Alumni

Domingo Lastra has built a career spanning six countries, and his path to becoming president of Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) of Latin America began at the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. 

Every summer, kids ages 8-13 and their ACES alumni relatives and friends gather on the U. of I. campus for a 3-day immersive experience, providing a sampling of what the College of ACES has to offer. This year’s event runs July 8 to 10, 2026.

Kids can choose from a variety of classes designed to combine fun and discovery. Participants will explore hands-on workshops on topics from food and agriculture to human development, technology, economics, marketing communications, and the environment.

What started as an at-home kitchen hobby has grown into something much bigger: Steepers Only, a Chicago-based tea company founded by Angelica Lee. Each batch she blends is more than just a drink; it's a celebration of the people and places that have shaped her life and gotten her to where she is now.

Lee’s entrepreneurial spark was lit early. She grew up in Chicago and watched her mother run a post-construction cleaning business.

Editor's Note: This story was updated on April 22 to better reflect the five degrees Gregg BeVier earned from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. 

At this spring's commencement, ACES graduates will hear from a five-time Illinois alum whose impact has been felt around the world. Veterinary scientist and business leader Gregg BeVier will share how he leveraged his enduring passion for animal science to develop innovative technologies and help feed hungry families across India and Africa.

The College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has named Benjamin Quirke the recipient of the 2026 Robert M. Harrison Leadership Award for demonstrating strong leadership and engagement through his involvement in student organizations and professional experiences within the college.

Two short years ago, during National Ag Day at AgRally in Fort Worth, Texas — an event sponsored by John Deere and broadcast on the RFD-TV network — ACES alum and AgRally co-founder Lyle E. Orwig helped introduce the vision for the Evans Center. 

“We need all different kinds of minds.”

Temple Grandin’s neurodivergence is one of her biggest strengths. As a consultant and professor of animal sciences, she has led groundbreaking work in animal behavior and livestock handling, breaking barriers for both women and neurodivergent individuals in agriculture. 

Her chute systems and restraining equipment are now used nationwide, setting the bar for humane livestock handling.

When Bayer’s Crop Science division Head of R&D Mike Graham returns to campus this week, he’ll be looking ahead to the future of agricultural innovation and the enduring value of land-grant research. 

When Steve Ericson walked into the Illinois State Fair as a young exhibitor in 1974, he couldn’t have imagined that one day he’d return, not to show livestock, but to help connect Illinois-grown food to families in need. Now, as Executive Director of Feeding Illinois, Ericson turns his lifelong connection to agriculture into a mission to fight hunger across the state.

Each year, the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign