund was created at the College of Law in 2016, a year after Beau Biden's death.

The players

Joe Biden

The former President of the United States, who graduated from Syracuse University's College of Law in 1968.

Terence Lau

The Dean of Syracuse University's College of Law.

Jeffrey Scruggs

The Chairman of Syracuse University's Board of Trustees.

Beau Biden

The late son of former President Joe Biden, who also graduated from Syracuse University's College of Law in 1994.

Michael Shane Neal

The American artist who painted the portrait of former President Joe Biden.

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What they’re saying

“Everything I did as an elected official was all an extension of what I learned here at Syracuse.”

— Joe Biden, Former President of the United States

“Our hope is that this portrait will inspire generations of law students, a proud reminder to every student who walks through our library doors of what is possible when you combine a Syracuse law education with the courage to serve something larger than yourself.”

— Terence Lau, Dean, Syracuse University College of Law

“As someone who grew up right down the street from this campus, I can tell you, an economic renaissance is taking shape here that this community has not seen for generations. President Biden's leadership made all of this possible.”

— Jeffrey Scruggs, Chairman, Syracuse University Board of Trustees

What’s next

The portrait will be permanently displayed in the Kozar Reading Room at the Syracuse University College of Law.

The takeaway

Biden's portrait at the SU College of Law serves as a lasting reminder of the impact a law degree can have on a career in public service, and the Biden family's longstanding commitment to the university and its community.