Latest Announcements

Three education majors have earned high marks in the classroom while competing in the Big Ten.

Two student-athletes were named Big Ten Distinguished Scholars for the 2025-26 school year. Adisyn Caryl, softball and Elementary Education major, and Kenzie Cogan, volleyball and Elementary Education major were recognized by the conference. Additionally, both athletes were recognized for maintaining 4.0 GPA’s during the school year.

Caryl was also named an Academic All-Big Ten honoree for spring 2026. Jack Zebig, baseball and Secondary Education: Mathematics, was also recognized.

Distinguished Scholar Award recipients must have earned Academic All-Big Ten recognition in the previous academic year, must have been enrolled full-time at the institution for the entire previous academic year (two semesters or three quarters), and must have earned a minimum GPA of 3.70 or better during the previous academic year, excluding any summer grades. 

To be eligible for Academic All-Big Ten selection, students must be enrolled full-time at the institution for at least 12 months and have a cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 or higher.

Fleda Mask Jackson, M.S. '77 ACES Ph.D. '91 EPSY, has been named the Diversity and Inclusion Award winner for the 2026 University of Illinois Alumni Association Awards.

Jackson is a nationally recognized expert on maternal mental health, has spearheaded research on stress and depression as risk factors for pregnancy outcomes, and has partnered with March of Dimes, United Way Healthy Start, and local and national health agencies to create safe spaces for pregnant women. She is the President of Majaica, LLC, a research firm and think tank where she leads the Save 100 Babies network.

The Diversity and Inclusion Award is bestowed upon alumni by the University of Illinois Alumni Association on behalf of the University of Illinois. This award recognizes those alumni who have demonstrated a commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion through their professional and/or voluntary achievements and whose accomplishments support the UIAA’s goal of promoting diversity, cross-culturalism, open-mindedness, and respect within the University of Illinois community and beyond. In alignment with our mission to foster a supportive environment for all members of our university community, this award is open to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, or national origin.

The awardees will be honored at the UIAA’s 2026 Alumni Awards Gala on Oct. 1 at Pear Tree Estate in Champaign.

The Military Family Readiness Academy, hosted by OneOp, will focus on Building Strong Communities for Military Family Readiness through a no-cost, four-week virtual professional development series in August. This year’s Academy highlights how communities can better support military families when providers work together, share resources, strengthen local systems, and build lasting partnerships.

The Academy runs each Wednesday in August at 10:00 a.m., beginning August 5. Sessions include:

• August 5 | Partnerships that Strengthen Military Families
• August 12 | Creating a Network for Military Nutrition Readiness
• August 19 | Navigating Child Care Barriers and Their Effect on Military Spouse Employment
• August 26 | Building Strong Communities: A Panel Discussion

All sessions are available live and on-demand with continuing education credits across multiple disciplines. Related Practicing Connection podcast episodes will also be released each Thursday following the live webinars.

The Academy is designed for a broad professional audience, including Extension professionals, community development practitioners, state and local leaders, nonprofits, military family service providers, and community organizations. Together, participants will explore strategies to build partnerships, strengthen local systems, and improve support for military families across communities.

OneOp is a grant partially housed in the Department of Special Education, with professors Micki Ostrosky and Amy Santos serving as Principal Investigators. OneOp collaborates with the War Department and the US Department of Agriculture to provide free, open-access learning opportunities across a full spectrum of family service subject areas. 

Learn more and register at https://oneop.org/building-strong-communities-for-military-family-readiness/.

Nancy P. O'Brien, one of the organizers of the Youth Literature Festival (YLF) and Head of the Social Sciences, Health, and Education Library (SSHEL) has been awarded the 2026 Outstanding Public Engagement Award from the University of Illinois Library.

O'Brien was recognized for her work as a founding committee member of YLF. 

Nominators praise her contributions to the festival and her commitment to bringing a love of literature to students. Victor Perez, Director of the Center for Education in Small Urban Communities, noted that the festival has engaged more than 12,000 students in a single cycle, citing Nancy’s “thoughtful guidance, commitment, and collaborative spirit” as key factors in the success of every festival since its inception."

