Isa Adney, Ed.M.,'12, HRE, speaker, consultant, and author of Community College Success, recently made GOOD Magazine's 100 People Pushing the World Forward list.

Profiles of the 100 began appearing online on GOOD’s website April 1.

The GOOD list honors 100 people moving the world forward through "doing." The worldwide awards program is a project of GOOD, the "global community of people who give a damn."

Adney is recognized for her groundbreaking book, blog, and brand, Community College Success, which helps students break the cycles of poverty through education.

The GOOD 100 issue hit newsstands March 26, 2013. Created in 2009, the GOOD 100 was designed to "identify and honor the catalysts who drive change in their communities in creative and inspiring ways." Curated by GOOD, its advisory board, and former GOOD 100 honorees, the GOOD 100 "are emblematic of pragmatic idealism and creative engagement at its best," according to the magazine.

"I am so thankful for this program," she continued, talking about the College of Education online master's program at Illinois, "and the knowledge I gained helps me train college students to build their soft skills and reach their dreams."  - Isa Adney

Adney forwards the idea that community colleges are the American dream, and shares content to help students achieve that dream through hard work, networking, and an understanding of the high return on investment a community college education can bring when done right.

“Even though the playing field isn’t fair, it doesn’t mean you can’t win,” Adney said, who speaks and writes about educational equity and the role community college plays in helping low-income and minority students rise above.

About her own education, Adney said "I was the first in my family to get a bachelor's degree, so getting a master's degree often felt unreachable. Getting my M.Ed. from the University of Illinois was a dream come true, and the online program is what enabled me to be able to reach that dream while working on my other dream, writing a book for community college students and working full-time at a community college," Adney explained.

"I am so thankful for this program," she continued, talking about the College of Education online master's program at Illinois, "and the knowledge I gained helps me train college students to build their soft skills and reach their dreams."