blog posts Public Health alums on the front line of COVID-19 battle Apr 10, 2020 11:45 am 'The (epidemiology) knowledge and biostatistics prepared us for how a pandemic is going to come in waves, how we can track cases. ...Knowing the science and the (epidemiology) behind it really helps.' Two alumni being inducted into National Inventors Hall of Fame Apr 25, 2016 3:30 pm The late William Sparks (PhD, chemistry, ’36) and the late Welton Taylor (BA, ’41, MS, ’47, and PhD, ’48, bacteriology) were among 16 inductees recently admitted to the National Inventors Hall of Fame Illinois: The early years Jun 22, 2017 8:00 am From the muddy prairie rose a school—and a student body—rooted in manual labor and religious worship, in addition to cultural activities that left sports in the dust Making air traffic safe for real-life George and Jane Jetsons Jul 15, 2021 2:45 pm 'Because these flights will operate in major metro cities...there's going to be a lot of potential for interaction between the urban air mobility flights and the commercial air traffic,' says aerospace engineering alumna Heather Arneson. WPGU: Playing the sounds of summer since 1953 Aug 3, 2023 10:45 am 'It was the best learning laboratory that I ever could have asked for, and to this day, my college friends forever regard me as ‘cool’ because of what I did at WPGU.' 2019 World Series contenders share Illinois connections Nov 14, 2019 8:00 am The College of Liberal Arts & Sciences was well-represented in the 2019 World Series. Newsweek's 'Medical Marvels': U of I alum and his affordable bionic hand Dec 16, 2021 11:00 am Newsweek (Dec. 15) Aadeel Akhtar's company makes smart, durable, responsive and - this is key - affordable prosthetic limbs. 'We're... leveling the playing field for all those people who couldn't get access to this kind of technology before.' Rich Nye: From Cubs pitcher to exotic vet pioneer Mar 1, 2017 9:30 am After his pitching career, Nye became a nationally renowned authority on avian medicine and 1989 president of the Association of Avian Veterinarians. Journalists Balz and Simon part of panel on Trump-era political reporting Apr 6, 2018 9:15 am The panel will include alunmni Dan Balz, chief correspondent for The Washington Post, and Roger Simon, who retired last year as chief political columnist for Politico Rooks receives College of Media Emerging Leader Award Jun 1, 2022 10:15 am Taylor Rooks, sports broadcaster at Bleacher Report, is known for her interviewing skills and for her ability to connect with athletes. This award honors her exemplary early career achievements and engagement with the college. Meet a spring grad who's already helping people at the U.S.-Mexico border Jun 12, 2019 9:30 am I was a psychology major when I first enrolled but my I-Promise mentor suggested that I look into Human Development and Family Studies because it seemed like a better fit, and it was! Illinois Homecoming Week 2017 Oct 12, 2017 10:30 am Return to your campus, explore the University's 150 year history, and share your photos, memories and stories via social media ECE's Phil Krein named a fellow of the National Academy of Inventors Jan 8, 2018 10:15 am Krein made significant strides in optimizing the use of solar power as a feasible energy resource, and wrote the first undergrad text to provide an engineering framework for power electronics Robert Falls: Visionary leader of Chicago's Goodman Theatre Jan 9, 2019 10:30 am Robert Falls’ theater career was launched at Illinois. '[We] were given a ton of freedom to act and direct; we did plays all over campus, in every nook and cranny.' Meet the Illini Media Hall of Fame Class of 2022 Feb 16, 2022 11:15 am Journalists who documented history from World War II to the 2020 election, exposed the 'abortion underground' and covered the LGBTQ experience. A Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist, TV legends, an artist best known for drawing 'Naughty Granny.' What did a University of Illinois student handbook look like in 1934? Apr 20, 2017 11:15 am The handbook allowed Illini to plan which class dance they’d attend, pencil in a class schedules and check guidelines on curfew. (Yes, there was a residence hall curfew.) Alejandra Carrillo-Estrada: Interweaving technology and tradition Jun 19, 2019 9:45 am 'I am especially captivated by the fretwork designs of