Dear Colleagues,
I am pleased to announce that Lisa Monda-Amaya has accepted my offer to become the Interim Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education. She began transitioning into this role on March 15 and will serve as Interim Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education Designate pending approval by the Board of Trustees.
Professor Monda-Amaya is currently a Professor in Special Education and Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs and Director of Teacher Education in the College of Education. As Associate Dean at the College of Education, Professor Monda-Amaya leads the College in setting strategic direction for undergraduate education, supporting innovation in classroom and supporting student success.
She has been a member of the Illinois faculty for more than 30 years, and she brings incredible knowledge and familiarity with our university to this new role. Before being named Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs, she was the Acting Associate Dean for Academics Programs. For six years she was the Director of Research Collaboration for The Center for Education in Small Urban Communities, a research and outreach unit within the College, focused on enhancing teaching and learning in K-12 schools.
Professor Monda-Amaya holds three degrees from Florida State University—a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree and Ph.D. in Special Education. She has received numerous teaching awards including the Campus Award for Excellence in Graduate and Professional Teaching, the Campus Award for Undergraduate Teaching and at the College level, the Outstanding Graduate Teaching Award, the Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award, the Distinguished Teaching Career Award and the Outstanding Faculty Award for Service.
I am grateful to Professor Monda-Amaya for leading our university in her new role as we continue to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. I am confident in her ability to lead our university through this period and beyond to continue to provide world-class educational experiences for our undergraduate students.
Please join me in congratulating Professor Monda-Amaya and in welcoming her to this new position.
Sincerely,
Andreas C. Cangellaris
Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Provost