blog posts Designing the iconic Chicago Theatre Mar 11, 2019 11:45 am Illinois graduates played center stage in designing this State Street landmark in 1921...and in rescuing it sixty years later. 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 Couldn't get to Illini Fest? Check out the video Aug 8, 2019 9:00 am We painted Chicago orange and blue, with drinks, live music, notable Illini, and more! Enjoy watching a celebration of Illini pride in downtown Chicago at Illini Fest! Commencement speaker, architect Jeanne Gang, designs buildings that connect people, nature and communities May 8, 2024 3:00 pm Internationally renowned architect Jeanne Gang believes architecture can connect people to each other, their environment and their communities. She is the U. of I. Commencement speaker and an Illinois alumna. College of Business receives $150 million naming gift Oct 26, 2017 8:30 am The College of Business at Illinois will be known as the Gies College of Business after an unprecedented investment from a distinguished alumnus. Chicago Illini of the Year Awards to Rich Sieracki, Jill Wine-Banks Jun 3, 2019 10:15 am Chicago Illini of the Year Awards recognize outstanding alumni who live and work in the Chicago metropolitan area. Chemistry alumna recognized for groundbreaking career in biotech Jul 5, 2016 11:00 am “It was an opportunity to ask questions to which we didn’t know the answers yet,” said Chilton, recipient of the 2016 U of I Alumni Association Achievement Award. A rich trove: Roger Ebert at the University of Illinois Apr 21, 2017 10:30 am Roger Ebert was not a typical University of Illinois student. His time here laid a foundation for his future, as they do for most students. But, unlike most students, they also shaped the university. Another U. of I. alum selected to be NASA astronaut candidate Sep 23, 2025 9:45 am Cameron Jones, a major in the U.S. Air Force, is originally from Savanna, Illinois. He earned his bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 2012 and a master’s degree in 2018. Alum Sheila Johnson, co-founder of BET, to keynote Title IX summit May 17, 2022 9:45 am 'Sheila has been a pioneer in every sense of the word, breaking new ground throughout the course of her life in education, media, business, and sports,' said DIA Director Josh Whitman. 'Sheila has always been a proud Illini...' Alumnus Russell Wigginton: 'My whole career has been a dream job' Jul 5, 2024 10:15 am Russell Wigginton believes that his history, experience and passion all led him to becoming president of the National Civil Rights Museum. 'It’s a fascinating, beautiful culmination of my life and experiences to end up in this job.' 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. Alumnus Pablo Serrano: The city is his canvas Jan 27, 2020 2:45 pm With close to 20 murals adorning buildings in Chicago - as well as walls U of I's La Casa Cultural Latina - Serrano embraces his Mexican-American heritage in his art with an eye toward how we share our stories. Alumnus Nate Azark: Drawn to the City Jan 14, 2019 11:15 am Nate Azark owns of 12 Line Studio, which does design work for national brands and local startups. His distinctive style has also been featured on concert posters and album covers 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. 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.' 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. Alumnus Eli Murray wins Pulitzer Prize with ‘Tampa Bay Times’ team May 10, 2022 4:15 pm Murray, and his colleagues won for their series 'Poisoned,' an exposé of highly toxic hazards inside Florida’s only battery recycling plant that forced the implementation of safety measures to protect workers and nearby residents. Alumni launch wheelchair basketball podcast Feb 1, 2022 8:45 am Former Illini players Derek Hoot and Martinez Johnson have started “Push Podcast: Wheelchair Basketball in the United States” to reach those who have never heard of adaptive sports. Alumni Interview: Temple Grandin Nov 6, 2019 8:00 am The animal-facilities designer and autism-community icon on why we should nurture people who think differently and abandon hope of a Disneyland for pigs. Alumni create MoonArk, a tiny museum bound for the moon Apr 20, 2023 1:15 pm At only eight inches high and two inches in diameter, the metal MoonArk sculpture has four stacked chambers packed with hundreds of images, poems, music, mechanisms, earthly samples, and nano-objects. Alumna works to preserve, celebrate African American history in Bronzeville Feb 10, 2022 10:15 am 'I started the Bronzeville Historical Society with the assistance of family and friends in 1999...because my daughters grew tired of hearing me tell them about the many notable people and places in the Bronzeville community,' says Sherry Williams. Alumna with a passion for national forests challenges students to seek adventure Jun 9, 2021 11:00 am With a bachelor’s degree in forestry and a love for adventure, Nora Rasure’s life and career have been nothing short of exciting. Alumna Temple Grandin elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences Apr 21, 2016 10:00 am Grandin is well known for her contributions to animal welfare in agriculture, and for her work as a spokesperson for people with autism. Alumna Joanne Lee Molinaro, ‘The Korean Vegan,’ to give talk, cooking demo Sep 7, 2023 12:30 pm 'The Korean Vegan' – a lawyer, TikTok star and best-selling cookbook author – will speak and give a cooking demonstration on Sept. 21 at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts as part of the PYGMALION festival. Alumna finds solace in writing a book about the women who shaped Lincoln Aug 20, 2025 10:15 am Alumna Stacy Lynn has spent nearly 30 years studying Abraham Lincoln and shares the story of the women who helped shape the 16th president into the person we know from history. Alumna Ann Thayer Weldy helped readers find comfort—and themselves—in her books Jul 26, 2023 12:15 pm To the world, she became Ann Bannon, the name under which she published six lesbian pulp fiction novels. Over sixty years later, these books remain fundamental to the LGBTQ canon. Alum Elias Waddington: Using skills to help police SWAT team Apr 9, 2019 1:00 pm Elias Waddington designs, tests, and flies the world’s longest-flying production electric quadrotor. Alum Ed Jackson, Jr.: Chief architect, MLK National Memorial Jan 19, 2019 4:45 pm Ed Jackson, Jr. shares insights into how he and his team brought the memorial from the original vision to its permanent place on the National Mall 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. A holistic approach to artifacts May 20, 2025 9:45 am Anthropology alumna returns to campus as the Spurlock Museum of World Cultures collections storage coordinator, overseeing day-to-day activity within the artifact preservation center. 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. 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? A countdown made possible by computing Jan 4, 2023 11:45 am Alumnus Ken Jacobs talks about his role in NASA's Artemis I launch on November 16 – the first in a series of missions to build a long-term human presence on the moon, Mars and beyond. 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. 2017 Chicago Illini of the Year Awards Mar 16, 2017 9:30 am 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.