the archaeological site of Mitla, Oaxaca,' the author writes. She uses 3D modeling to recreate the designs, then uses the models to cast them in silver. Q+A with alumnus Russell Wigginton, president of the National Civil Rights Museum Jun 21, 2022 9:30 am From academia to public service, Russell Wigginton has led a career driven by a passion to assist others and build relationships – traits he’s carried since he was a student at Illinois. Want to help Tatyana McFadden win an ESPY? Jul 12, 2016 3:45 pm You can vote for Illinois alumna Tatyana McFadden to win an ESPY for Best Female Athlete With A Disability Watch now: New BTN documentary ‘Illinois Artists’ Aug 21, 2018 11:45 am A new Big Ten Network documentary features the work of the Definition Theatre Company, Endalyn Taylor and Illinois Jazz Studies faculty Two alums shed light on the Black experience on Rt. 66 Sep 9, 2021 1:15 pm Gina Lathan (AHS ’20) and Stacy Grundy (ACES ’10) opened Route History, a tourist destinations in Springfield gives visitors a different perspective on the Mother Road as well as a look into the history of Black struggle and success in the state capital. Illini Football legend Dick Butkus passes away at 80 Oct 6, 2023 10:00 am Dick Butkus, regarded as the greatest linebacker in football history, passed away at his home in Malibu, California. As an Illini, Butkus played center on offense, linebacker on defense and led the team to the 1963 Big Ten title and a Rose Bowl victory. The many faces of former Illini Troy Pryor Oct 17, 2018 10:15 pm Troy Pryor is making moves. But that’s nothing new for the former Illinois football player and current actor/entrepreneur who owns his own full-service production house Alumnus Larry Gies to deliver commencement address Mar 4, 2019 10:15 am Gies will encourage each graduating student to 'find your why' at the May 11 ceremony. 'It’s about being able to connect the dots from what you are doing each and every day to a higher purpose.' Dave Eggers and the Secret Agent Supply Co. Nov 12, 2018 3:30 pm Dave Eggers talks about 826CHI, the Chicago chapter of his nonprofit that provides tutoring support for young writers and aims to illuminate children’s voices around the world Website celebrates achievements of University of Illinois women Apr 3, 2018 12:00 pm Visit the University Library's website highlighting 150 women nominated for the significant achievements they realized as Illinois students, staff, faculty, or alumni War correspondent, alumnus Terrell Jermaine Starr on reporting from Ukraine Apr 13, 2022 11:15 am Terrell Jermaine Starr will visit U of I to talk about his experiences as a journalist reporting from Ukraine during the Russian invasion. The event is free and open to the public on April 19 in the auditorium of the new Campus Instructional Facility. Rashard Mendenhall: Gridiron writer Sep 9, 2019 9:45 am For Mendenhall, 'capturing a vision—a line or a scene' in the HBO show, Ballers, 'pulling inspiration out of the air and putting it on the TV screen, that’s as good as any touchdown.' Alumnus launches bionic hand Sep 25, 2019 11:45 am Millions of hand amputees around the world are now closer to receiving a life changing prosthetic device. Illinois to honor its only Medal of Honor awardee Oct 25, 2017 8:00 am Maj. Kenneth Bailey of Danville, a 1935 graduate, was awarded the medal posthumously for leading his company in defending an airfield during the Guadalcanal Campaign in September 1942 Actor, producer, restauranteur: Alum Billy Dec is unstoppable Dec 22, 2017 12:00 pm He's been on TV shows like Empire and Criminal Minds, owns restaurants, does a podcast with NBA stars, hosts charity events... How does alumnus Billy Dec do it all? Doris Derby: Alumna, photographer documented Civil Rights Movement Dec 23, 2019 1:30 pm 'When I came here, the University of Illinois embraced me in terms of my interests and my values. I see this as the home for the kind of things I value.' Meet the alumna doing forensics research for the Las Vegas police department Oct 14, 2016 12:15 pm "The best part of the job...is that we in the Chemistry Detail are also members of the Clandestine Laboratory Team, which means that we are the only section in the laboratory that responds to crime scenes." 