Samantha Lindgren, assistant professor EPOL, along with postdoc Carine Verschueren, and Ph.D. student Aigul Rakisheva have published a new report that surveyed 1,000 Illinois teachers about their preparedness to teach Climate Change Education and their use of AI in class.

Educational Psychology’s Kaylin Ratner, Jessica Gladstone, & Aixa Marchand, along with doctoral student Hou Xie, have been selected for publication in the Journal of Experimental Education. They examine whether an environment can help someone become the person they are meant to be.

For Aixa Marchand’s Center for Social & Behavioral Science-backed project, she wanted to conduct research with black families rather than on them. She used photovoice, a technique that combines storytelling and visuals to represent their experiences with local schools Story: https://bit.ly/49MXabr

For mechanical engineering students, it's very important that their teamwork skills are on point. EPOL associate professor Eunjung Grace Oh is researching ways to help build better teams by studying organizational citizenship in a new NSF-funded study.

🎧 Check out this podcast from the Illinois Leadership Center. Robb Lindgren discusses being an effective leader while working with developing technologies on the Made to Lead podcast.

Congratulations to our faculty members who will serve as Public Engagement Faculty Fellows for 2026-27: 🔸 Lin Chen, @epsyatillinois.bsky.social 🔹 Devon Hedrick-Shaw, @ciatillinois.bsky.social 🔸 Melissa Morgan, Educational Psychology 🔹 Miray Tekkumru-Kisa, Curriculum & Instruction

Get your popcorn ready 🍿 Hannah Haas, a Learning and Education Studies major, is developing a new curriculum on the science of growing popcorn alongside Anthony Studer of Crop Sciences. Haas has developed her own lessons and presented them to students at Thomasboro’s K-8 school earlier this month.

Congratulations to our faculty who were named Hardie Faculty Fellow Award winners: 🔸 Kaylin Ratner, @epsyatillinois.bsky.social, Hardie Faculty Fellow 🔹 Stephanie Toliver, @ciatillinois.bsky.social, Hardie Distinguished Scholar 🔸 Chris Napolitano, EPSY, Hardie Distinguished Scholar

EPOL postdoctoral researcher Carine Verschueren was recently featured in the educational publication Hechinger Report. The newsletter featured Verschueren’s research on school districts that have developed environmental and sustainability policies. More: https://bit.ly/4tYNjGH

Dean Chrystalla Mouza was proud to present the Dean's Medallion to Denice Ward Hood at this year’s College Award Ceremony. Ward Hood dedicated her career to researching culturally responsive evaluation and was a past director of the Center for Culturally Responsive Evaluation and Assessment.

Catherine Corr spent last year as part of the Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Institute’s Emerging Research Leaders Academy. In this profile, she credits the academy for helping to lay the groundwork for a new partnership with the Illinois Department of Early Childhood. https://bit.ly/4usgLGg

Congratulations to Dean and Professor Emeritus James D. Anderson on receiving an honorary doctorate from California State University, Fullerton Anderson received a Doctor of Humane Letters at their College of Education graduation ceremony on May 18. More: https://bit.ly/4tKdMI5

These six faculty members were honored for their work in the classroom and dedication to their students’ success. Our Excellence in Teaching Awards for 2025-26: 🔸 Michele Schutz: Spitze-Mather Faculty Award for Excellence 🔹 Erica Mason: Outstanding Faculty Award for Public Engagement

Mission Accomplished 🎓 Congratulations to all of our graduates in the class of 2026. We're so proud to have been a part of your story.

Congratulations to our staff members who received Distinguished Staff Awards at the College's Awards Ceremony last week. 🔸 Robin Craig - Council on Teacher Education 🔹 Kimberly Darnell - Bureau of Educational Research 🔸 Julie Kellogg - @epsyatillinois.bsky.social

At our College awards ceremony last week, we honored four colleagues retiring this year. We thank them for their years of research, teaching, and service here at Illinois and throughout their careers. 🔸 Kern Alexander 🔹 Lynn Burdick 🔸 Cheryl Light Shriner 🔹 Jinming Zhang

Accessible CU is a partnership between Emily Tarconish, Special Education, Experience Champaign-Urbana and Community Choices that aims to make businesses and other spaces friendlier to people with disabilities. The Daily Illini took a look at what they've done so far and what's next.

Join us for a Zoom info session for our new Sustainability Education certificate on May 21 from noon to 1 p.m. Learn more about this program for educators, professionals, and community leaders interested in integrating sustainability and climate education into their teaching. https://bit.ly/4318iOh

Just a couple of quick reminders for our Convocation Ceremony tomorrow: 🔸 Doors open at 8:00 a.m 🔹 Graduates, please enter through the main doors to get checked in 🔸Families enter through the Northeast entrance near the Irwin Indoor Football facility

Ok, you've got the cap, gown, stole, and tassel. But how do you wear it? We've got you:

Just because you’re gone for the summer, it doesn’t mean you can’t rep your school. Grab some of our summer merch drop before it's gone. go.education.illinois.edu/store

It's not goodbye, it's see you later. Have a great summer Illini.