Collaborators also point to Nancy’s exceptional dedication in making a program of this scale possible. Linda Tammen, former Youth Literature Festival Program Coordinator, emphasized Nancy’s wide-ranging contributions—including fundraising, donor outreach, promotional work, and leading author events and festival programming—and described her reliability as “an absolutely priceless attribute” when coordinating an event that serves thousands of students across schools and community partners.

Nancy and SSHEL will receive a $1,000 prize from the Revd. Professor Dom Bennett Hill OSB Memorial Library Fund to support outreach, social, and other promotional activities that enhance and further the Library's excellence.

Maria Alejandra Quintero, an Ed.D. student in Education Policy, Organization & Leadership, was selected for a Best Poster award at the NAFSA: Association of International Educators conference in Orlando, FL.

Her poster was titled "Designing Global Partnerships for Lasting Dual Degree and 2+2 Programs." It presented a framework for designing sustainable global–local partnerships based on Quality Learning University’s (QLU) 28 years of experience with U.S. dual degree and 2+2 programs. Attendees learn key components, challenges, and replicable strategies for building or strengthening international academic collaborations.

Quintero currently serves as Academic Dean at QLU in Bellavista, Panamá.

Educational Psychology doctoral student Hou Xie, and assistant professor Kaylin Ratner are co-authors of a paper that has been published in the Journal of Research on Adolescence.

Their article is titled "Establishing validity and measurement invariance of the Claremont Purpose Scale (CPS) among adolescents from diverse racial–ethnic backgrounds."

"This work is important because the meaning of “purpose” remains somewhat broad and contested, both in academic research and in everyday conversations," says Xie. "Our paper speaks to an inclusive understanding of purpose by suggesting that adolescents’ sense of purpose does not necessarily have to come from a grand beyond-the-self vision—a necessary, but restrictive, ingredient according to some leading scholars in the field. Instead, our work suggests that youth purpose may need to be defined in broader and more developmentally appropriate ways."

Read the full study here. 

Dr. Mari Altshuler, Teaching Assistant Professor of Curriculum & Instruction, has been selected as an Associate Editor of Mathematics Teacher: Learning and Teaching PK–12 (MTLT) for the elementary grades. 

During her three-year term, Altshuler will collaborate with other journal editors, recruit and support authors, read manuscripts and reviews, and make decisions about articles for upcoming issues of the journal. 

As described on its website, “MTLT reflects the current practices of mathematics education, as well as maintaining a knowledge base of practice and policy in looking at the future of the field." It is published monthly.

Gabriel Rodriguez, assistant professor Education Policy, Organization & Leadership, has co-authored an article published in Teachers College Record. 

The article examines the experiences of Latine high school educators across different suburban schools outside of Chicago, Illinois. The study’s findings focus on how participants complicated the levels of support they received, as they felt pigeonholed and struggled to develop boundaries, and felt a sense of obligación (obligation) to serve the needs of their Latine students. 

Additionally, the findings highlight how participants leveraged their cultural and linguistic identities to facilitate conexiones (connections) and create spaces that affirmed their students. 

Rodriguez credits the Dean’s Summer Research Funding Award for being able to work with Marisol Jimenez, Ph.D. '26 EPOL, along with Julissa Carreño '26 LAS, for their important contributions as co-authors. 

Read the full article

Mónica González Ybarra, associate professor Curriculum & Instruction, has been elected as Research Foundation Trustee for the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE).

González Ybarra will serve a three-year term beginning later this year. She will support the Foundation’s Cultivating New Voices of Scholars of Color program, review and rate research grant proposals, and make decisions on awarding funding and administering the Foundation’s resources to promote more equitable educational environments for students and teachers.

For more than 100 years, NCTE has worked with its members to offer journals, publications, and resources; to further the voice and expertise of educators as advocates for their students at the local and federal levels; and to share lesson ideas, research, and teaching strategies through its Annual Convention and other professional learning events.

Against the Current, a documentary produced by Curriculum & Instruction assistant professor Asif Wilson, has received a Telly Award.

The film received a bronze in the General Documentary category. Against the Current follows Kyla Nash, a Chicago Public Schools student, as she explores Black history and resistance throughout Illinois’ history.