'Do we want to get to the moon or not?' Nov 22, 2019 10:00 am He called himself 'a voice in the wilderness.' He sat in conference rooms filled with scientists who ridiculed his ideas. But Houbolt was going to be heard. And we were going to land on the moon. Alumnus Richard Cahan on writing 'Un-American' Feb 7, 2018 6:45 am Cahan's latest book is Un-American: The Incarceration of Japanese Americans During World War II. Cahan is a journalist, author, photo historian, and co-founder of CityFiles Press in Chicago. Looking back on dorm life at the University of Illinois Nov 22, 2016 10:15 am Residence halls act as a home away from home for college students as they navigate their campus lives. Here’s a look at Illinois’ dormitories over the years, from bedrooms to lounge areas to on-site eateries. Illinois' Tatyana McFadden is on Forbes '30 Under 30' list Jan 5, 2017 11:30 am McFadden solidified her legacy as the top Paralympic marathoner in the world as she completed her fourth straight sweep of the marathon majors, and dominated the track at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games Education alumna creating a buzz in Chicago Public School Feb 28, 2018 9:30 am First year CPS teacher and Illinois alumna Amanda Fagenson is drawing an audience and admiration for her teaching skills Illinois grads who care for Brookfield Zoo's menagerie Jun 5, 2019 10:15 am The work of Drs. Michael Adkesson and Jennifer Langan helps keep the more than 3,000 animals at Brookfield Zoo healthy and helps ensure the survival of their cousins in the wild. Interview with alumnus, astronaut Lee Archambault Jul 7, 2021 6:00 pm 'The research is phenomenal. The instruction is outstanding. The faculty we have here is second to none. This is an engineering program that was always great and it’s even better than it was when I was here. It continues to improve.' West Point of the West Jan 16, 2019 4:15 am From its founding in 1867, the University of Illinois has played an important role in training future military officers Alumnus Jack Welch, former General Electric CEO, dies at 84 Mar 2, 2020 1:45 pm Welch became a chemical engineer at GE immediately after completing his doctorate at Illinois. He was named chairman and CEO in 1981 at the age of 45. He remained at the helm for the next 20 years. LAS alumna Alison Kirby rethinks school-based health clinics Oct 21, 2019 9:00 am She co-founded a school-based health clinic that has drawn nationwide attention, even being featured in 'Paper Tigers,' a documentary about Lincoln High School directed by Robert Redford’s son, Jamie. Advertising alum creates two highest-rated Super Bowl ads Mar 5, 2021 9:45 am The winning ads this year were two commercials for Rocket Mortgage starring Tracy Morgan, demonstrating the difference between being 'pretty sure' and 'certain' about buying a home. Patrick Burke was the writer of both ads. Tatyana McFadden wins ESPY for Best Female Athlete with a Disability Jul 14, 2016 9:15 am The Baltimore Sun (July 14) McFadden has won three straight wheelchair marathon grand slams and is halfway to her fourth, with wins in Boston and London this year. In WWII, alumna found herself behind enemy lines Feb 8, 2017 9:00 am Jill Pitts Knappenberger drove a modified Red Cross bus that delivered coffee, doughnuts and goodwill to Allied troops - until she found herself surrounded by German soldiers in the Battle of the Bulge Meet the 2016 Chicago Illini of the Year honorees Mar 8, 2016 2:15 pm Co-sponsored by the University of Illinois Alumni Association and the Chicago Illini Club, this award recognizes the accomplishments of Chicago-area graduates of the University. The Googlers: Mathematics alumni find success at Google Dec 12, 2017 11:00 am What can you do with a degree in mathematics? Count a career at one of the world's most successful tech companies among the possibilities Poulter named to U.S. Women’s Volleyball roster for 2022 VNL May 12, 2022 9:00 am Former U of I All-American, Olympic Gold Medalist Jordyn Poulter will join the U.S. Women's National Team's roster this year. The U.S. Women are three-time league champions, 2020 Olympic gold medalists, and the No. 1-ranked team in the world. Illinois alumni help keep ABC7 Eyewitness News No. 1 in Chicago Apr 24, 2018 8:30 am Stop by the plate glass window on State Street in Chicago to watch the ABC7 Eyewitness News and you’re likely watching an Illinois graduate