Illinois Board of Higher Education Selects Current Year's DFI Fellows with a Goal of Increased Diversity at Illinois Colleges and Universities

SPRINGFIELD - With an increased focus on equity, the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) is announcing the newest group of Diversifying Higher Education Faculty in Illinois (DFI) students. The DFI program provides financial assistance to underrepresented students pursuing graduate and professional degrees at Illinois public and private institutions with a goal of increasing faculty of color at Illinois higher education institutions.

"The DFI fellowship has significantly contributed to my success in graduate school where it has allowed for numerous professional development opportunities, both inside and outside of the university," said Melissa Pergande, a graduate student at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Many students echo that sentiment.

"We are thrilled to support these DFI fellows as they continue their education and prepare for a rewarding career in Illinois higher education," said Ginger Ostro, executive director, IBHE. "When we look at equity, we also look at diversity, and this program's goal is to prepare doctoral candidates from underrepresented groups for teaching positions in our colleges and universities, or in education-related positions within state government. Not only does this create opportunity for increasing faculty of color, we know this is important to college success for more students of color."

For fiscal year 2021, IBHE is using $1.456 million to support 103 fellows, who were chosen from 20 participating DFI institutions across the state. Of those fellows, 65 are continuing students and 38 are new recipients. The program has served nearly 600 students since the program began in 2004.

Arthur Sutton, deputy director of diversity and outreach, said, "This is a dynamic program  that encourages and supports underrepresented students to remain as faculty members in the state of Illinois. To support the program's success, we oversee various programs and activities that promote thesis and dissertation work for fellows and are in continuous communication with students and their institutional representatives about progress and achievement."

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 
          Wuraola Sosina
          LaWanda McCraney

Eastern Illinois University 
          Ly'Jerrick Ward

Illinois State University 
          Jacqueline Jouett
          Stacey Wiggins
          Jewel Woodard

Loyola University 
          Fabio Duque

National Louis University 
          Eric Edwards

Northeastern Illinois University 
         Paula Sanchez-Garcia
         April Walker-Starr
         Karen Guadarrama

Northern Illinois University 
         Sherry Franklin
         Andrea Jackson-Sagredo

Roosevelt University 
         Christina Dupee
         Noemi Terrazas
         Maria Alvarez
         Yolanda Flowers
         Lynn Weishaupt

Southern Illinois University Carbondale 
        Bryan Cotton
        Daniel VanOverbeke

University of Illinois at Chicago  
        Jessica Brito
        Hagar Hallihan
        Jacob Reed
        Yesenia Vargas
        Aide Hernandez
        Brian Osei-Badu
        LaShawn Evans
        Derick Anderson
        Juanita Calvo
        Benjamin Brown

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 
        Marisol Jimenez
        Miche'le Johnson
        Melanie Marshall
        Bianca Lopez
        Brandi Smith
        Larry Washington

Returning Fellows

Aurora University 
       Cameron Frazier
       Amber Floyd

Adler University 
       Alexis Cameron
       Crystal  Murdock
       Andrea Stiles

Chicago State University 
       Marcardo Thomas

DePaul University 
       Belinda Green
       Andrew Calderon

Governors State University  
       Monica Teixeira
       Paulette Eason-Williams
       Michelle Williams

Illinois State University 
      Caress Brown
      Rosalva Medina
      Tricia Rosado
      Jorge Sanchez
      DuJuan Smith
      Diana Soriano
      Jamillah Gilbert

Loyola University 
     Papa Adams

National Louis University 
     Rosanna Cordero

Northern Illinois University 
     Sharazazi Dyson
     Brigitte Bingham
     Susana DasNeves
     Konya Sledge
     DaShae Rodriguez-Harris

Southern Illinois University Carbondale 
     Chelesea Lewellen
     Kimberly Turner

University of Chicago 
     Alejandro Flores
     Darnell Leatherwood
     Nova Smith
     Marion Malcome
     Elizabeth Davies
     Cashell Lewis
     Sophia Rhee

University of Illinois at Chicago 
     Luz Acosta
     Anthony Pena
     Melissa Pergande
     Luz Torres
     Dwayne  Williams
     Deanna Ledezma
     Glenance Green
     Daniel Magers
     Nancy Toure
     Kara Simmons
     Sarah  Malone
     Rafael Moreno
     Ermus St. Louis
     Nancy Dominguez-Fret
     Ramona (Meza) Alcala
     Letrice Beasley

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 
     Autumn West
     Juan Mora
     Susan  Ogwal
     Tiffany Harris
     Chequita Brown
     Ronald Threadgill
     Angel Velez
     Jessica Robinson
     Marielisbet Perez
     Jacqueline Guzman
     Alishia Alexander
     Anthony Sullers
     Nathaniel Stewart
     Amari Simpson
     Zam (Kendra) Nalubega