Alumni

When Fleda Mask Jackson learned that Black women in the United States have worse pregnancy outcomes than white women regardless of education, income, and occupation, she embarked on a career path uncovering the root causes and creating pathways to support mothers and babies.

Jackson, a nationally recognized expert on maternal mental health, has spearheaded research on stress and depression as risk factors for pregnancy outcomes, and she has partnered with March of Dimes, United Way Healthy Start, and local and national health agencies to create safe spaces for pregnant women.

When former Urbana mayor Diane Marlin first set foot on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus as a high school freshman competing in the state science fair, she had no idea the community would one day become her lifelong home. 

During her senior year of high school, Anna Oldani visited the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and was impressed by the engineering program and the opportunities the school offered. After a conversation with the admissions office, she knew Illinois was the right fit.

Paul Wallem turned 91 earlier this year, but that hasn’t slowed him down one bit. He is a regular columnist at Farm World and the author of six books, and that’s just since his retirement a decade ago.

Jim and Ellen Holmes have devoted their lives to service — first to their country and now to the next generation of students.

Jim Holmes grew up on a small Angus cattle farm near Dunlap, Illinois, where problem-solving was part of everyday life.

“If something broke, you fixed it with a screwdriver, an adjustable wrench, and a hammer,” Jim said with a laugh.

Each fall, the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign welcomes thousands of students to campus.

Renowned animal behaviorist and autism advocate Temple Grandin has been selected to receive a 2025 University of Illinois Alumni Achievement Award, the highest honor bestowed upon alumni by the University of Illinois Alumni Association. Grandin earned a doctoral degree in animal sciences from the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 1989.

The family of Phil B. Jones, a respected Washington County farmer and community leader, is pleased to announce the creation of the Phil B. Jones Family Scholarship to support local high school students pursuing degrees in agriculture, communications, and related fields at the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

If you look closely at the marble staircases in Mumford Hall, you’ll see imprints worn into the stone—evidence of generations of students passing through, their footsteps leaving a mark. Among these students was Paul Stoddard, now a senior lecturer at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign College of Agricultural Consumer and Environmental Sciences. Stoddard’s journey took him from the farm fields of Illinois to the front of a lecture hall, where he has shaped the minds of thousands of students. 

Each year, the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign honors high-achieving seniors who demonstrate leadership, academic excellence, and a commitment to the ACES mission. This year, the Hugh P. Morrison Award and Warren K. Wessels Award went to seniors Abbey Steele and Carrie Gill, respectively. 

Hugh P. Morrison Award