The Telly Awards honor excellence in video and television across all screens. Established in 1979, The Telly Awards receive over 13,000 entries globally. Entrants are judged by The Telly Awards Judging Council—an industry body of over 250 leading experts, including advertising agencies, production companies, and major television networks —reflecting the multi-screen industry The Telly Awards celebrates.

Several groups of Education undergraduate students were recognized for their presentations at the Undergraduate Research Symposium last month. Congratulations to all presenters on their hard work and research. Overall, 26 groups of students from the College of Education presented their research at this year’s symposium.

Outstanding Poster Presentations

• Visualizing Trends in the University of Illinois’s Average GPA using Subject Clusters
  Isha Tyagi, Freshman, CS + Education
• Artificial Incompetence: AI’s Failures in Interpreting Graphs
  Ava Graczyk, Freshman, Learning & Education Studies
  Madeline Hunt, Senior, Psychology
• Literacy Education and Initiatives: A Case Study of Two Illinois Elementary Schools
  Audrey Armour, Freshman, Elementary Education
  Research Mentor(s): Adam Poetzel, Curriculum & Instruction

Outstanding Oral Presentations & Performances

• IGlobal Preservice Teachers’ Perceptions and Adaptation of Digital Literacy Strategies in Online Multicultural Teaching and Learning Environments
  Jiayi Zhong, Junior, Nondegree, EDU
  Chi Wai Tong, Junior, Nondegree, EDU
  Pamela Olivia Bunyamin, Junior, Nondegree, EDU
  Yixi Yuan, Junior, Nondegree, EDU
  (Research Mentor(s): Martin Lehrer, Curriculum & Instruction)

Assistant Professors Kaylin Ratner, Jessica Gladstone, Aixa Marchand, and doctoral student Hou Xie, all of Educational Psychology, recently had their paper selected for publication in The Journal of Experimental Education.

The paper introduces eudaimonic utility (EU): the perception that an environment can help someone become the person they are meant to be. An environment with a high EU is seen as a place where one can pursue one's purpose in life, grow, bring out one's best, and live authentically.

Ratner credits her participation in the College's Public Engagement Faculty Fellows program, where the research began, and her long-time research-practitioner partners at GripTape.

A survey of Illinois K-12 teachers in late 2025 offers a snapshot of two forces reshaping classroom practice: the integration of AI into education and the upcoming 2026 implementation of the statewide climate change education mandate.

Samantha Lindgren, assistant professor EPOL, along with Ph.D. student Aigul Rakisheva and postdoctoral researcher Carine Verschueren, published their findings through Lindgren’s Sustainable Futures Lab. 

Surveying nearly 1,000 Illinois teachers, the study found that teachers are engaged with contemporary issues in AI and sustainability and are concerned about their implications, but are left to decide how to incorporate each into their teaching practice and classrooms. 

This research is part of a broader sustainability education initiative within the College of Education. The Sustainable Futures Lab explores Sustainability Education, including Environmental Education, Education for Sustainable Development, and Education for Sustainability, in domestic and international contexts.

Read the full report here.

With severe weather becoming more frequent in the spring, the Illinois Early Learning Project is highlighting resources to help educators prepare for safety drills and warnings.

Their blog Planning Ahead: Preparing for a Safety Drill provides insight into ways to make safety drills less stressful for children when they happen.

Along with the blog, IEL offers resources for educators, including tip sheets, videos, podcasts, standards, and guidelines for a variety of topics to help educators and parents alike. Many of these resources are available in common languages spoken by families of young children in Illinois.

The Illinois Early Learning Project is a source of evidence-based, reliable information on early care and education for families, caregivers, and teachers of young children in Illinois.

Robb Lindgren, associate dean for research, professor C&I and EPSY, recently appeared on the Illinois Leadership Center’s Made to Lead podcast.

In the episode, Robb discusses how people can be effective leaders, especially when working with new and emerging technologies.  

Hosted by Illinois students, The Made to Lead podcast was created to deliver leadership education in a fun and easily digestible way. The podcast recently wrapped up its sixth season. The podcast is available on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

James D. Anderson, Gutsgell professor emeritus and dean emeritus, will receive an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from California State University, Fullerton at their College of Education's commencement ceremony on May 18.

