Illinois Featured Content

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

From its founding in 1867, the University of Illinois has played an important role in training future military officers

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.

It’s 1933: Prohibition is ending after 13 inglorious years, and on Daniel Street in Champaign, Kamerer’s Pharmacy is expanding—opening a fried chicken restaurant in the building next door. U of I students call it 'KAMS.'

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.'

'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.'

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

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.

American Tatyana McFadden cruised to her fourth straight victory in the women’s wheelchair race at the 2016 Boston Marathon, finishing in a time of 1 hour, 42 minutes, and 16 seconds.

Charlie Meyerson has won a 2016 national Edward R. Murrow Award for audio investigative reporting from the Radio Television Digital News Association.

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

First year CPS teacher and Illinois alumna Amanda Fagenson is drawing an audience and admiration for her teaching skills

Visit the University Library's website highlighting 150 women nominated for the significant achievements they realized as Illinois students, staff, faculty, or alumni

Keeling was the first scientist to develop an accurate technique for measuring the air concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2) — a greenhouse gas that traps atmospheric heat

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.

'(Dan) Balz is the chief correspondent of The Washington Post and one of the country’s most trusted political reporters.'

Return to your campus, explore the University's 150 year history, and share your photos, memories and stories via social media

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?

When Martin Eberhard visited campus, we spoke with him about his memories of campus, advice for students and aspiring entrepreneurs, and the future of electric vehicles. 

'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.'

NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab Ingenuity Mars Helicopter team received the 2021 Robert J. Collier Trophy for 'the first powered, controlled flight of an aircraft on another planet, thereby opening the skies of Mars and other worlds for discovery and exploration.'

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.

When she graduated from Illinois in 1906, Maudelle Brown Bousfield was the only African American woman on campus. Later, she continued to break barriers in education in the Chicago Public Schools.

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.

'We want to make study abroad just like all the rest of our teacher training, which relies heavily on the mentor teacher,' says director of international programs Allison Witt. 'It makes a lot of sense because it benefits both alumni and students.'

the 27-year-old U.S. Paralympian won her fifth overall New York title, earning her a fourth straight sweep of all four major marathons – not done by anyone else in the history of wheelchair racing or elite running.

Eric and Carrie Schmidt’s Illini-themed bar, Orange & Brew, earns local—and international—recognition.

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

Norman Lear: 'It’s one thing to criticize, another to criticize out of love. To know his work is to know how much he cared for film and for filmmakers.'

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.'

'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.

After his pitching career, Nye became a nationally renowned authority on avian medicine and 1989 president of the Association of Avian Veterinarians.

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.)

Grandin is well known for her contributions to animal welfare in agriculture, and for her work as a spokesperson for people with autism. 

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.

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.

Paralympic multi-medalist Susan Hagel and the 2004 gold-medal-winning women’s wheelchair basketball team (including ten members from Illinois) were among those selected for induction this summer. 

LAS alumna Bela Gandhi helps people make the right connection

Casey Fletcher’s father, Darrin, played for the Illini prior to leaving for a 14-year career in the major leagues, and his grandfather, Tom, an alumnus, played for the Illini in the 60s before signing with the Detroit Tigers

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. 

Founded by an LAS alumnus, national organization makes college a reality for students of modest means

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.'

Illinois alumnus Carey Cranston oversees the only national museum dedicated to celebrating the written word.

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.

“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. 

Sarah Seiler Watson coordinates the efforts of 43 Illinois counties with Lincoln sites to create a compelling portrait of Lincoln's time here. 'We’re helping our communities to tell their Lincoln stories and to prosper through heritage tourism.'

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

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.

'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.

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.'