Illinois Featured Content

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign professors Qian Chen, Emily Knox, Benjamin Grosser, Charee Thompson and Katy Heath were named the 2025 University Scholars. Collage created by Fred Zwicky.

Five Illinois professors recognized as University Scholars

Sep 4, 2025 12:15 pm

'The University Scholars embody the highest standards of academic excellence. Given the breadth and depth of scholarly work across our three campuses... every recipient of this award has earned this recognition through truly commendable work.'

Illinois alumnus Omar Yaghi is one of three recipients of the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Yaghi earned a Ph.D. in chemistry from Illinois in 1990. Photo courtesy of UC Berkeley.

Illinois alumnus Omar Yaghi wins Nobel Prize in chemistry

Oct 8, 2025 1:30 pm

Yaghi is one of 12 alumni and 14 faculty at the U. of I. to receive a Nobel Prize. Illinois chemistry professor Walter G. Klemperer was his Ph.D. advisor, and Yaghi won the best thesis award from the university in 1990.

From left: Vikram Adve, Rohit Bhargava, Andrew Suarez and Jennifer Teper. Photo Collage by Fred Zwicky

2025 Campus Awards for Excellence in Faculty Leadership

May 14, 2025 3:45 pm

The Campus Award for Excellence in Faculty Leadership recognizes distinguished faculty who enrich the intellectual vitality of campus and the broader community.

Illinois art professor receives United States Artists Fellowship

Jan 26, 2024 11:00 am

Artist, weaver and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign art professor Kira Dominguez Hultgren has been awarded a 2024 United States Artists Fellowship.

Chemical and biomolecular engineering professor Huimin Zhao leads the new National Science Foundation iBioFoundry at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Photo by Michelle Hassel

Illinois celebrates opening of iBioFoundry, National Institute for Biofoundry Applications

Sep 23, 2025 9:45 am

The iBioFoundry builds on more than a decade of research at the U. of I. to integrate synthetic biology, laboratory automation and artificial intelligence to advance protein and cellular engineering.

Portrait of Professor Benjamin Snyder courtesy Holly Birch Photography

Illinois chemist named 2025 Packard Fellow

Oct 15, 2025 9:00 am

The foundation cites Professor Benjamin Snyder’s work 'developing new methods to define and precisely control catalyst structure, and therefore function, at the atomic scale.' He will receive $875,000 over five years to pursue his research.

Hergenrother named a 2023 National Cancer Institute Outstanding Investigator

Jan 16, 2024 2:30 pm

Paul Hergenrother’s lab has discovered multiple new anticancer compounds, including PAC-1, which recently completed a Phase 1 clinical trial in late-stage cancer patients.

Photos of Nahrstedt and Hammack by Brian Stauffer. Photo of Hashash by Thompson-McClellan

Three elected to National Academy of Engineering

Feb 10, 2022 4:45 pm

Chemical and biomolecular engineering professor William Hammack, civil and environmental engineering professor Youssef Hashash and computer science professor Klara Nahrstedt are newly elected members of the NAE.

Department of Speech and Hearing Science celebrates 50 years

Apr 5, 2023 2:45 pm

The Department of Speech and Hearing Science celebrates 50 years of empowering lives through enhanced communication.

portrait images of the 28 winners of campus instructional excellence awards. Portraits by Michelle Hassel, graphic by Fred Zwicky

Announcing the Campus Awards for Excellence in Instruction

Apr 7, 2022 9:45 am

Faculty and staff members and graduate teaching assistants at Illinois are being honored for excellence in teaching, mentoring and advising, collectively known as the Campus Awards for Excellence in Instruction.

Sottos elected to National Academy of Engineering

Feb 10, 2020 8:15 am

'This is one of the very most prestigious honors an engineer can earn, and we are thrilled that Nancy’s distinguished reputation among her peers is being recognized,' said Dean Rashid Bashir of The Grainger College of Engineering.

Eight employees honored with Chancellor's Distinguished Staff Award

Aug 25, 2022 7:45 am

Eight civil service employees were recognized for exceptional performance by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

University invests $24 million into Investment for Growth Proposals

Sep 17, 2019 12:00 pm

The university is generating new sources of revenue while continuing to invest in education, research and public engagement.

nine portraits of those selected for endowed chairs and professorships

U of I honors nine faculty members with endowed chairs, professorships

Jan 12, 2024 11:00 am

Nine University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign faculty members have been named as university endowed chairs or professors for their excellence and prominence in research, teaching and service.

Student's machine learning system for EEG analysis wins IEEE honors

Jan 18, 2022 12:15 pm

A new machine learning system developed by a Carle Illinois College of Medicine student could unlock the vast amounts of untapped data found in a common neurological test.

World renowned architect, Illinois alumna Jeanne Gang named 2024 commencement speaker

Feb 1, 2024 2:00 pm

Internationally recognized architect and Illinois alumna Jeanne Gang will serve as the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s commencement speaker on Saturday, May 11, at 9:30 a.m. in Memorial Stadium.

stock image of hands working on a laptop

U of I's online master's programs atop U.S.News rankings

Feb 2, 2022 9:30 am

Seven U of I online master's programs are in the top ten rankings of U.S.News & World Report's latest survey.