“Cal State Fullerton’s mission centers on enriching lives, cultivating scholarly inquiry and critical thinking, and fostering dynamic inclusivity and social responsibility. Dr. Anderson has dedicated his career to precisely these ideals,” said CSUF President Ronald Rochon Ph.D. '97 EPOL. “This honorary doctorate recognizes a scholar whose life’s work exemplifies American education, championing the stories of those historically marginalized, and mentoring the next generation of educators and scholars.” 

“I am deeply honored to receive this recognition from Cal State Fullerton and the California State University system. CSUF’s enduring commitment to inclusive excellence and its transformative power of education and access resonates profoundly with the work that has guided my career,” said Anderson. “I am heartened by the future generations of educators that the CSU continues to create — leaders who will carry forward the significant work of cultivating critical inquiry, social responsibility, and service to others.”

The Urbana Park District is hosting an event aimed at preventing teacher burnout. This event will be held at the Health and Wellness Center, 2002 E. Washington St., Urbana, on June 7 from 2 - 3:30 p.m.

This 90-minute program offers teachers, education workers, and support staff a rare, guided experience of genuine rest - gentle movement, journaling, and meditation followed by a comfy group nap complete with pillows, blankets, bolsters, and soothing music. No agenda, no output, no productivity. Just rest.

The session costs $5 for Urbana residents and $8 for non-residents. Registration includes a goodie bag.

Please register prior to attending.

Catherine Corr, associate professor C&I SPED, was a member of the 2025-26 Emerging Research Leaders Academy (ERLA). In a recent article from the Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Institute, she reflected on her experiences in the program.

She credited ERLA with helping her “lay the groundwork” for a new partnership between the College of Education and the newly formed Illinois Department of Early Childhood. 

“I want to make sure [the university] is well-positioned to ‘connect the dots’ in ways that will build a cohesive early childhood research ecosystem for Illinois,” Corr told IHSI. “Many of the lessons I take away from this experience have helped in that process.” 

Designed to support mid-career faculty and researchers, ERLA provides vital leadership and team science training that will help faculty pursue large, multi-PI grants, lead campus research initiatives, enhance their own research programs, and ultimately position the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign for even greater research excellence.

IHSI is accepting nominations for the 2026-27 ERLA program. We are seeking associate or recently promoted full professors who have not yet led a large, multi-PI grant or campus initiative, as well as non-tenure track faculty and research scientists with a record of independent funding as single-PIs who are now looking to lead larger efforts. Nominations are vital to the success of the Emerging Research Leaders Academy, helping the Selection Committee to identify and support future leaders who will drive innovation and excellence in research.

Participants must be nominated by a department head, dean, or director before applying. Nominations are due May 29, 2026.

Read the full article from the Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Institute.

Carine Verschueren, a post-doctoral researcher in Education Policy, Organization & Leadership, was featured in the Hechinger Report newsletter.

The newsletter featured research from a conference organized by the Brown University SustainableED program, at which Verschueren presented.

From the article:

“After participating in a math lesson incorporating information on renewable energy, U.S. students were more likely to say they knew about climate change and felt some hope about combating it. Children in India who learned about air pollution in arts lessons were more likely to understand the environmental problem, but not necessarily to change their behavior in ways that might alleviate it.

Verschueren’s research found that 60 of the nation’s 200 largest school districts have adopted environmental and sustainability policies compared to 51 in 2020. A growing share of the policies discuss climate change and climate justice, often because of activism from students, whose role was mentioned in many of the documents, Verschueren said. School districts were motivated to adopt the policies for a variety of reasons — including conserving resources, promoting student and staff health, saving money, and empowering students.”

Dominic Bruno, '08 LAS Secondary Education, has been named High School Teacher of the Year by the Regional Office of Education of Kane County.

Bruno is an English teacher at Kaneland High School. He also serves as a basketball coach and a journalism advisor.

He says he wants students to "have fun in my class. So the balance I have to try and strike is that the classes I teach are rigorous. But if I can get students to walk in excited, smiling, talking to each other as they come in, that’s the environment that I always want."