2026 Outstanding Student Medal, Undergraduate: Adele Miller Adele is graduating with a degree in Special Education. She was named a James Scholar, Stamps Scholar, and has been an active disability advocate, including leading Illini Service Dogs. More about Adele: https://bit.ly/4uMhlhR

Congratulations to our four students from Education Policy, Organization, & Leadership who have received awards and fellowships from The Illinois Global Institute: - Aidana Sirgebayeva - Asmaa Elsayed - Mar Roig Ripoll - Jordan Troisi

2026 Outstanding Student Medal, Master’s: Ruoqian Wu A student in the @epsyatillinois.bsky.social QUERIES program, Wu has used advanced computing to address key measurement issues. He hopes to pursue an academic career in quantitative psychology and educational measurement https://bit.ly/4uMhlhR

2026 Outstanding Student Medal, Doctoral: Marisol Jimenez A three-time graduate of Education at Illinois, Marisol defended her dissertation this fall. Her research centers on Latino/a/x families and their high-stakes educational decisions. More about Marisol https://bit.ly/4uMhlhR

Nidia Ruedas-Gracia, assistant professor @epsyatillinois.bsky.social, is a Center for Social and Behavioral Sciences affiliate. Here she discusses her research surrounding belonging and how it shapes academic success and mental health.

Turn your passion for our planet into action. Illinois’ fully online graduate certificate in Sustainability Education equips you to address sustainability and climate challenges through education, policy, and community action. Apply by July 15 to start Fall 2026. https://bit.ly/4eFW2K0

When Jen Whiting came to Illinois to get her Ph.D. she never envisioned that her research would end up with her going through the Police Training Institute. Now, she's and utilizing technology and learning design to help the next generation of police train in ways that weren't possible before.

Congratulations to our four grads who received Shining Star awards from the Champaign Urbana Schools Foundation on Wednesday: 🔸 Lindsay Aikman 🔹 Anna Blacker 🔸 Cheryl Morton 🔹 Stacy Arie https://blogs.illinois.edu/view/1526/2055783258

Congrats to Praveen Chhikara, Ph.D. candidate in @ciatillinois.bsky.social, on receiving the Outstanding Asian & Asian American Graduate Student Leader Award from the Asian American Cultural Center More: https://blogs.illinois.edu/view/1526/134966331

Getting ready to switch the status from student > alumni? We've got special merch for our new alums. Shop now through May 18 https://go.education.illinois.edu/store

Congrats to EPOL Ph.D. candidate Gariel Pierce, who was awarded the prestigious @aeraedresearch.bsky.social Minority Dissertation Fellowship in Education Research Pierce is currently working on a project that explores the history of corporal punishment and its connection to the School-Prison Nexus

We are proud to announce our 2026 Convocation Keynote Speaker. Teresa Ramos is the inaugural Secretary of the Illinois Department of Early Childhood. She is a three-time Illinois graduate and has worked throughout her career to support and uplift education throughout Illinois.

Happy National Teachers day to all our Illinois educators! From Pre-K to Ph.D. you are making the difference in the lives of learners worldwide.

This is it! Register today to attend the College of Education Convocation ceremony on May 17. https://go.education.illinois.edu/convocation-registration

The @ejpatil.bsky.social took home the Research and Advocacy Award from @dsjeatillinois.bsky.social, a unit of the Division of Student Affairs. They were recognized for their Prison-to-Gown Pathway program.

How could you ever say no to all of this? We want you to be an Illini. Accept your offer of admission by the end of the day today 🧡💙

New merch drop. Just in time for summer or alumni mode. Shop now: dixon-graphics.com/educationill...

If you’re coming to the party, don’t forget to RSVP! Make sure you register for the College of Education Convocation ceremony by May 4! This is a separate ceremony from the campus-wide commencement, and registration is not automatic. https://go.education.illinois.edu/convocation-registration

Congratulations to Logan Pender, an EPOL Ed.M student, on being named an Emerging Scholar for the Twenty-Sixth International Conference on Diversity in Organizations, Communities & Nations. Pender will present his research and serve as a panel chair.

Every year, hundreds of students head to local schools to gain hands-on classroom experience through practicum, observation, and student teaching. The Daily Illini spoke with them about the valuable knowledge they gained working with students and local teachers.

Don’t forget—TODAY, April 27, is your last chance to order your graduation cap and gown! 🎓 Get yours here: https://commencement.illinois.edu/caps-and-gowns/

Congratulations to EPOL Ph.D. candidate Jen Whiting and her team on being named Runner-Up and Best Pitch for her project AI/O. It is a training platform that helps police officers practice high-stakes communication through realistic, repeatable simulations with measurable performance feedback.

The journal, Educational Theory, is 75 years old this year. But like many things, it's just getting better with age, expanding into new, modern ways of stimulating conversation in educational circles. See how this venerable resource is just getting started:

Congrats to Mostafa Hanafy on his selection as a judge for the American Evaluation Association Student Case Competition. More: blogs.illinois.edu/view/1526/17...

Present at this year's CREA IX Conference 📢 Proposals are now being accepted on this year's theme: Future-Forward in Cultural Responsiveness: Opportunity, Equity, Evidence, and Innovation.

Congrats to Asif Wilson, assistant professor C&I, on receiving the Watkins Award from the Society of Professors in Education. It recognizes individuals who are dedicated to curriculum studies, community engagement, socio-political and class issues, and cultural advocacy through their studies.

Our own Dean Mouza will serve as Chair of the Consortium of University and Research Institutions (CURI) Executive Committee of @aeraedresearch.bsky.social. As the leader, she will help advance the field of educational research and the next generation of educational scientists and scholars.

We invite you to attend a special book discussion at The Literary in downtown Champaign next Wednesday, featuring EPOL professors Osly Flores and Rachel Roegman. They will share insights from their recent research and newly published works on educational leadership.