Two hands making a heart shape with an Illini "I" in the space of the heart shape.

Fiscal Year 2023 Update

College of Education

Celebrating the impact of your generosity

Thank you for your support of the College of Education. Because of donors like you, we can further elevate the critical research of our faculty, support talented students with scholarships, and fulfill our commitment to diversity, equity, and community engagement—issues that are core to the mission of Education at Illinois.

My goals as dean are to support and highlight the research and innovative work of our outstanding College; fulfill the land grant mission of this university by expanding equitable access to education; and be engaged partners with the communities we serve through teaching, research, and service.

Thank you for joining with us to ensure we continue to harness the power of education for generations to come. I am grateful for your partnership.

Chrystalla Mouza standing on the steps of the Education Building.

Chrystalla Mouza
Edward William and Jane Marr Gutgsell Professor of Education
Dean

FY 2023 By the Numbers

Thanks to your support during this past fiscal year, the College of Education continues to be transformed, resulting in:

4,062,200 Dollars Raised

Party 254,911 Unrestricted Dollars Raised

Hand holding seed 11 New Endowment Funds Created

*Data as of 8/1/23.

FY 2023 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.

Chancellor Jones awarding education alumnus Freeman A. Hrabowski with the Chancellor Medallion.

Chancellor Medallion Awarded to Alumnus Freeman Hrabowski

In just the tenth occasion of the awarding of the Chancellor’s Medallion since being established in 1996, Education alumnus Freeman A. Hrabowski III, Ph.D. ’75, Education Policy, Organization and Leadership (EPOL), accepted the award at a ceremony and reception this fall while on campus facilitating working group meetings for the campus’ next multi-year strategic plan.

The Chancellor’s Medallion is the highest individual honor that the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign bestows. It was established in 1996 to recognize and acknowledge exemplary efforts made on behalf of the campus. Read more.

Michael and Susan Haney standing together and smiling.

Haneys Establish STEM Scholarship in College of Education

“Our Choices Can Help Others”

Susan and Michael Haney are great examples of people who give from the heart and where they see unmet need. “We’re grateful to be able to help in this way,” Susan says. Encouraging others to consider giving back, Michael says, “Our choices can help others, even if it’s just a few. Because if the people we help can help others, then a little bit of effort can do a lot of good.” Read more.

H. Chad Lane, ChengXiang Zhai, Suma Bhat, and Rodney Hopson standing and smiling together.

University of Illinois to Lead National Artificial Intelligence Research Institute Focused on STEM Learning

Faculty at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign will lead the INVITE Institute, a project that will invent and deploy new artificially intelligent learning technologies that are responsive and inclusive. The leadership team includes INVITE director Chad Lane, professor of Educational Psychology and Curriculum and Instruction, and evaluation director Rodney Hopson, also a professor of Educational Psychology. Read more.

Alumna Constance "Connie" Wachs Grune (right) with her daughter Susan Meister (middle) and husband (left).

Constance Anna Wachs Scholarship Honors Alumna’s Lifelong Devotion to Education

Constance Anna Wachs’ name, already immortalized on a Bronze Tablet hanging in the university’s Main Library, will now live on through a new scholarship for College of Education undergraduate students. The Constance Anna Wachs Memorial Scholarship, recently established by her daughter Susan (Grune) Meister, will inspire and support future generations of elementary education majors at Illinois. Read more.

John and Judy Hathaway smiling side by side.

Staying Connected by Giving Back: Alumni Create Scholarship for Education Students

John and Judy Hathaway find joy in providing scholarship funds that help College of Education students attain a world class education at Illinois. The Hathaway’s appreciate how easy the University of Illinois Foundation made it for them in creating the scholarship, which is set up through a charitable remainder unit trust and supplemented by donations from family and friends. “They understood the legacy I wanted for my mom and guided me through the process,” John notes. 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 your impact can be felt across campus.