Commencement on May 13 was a wonderful opportunity for the College of Education to hood more than 60 newly minted doctoral graduates, hear from our Outstanding Student Medal recipients, and congratulate the first graduating cohort of our undergraduate Learning & Education Studies program. This innovative program began in 2014 as revamped course offerings to prepare teachers and educators to meet the challenges and demands of 21st-century learners, and we are excited to see what these inaugural graduates will accomplish as they go out into the world. A few of them in the Applied Learning Science concentration gave capstone project presentations prior to graduating, and I encourage you to watch those talks.
It’s been a productive spring semester for our faculty and students. As always, our scholars were highly involved with and recognized at this year’s AERA Meeting in San Antonio. Congratulations to Hua-Hua Chang, Robb Lindgren, and Sarah Lubienski on their AERA honors, which demonstrate the breakthrough research and dedicated scholarship of our educators.
We are also pleased to say that the alumni reception at Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse during AERA was a success—thanks to all of you who were there. It was fun to see our numerous alumni connecting with faculty and friends as our graduate students in attendance had the opportunity to network with educators on critical topics and collaborate on shared research.
It was also wonderful welcoming back to campus on March 31 our Distinguished Alumni and Young Alumni Achievement recipients. These individuals are leaders in their fields and are recognized worldwide for their accomplishments. We appreciated the opportunity to reconnect with them during a reception and dinner and trust that their return to Illinois was an enlivening experience that rekindled fond memories.
Another Education at Illinois alumnus made big news. Jennifer Neubauer ’82 C&I was named president of the University of Illinois Alumni Association (UIAA) and associate vice chancellor for alumni relations. Neubauer is the first woman to permanently lead the UI Alumni Association. Please join me and welcoming Jennifer her as she begins this important position at Illinois.
In these lean budgetary times, scholarship support to students and funding toward doctoral research are critical ways that graduates like you can assist the College. We are excited about three new funds that will support these areas, as well as a gift that will go toward a professorship. We are appreciative of the generous gifts of Professor Emeritus Richard Anderson and his wife, Jana Mason, and Professor Sarah McCarthey, all of whom are dedicated and accomplished scholars who care greatly about Education at Illinois. We can’t thank them enough for their support.
Thank you for your support of the College of Education as well.
James D. Anderson, Ed.M. ’69 Ed., Ph.d. ’73 Ed.
Interim Dean and Edward William and Jane Marr Gutgsell Professor of Education
