The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ODEI) in the College of ACES is dedicated to fostering a vibrant, welcoming, and supportive community where every individual can thrive. Our wide range of programs and partnerships create opportunities for leadership development, cultural engagement, mentorship, and professional growth. By advancing equity and inclusion across the college, ODEI works to ensure that students, faculty, and staff feel valued, empowered, and equipped to achieve their fullest potential.
Upcoming Events
Soup and Stories: Breaking Bread Across Cultures
Join us each month for Soup & Stories, an inspiring seminar series where culture, community, and conversation come together! Each session features a dynamic guest speaker who shares a powerful cultural story from their own lived experiences, paired with delicious soup and bread inspired by that culture. This isn’t just an event it’s an opportunity to celebrate diversity, broaden perspectives, and build meaningful connections through the universal language of food and storytelling. Come hungry for both knowledge and flavor, and leave with a full heart, a full stomach, and a deeper sense of community.
Location: Spice Box (2nd floor Bevier Hall)
Schedule
September 10th 2026 @ 12pm
Storyteller: Dr. Stefanie Martinez Fuentes-The Voices That Carried Me
Join ACES ODEI for our September Soup and Stories event with our storyteller Dr. Stefanie Martinez Fuentes as she honors some of the people in her personal and professional life that have influenced her to be the mother and researcher she is today
Register Here: https://forms.illinois.edu/sec/1274488077
October 2026 @ 12pm
Storyteller: Aiden Sheff- Transgender Awareness and Support
November 13th 2026 2026 @ 12pm
Storyteller: Zoe Newman-Payne - The Intersections of Race Ability Status and Gender