Zeynep Madak Erdogan receives American Association for Cancer Research award

Feb 7, 2024 11:45 am

'At the time of our paper’s publishing, our system was a novel concept and more disputed, but as the paper was shared, cited, and tested, our system is now more mainstream in the lab and the field,' said Madak Erdogan.

U of I among top producers of Fulbright US Student, US Scholar awards

Feb 10, 2023 10:15 am

Illinois is among 18 institutions recognized as top producers for both Fulbright students and Fulbright scholars with eight scholars and 16 students selected.

Illinois among top producers of Fulbright US Student awards

Feb 13, 2024 9:30 am

The U of I is one of the top university and college producers of Fulbright student grant recipients in the U.S . 'It is a great point of pride for us to be continually recognized as one of the nation’s top producers of Fulbright students,' said Chancellor Robert Jones.

computer science and electrical and computer engineering professor Bo Li received the Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellowship this year. Photo courtesy computer science

Computer science professor named 2022 Sloan Research Fellow

Feb 15, 2022 9:45 am

'The Sloan Fellowship is one of most prestigious awards available to early-career scientists, and we are thrilled that Professor Li’s distinguished reputation is being recognized,' said U of I Provost Andreas Cangellaris.

Campus Instructional Facility photographed at night by Fred Zwicky

Sixteen employees honored with 2025 Chancellor’s Staff Excellence Award

Apr 2, 2025 10:00 am

Sixteen academic professionals and civil service staff members have received the Chancellor’s Staff Excellence Award recognizing exceptional performance at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

a smiling Devon Witherspoon talks with members of the press

Witherspoon shows first-round talent at Pro Day

Apr 5, 2023 7:30 pm

Illinois Football All-American Devon Witherspoon shined at his personal Pro Day on Wednesday at the Irwin Indoor Practice Facility. Witherspoon performed in front of 31 scouts representing 23 NFL teams.

graduates applaud as confetti rains down on them during a Commencement ceremony at Illinois. Photo by Fred Zwicky

U. of I. graduates succeed. Here's the report

Apr 8, 2025 10:45 am

Ninety percent of graduates secured a 'first destination' (job, grad school, or volunteer work) within six months of graduation. The average starting salary for a recent Illinois graduate is $75,373.

collage of winner of Campus Awards for Instructional Excellence. Photos by Michelle Hassel, collage by Cassidy Marcum

Campus awards honor excellence in instruction

Apr 15, 2024 9:00 am

Awardees are cited for sustained excellence and innovation in undergraduate and graduate teaching, undergraduate and graduate advising and mentoring, online teaching and research guidance.

Illinois history professor Kristin Hoganson and English professor Corey Van Landingham are recipients of 2025 Guggenheim Fellowships. Image of Van Landingham was submitted by subject.

Illinois faculty members receive Guggenheim Fellowships

Apr 17, 2025 10:00 am

This year’s Illinois fellows are history professor Kristin Hoganson and English professor Corey Van Landingham. They were chosen through a rigorous peer-review process from nearly 3,500 applicants.

Materials science and engineering professor Nancy Sottos, left, and history professor Maria Todorova are among 261 elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences this year.

Two elected to American Academy of Arts and Sciences

Apr 29, 2022 8:45 am

Materials science and engineering professor Nancy Sottos and history professor Maria Todorova have been elected to the AAAS in recognition of their accomplishments and leadership in academia, the arts, industry, public policy and research.

U. of I. the third-largest producer of onsite clean power among U.S. universities

May 13, 2021 3:30 pm

Clean energy production will now support approximately 12 percent of the university's annual electricity demand.

Men's Golf Coach Mike Small talks with a player on a green

Small named finalist for Dave Williams Coach of the Year Award

Jun 5, 2023 8:00 am

Small, who earned his record 13^th Big Ten Coach of the Year award, led the program to its eighth consecutive Big Ten title – and 13^th of the last 14 overall – to secure one of seven tournament wins on the year, also the most in the nation.

Five University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign professors have been named University Scholars. Top, from left to right: Merle Bowen, African American studies; Cecilia Leal, materials science and engineering; and Ying Diao, chemical and biomolecular engineering. Bottom row, left to right: Brian Ogolsky, human development and family studies; and Kaiyu Guan, natural resources and environmental studies Bowen photo by Della Perrone; Leal, Diao and Ogolsky by L. Brian Stauffer; and Kaiyu Guan by Chris Brown Photography, courtesy of NCSA.

Five Urbana faculty members honored as University Scholars

Jun 8, 2023 10:00 am

'Faculty excellence is the University of Illinois System’s foundation, and the basis for the exceptional academic experience of the nearly 95,000 students who enrolled in our three universities last fall,” said Nicholas Jones, vice president for academic affairs.

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