ACES alums honored at U of I alumni awards ceremony
Two alumni from the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign received 2026 University of Illinois Alumni Association awards at a ceremony on Oct. 1 at Pear Tree Estates in Champaign.
The Diversity and Inclusion Award was presented to Fleda Mask Jackson. She holds a master’s degree (’77) from the Department of Human Development and Family Studies in ACES and a doctorate (’91) from the U. of I. College of Education.
Jackson is a nationally recognized expert on maternal mental health, specifically focusing on discrepancies in pregnancy outcomes for Black women compared to white women in the U.S. Jackson is a professor of Applied Public Health at Emory University in Atlanta, and she is president of a research firm and think tank that specializes in improving conditions for Black mothers and babies. She has partnered with March of Dimes, United Way Healthy Start, and local and national health agencies to create safe spaces for pregnant women.
Read more about Fleda Mask Jackson
Kathryn Polkoff received the Young Alumni Award. She holds bachelor’s (’15) and master’s (’17) degrees from the Department of Animal Sciences in ACES and a doctoral degree from North Carolina State University. Polkoff is co-founder and CEO of Hoofprint Biome, a company that combines biotechnology and livestock science to develop cutting-edge solutions to reduce cattle methane emissions. The company is developing natural enzymes and probiotics through yeast fermentation, aiming to deliver them as a feed additive that will improve digestive health and feed efficiency in cattle.
Read more about Kathryn Polkoff.
For a full list of 2026 Alumni Award Recipients, see the Illinois Alumni Magazine. Pictures from the 2026 Alumni Awards Ceremony are available at the University of Illinois Alumni Association website.