With Illinois Campaign

College of Education

Celebrating the impact of your generosity

Great Minds are those that distinguish challenges as opportunities for growth. Education at Illinois faculty, staff, students, and alumni did just that during the With Illinois campaign. Our community answered the call: making a world-class education more affordable for our undergraduate and graduate students alike; supporting our outstanding faculty; and championing new technology and programs within the College of Education. When we embarked on the With Illinois campaign in 2017, nobody could have predicted how different the world would look five years later and how education would forever be transformed by a global pandemic. Education at Illinois quickly recognized the profound ways the field would be affected by the defining events of 2020. As the COVID-19 pandemic and unrest over social injustice spread throughout the world, education professionals, practitioners, and students pivoted in extraordinary ways to find solutions amid unpredictable circumstances. THANK YOU to everyone who continued to believe in the power of Education and committed to supporting Great Minds through Education at Illinois.

Lisa Denson-Rives
Assistant Dean for Advancement

With Illinois Impact

As we mark the end of the With Illinois Campaign, the College of Education has been transformed by donor support.

32875615 Dollars Raised

77 New Scholarship Funds Created

Donors from 50 States and 13 Countries

With Illinois Highlights

Your support has helped us continue to elevate the values that make Illinois distinctive: a sense of boundless aspiration, collaboration, and a global perspective.

Sarah McCarthey: The Gift of Giving

Professor Sarah McCarthey has impacted a countless number of lives through giving—financially and through decades of teaching and service. Her latest gift to the College of Education—the Sarah McCarthey Doctoral Fellowship—supports talented doctoral students concerned with improving teacher education.“It’s important that we prepare educators to conduct research in the most innovative ways to prepare licensure students to be excellent teachers,” says McCarthey, who is department head and professor of Curriculum and Instruction in the College of Education. Read more.

Jarvis Alexander: Honoring His Late Wife’s Life and Legacy

In her too-short life, Jennifer Jones Alexander had a big impact on her high school students in Chicago Public Schools. Jennifer’s widower, University of Illinois graduate Jarvis Alexander, ’05 LAS, is making sure her impact carries on.

He set up a five-year pledge through the College of Education in honor of his late wife, who graduated from the College of Education in 2005 and died of breast cancer in 2016 at age 33. Read more.

Pamela Hove, M.S. ‘08 HRD: Keeping a Long-held Promise

Pam Hove made a vow long ago that she has fulfilled with the help of the University of Illinois Foundation. Her parents paid for her college education, and told Pam when she had children, she could do the same. She never had children, but nonetheless wanted to meet her commitment.

Thus, the Thelma (Jamie) and Orin Hove Scholarship was born, named in honor of Pam’s parents, “because they gave me the love of learning,” she says. Read more.

With Illinois Moments

Take a look at a few of the moments that have shaped the culture and character of the College of Education during the With Illinois Campaign.

Anjali Forber-Pratt
Anjali Forber-Pratt, appointed by the White House as Director of the NIDILRR says her PhD from the College of Education gave her the analytic research skills to transition into this important role. Read more.

David Zola Coffee Bar
Deepening connection with others came naturally to David Zola, former faculty member in Educational Psychology, who poured his wit and wisdom into the lives of students and colleagues over countless cups of coffee. Read more.

Helping Solve Illinois’ Early Childhood Teacher Shortage
College of Education alum, like State Senator Cristina Pacione-Zayas, are addressing the needs of Illinois teachers and students—like helping solve the state’s early childhood teacher shortage. Read more.

Gallaher Transfer Scholarship
“We value how community colleges can create a pipeline to greater education and mobility,” says alumna and professor Eboni Zamani-Gallaher. “We knew we had to do something to support students looking to transfer to Illinois.” Read more.

Susan Ogwal
Being able to directly affect positive change for educators and students throughout the state of Illinois is a reality now for alumna Susan Ogwal, named Policy Director for Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton. Read more.

Continue Your Support

Your continued support ensures the College of Education remains a place where progress and innovation can flourish. Find your passion and help us dream even bigger!

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See More Impact

Philanthropy has benefited students, faculty, and staff in many ways. Browse the list below to learn more about how the With Illinois Campaign’s impact can be felt across campus.