Issued the following announcement on Oct. 25
The Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) is proud to announce the new list of 103 graduate students in the state’s Diversifying Higher Education Faculty in Illinois (DFI) program. Designed to increase diversity among higher education faculty, the DFI program provides financial assistance to students of color pursuing graduate and professional degrees at Illinois public and private institutions.
“Our new strategic plan, A Thriving Illinois: Higher Education Paths to Equity, Sustainability, and Growth, is focused on increasing diversity in higher education here in Illinois,” said IBHE Executive Director Ginger Ostro. “This program is key, as it assists students who will enter the next generation of classroom leadership. After graduation, these fellows will pursue teaching positions in our colleges and universities, or in education-related positions within state government. It’s an important program for the students, for higher education, and for the state’s economy.”
For fiscal year 2022, IBHE is using $1.456 million from its operating budget to support the fellows, who were chosen from 17 participating DFI institutions across the state. Of those fellows, 56 are continuing students and 47 are new recipients. The program has served more than 1,000 students since the program began in 2004.
“I am so honored to be a recipient of DFI and to receive the support to be successful in my career. I believe that having diverse staff and faculty makes a real impact on students who hold marginalized identities, and I look forward to being able to add to that legacy after I graduate,” said Charity Williams, a student at the University of Chicago.
Rosy Cordero is a first-generation student at National-Louis University. “The DFI fellowship has afforded me the opportunity to become the first doctor in my family. Being a DFI fellow has allowed me the capability to pave the way for generations to come. I am grateful for that.”
Arthur Sutton, deputy director of diversity and outreach, said, “We are excited to see the progress of program fellows and their continued contributions to higher education.”
As a condition of the award, recipients agree to accept a teaching or staff position in an Illinois higher education institution or governing board, or an education-related position in a state agency, equal to the number of years the student was a participant in the program.
The DFI Act, enacted in 2004, authorizes the IBHE Board to appoint a DFI program board to establish policies and procedures to administer the program. IBHE staff provide the DFI program leadership and support.
New Fellows
Adler University
Chavon Martin
Kiyara Polk
DePaul University
Moriya Hale
Carlos Roman
Eastern Illinois University
Nyjah Lane
Brandy Matthews
Governors State University
Jessica Love Jordan-Banks
Erica Smith
Kiwana Sanders
Illinois State University
LaVance Walker
Loyola University
Sharnequa Hunter
Moriah Johnson
Janese Nolan
National Louis University
Lynne Davis
Northeastern Illinois University
Latonya Burris
Paola Martinez
Diego Tapia
Taylor Winfield
Stacie Ovalle
Northern Illinois University
Iddrisu Abdul Razak
Roderic Moyer
Eric Junco
Northwestern University
Karla Campos
Marlon Millner
Roosevelt University
Stacey Garcia Flores Keeling
Cherelle Newsome
Segun Olugbode
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Evelyn Aden
Dakots Discepolo
Quianya Enge
Steven Gear
Jeffrey Payne
Olivia Slater
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Tonicia Boston
University of Chicago
Joseph Hermitz
Charity Williams
University of Illinois Chicago
Johnetta Anderson
Brenda Cerda
LaKrista Cummings
Yloxochitl Guerrero
Jennifer Hernandez
Alexander Pergams
British Reynolds
Crystal Wash
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Jasmine Porter-Rallins
Yuliana Soto
Magdelene Thebaud
Returning Fellows
Adler University
LaWanda McCraney
Wuraola Sosina
Aurora University
Amber Floyd
DePaul University
Andrew Calderon
Jesus Solano-Martinez
Governors State University
Michelle Williams
Illinois State University
Jamillah Gilbert
Jacqueline Jouett
Rosalva Medina
Jorge Sanchez
Diana Soriano
Stacey Wiggins
Jewel Woodard
National Louis University
Rosanna Cordero
Eric Edwards
Kim Fields
Northern Illinois University
Sharazazi Dyson
Susana DasNeves
Sherry Franklin
DaShae Rodriguez-Harris
Stephen Samuels
Roosevelt University
Yolanda Flowers
Noemi Terrazas
Lynn Weishaupt
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Daniel VanOverbeke
University of Chicago
Cashell Lewis
Sophia Rhee
University of Illinois at Chicago
Derick Anderson
Jessica Brito
Benjamin Brown
Juanita Calvo
LaShawn Evans
Glenance Green
Aide Hernandez
Andrea Jackson-Sagredo
Sarah Malone
Kayla Martensen
Rafael Moreno
Brian Osei-Badu
Jacob Reed
Kara Simmons
Ermus St. Louis
Nancy Toure
Yesenia Vargas
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Alishia Alexander
Chequita Brown
Jacqueline Guzman
Tiffany Harris
Marisol Jimenez
Miche’le Johnson
Melanie Marshall
Zam Nalubega
Jessica Robinson
Amari Simpson
Nathaniel Stewart
Larry Washington
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