The inaugural Student Success Champion award was given at the 2023 Student Success Initiative Symposium. This award was given to an outstanding member of the student success community who exhibited exemplary dedication to the student success initiative.
The Student Success Champion exemplifies the mission of Student Success @ Illinois by honoring an individual and a team for extraordinary performance and contributions to student success at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. The individual and team selected will have contributed to undergraduate student success. Example areas where impact and inspiration may be seen:
- Implemented technologies, techniques, practices or programs that transform the student experience in the classroom.
- Generated impactful programs & practices across campus and colleges
- Foster a student-center atmosphere and sense of belonging
How to Apply
This recognition is available for both an individual and a team. Both individuals and teams must demonstrate a dedication and commitment related to Student Success @ Illinois through inspiring student success in the individual or team aspect. Any university member is eligible for this recognition. While we do accept nominations, individuals or teams do not need to be nominated to be eligible.
Applications will be reviewed and selected by the Student Success Symposium planning committee and final decisions made by the Student Success @ Illinois steering committee.
How to Nominate
Please consider nominating your outstanding staff or colleagues for this award recognition. Those nominated will receive additional communication about how to apply for this award. You do not need to be nominated to be selected. To nominate either an individual or team complete the nomination form.
Previous Award Recipients
2025 Student Success Champion Awards
Reba Daniels
Student Success Champion – Individual
As the Assistant Director of Student Engagement and Academic Success in the College of Fine and Applied Arts, Reba has led impactful initiatives like Paint Before Polls to support voter awareness and well-being; has integrated alumni panels into the FAA 101 course to connect students with industry professionals; and streamlined advising access across nine units to enhance student support. She played a key role as an active pilot partner for the Mental Health Early Action on Campus Act grant for First-Year Experience courses, helping to shape student success initiatives. Her work improving Parkland Pathway opportunities, enhancing communication strategies, and leading professional development through National Academic Advising Association and the Illinois Academic Advising Association demonstrates her commitment to removing barriers and ensuring student success.
2025 Individual Honorable Mentions
Sara Benson, University Library
Nidia Ruedas-Gracia, Educational Psychology
The Career Center
Student Success Champion – Team Award
As a cornerstone of student success at Illinois, The Career Center engaged over 33,000 students in 2024 through personalized coaching, specialized programs, career fairs, and workshops tailored to diverse student needs. The center’s dedication to access, equity, and inclusion is evident in initiatives like embedded coaching at cultural centers, targeted programming for first-generation students, and support for international students navigating visa regulations. Through strong campus partnerships and innovative programs like the Professional Portrait Lab, Suit-Up event, and FOCUS program, The Career Center fosters an inclusive, student-centered environment where all students feel supported in pursuing their professional aspirations. Team members include: Jenny Neef, Arianna Holterman, Un Yeong Park, Marsha Mwilambwe, Nikki Mercer, James Castree, Pankaj Desai, Christina Huppert, Bryanna Brooks, Ciobhan Dunn, Zella Walden, Jordari Rene, Susan Gordon, Michael Warrell, Rachita Daiwajna, Grace Yun, Shoptorshi Rahman, Beth Sheehan, Craig Cilburn and Holly Lovett.
2025 Team Honorable Mentions
Division of Exploratory Studies
Team members include: Sarah Watson, Teri Farr, Jessica Arnold, Shawn Hale, Sarah Smothers, Michelle Ellis, Calen Gutwein, Sierra Hollenbeck, Aric Faulkner, Christy Verhelst, Dustin Shattuck, Sylvia Puente, Nashea Williams, Jasmine Singleton, Dionne Lipscomb, Bill Pritchard, Lucy Gay, Emma Kirby, Lauren Stengel and Lauren Murray.
Merit Program
Team members include: Jennifer McNeilly (Math), Elise McCarren (Chemistry), Alejandra Stenger (MCB) and Lily Arias (IB).
Women’s Resource Center
Team members include: Kasey Umland, Nataly Meza, Amie Baumeister, Nora Peterson, MK Kim, Danisha Collins, Gabrielle Schwartz and Joan Wingo.
2024 Student Success Champion Awards
Pankaj Desai
Student Success Champion – Individual
As the Senior Assistant Director for Inclusion Initiatives at The Career Center, Desai has led numerous efforts to empower career choice and action for students from diverse backgrounds. They have successfully embedded career coaching sessions within various cultural houses, expanded impactful programs like FOCUS, and advocated for the creation of positions to support underrepresented students. Under their leadership, the FOCUS program has grown significantly, accommodating 80 scholars per year with a $1,000 one-time scholarship. Additionally, their advocacy has led to the creation of International Student Career Navigator positions, providing support and remuneration for international students in the CC-I program.
2024 Individual Honorable Mentions
Jordari Rene
As a first-generation Haitian-American and professional at the Career Center, Rene has dedicated their career to fostering student success and bridging the gap between academic learning and professional readiness. They have implemented various student-centered programs, such as the Career Expo, and believe in the importance of a supportive community in ensuring student success. Their goal is to provide students with not just academic achievement, but personal growth and success, reminding them of the impact they can make as the next generation of leaders and innovators.
Michael Lotspeich-Yadao
Upon joining the Chez Veterans Center, Lotspeich-Yadao initiated a data-driven approach to better understand and meet the needs of military-connected students by launching two key projects: One exploring intersectionality in the experiences of military-connected students, and another conducting a campus-wide survey to gather comprehensive data on student needs and concerns. These initiatives have informed the development of targeted programming and services, enhancing student success and belonging at the university.
Kristi McDuffie and the Undergraduate Rhetoric Program
Student Success Champion – Team Award
The Undergraduate Rhetoric Program at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign serves around 4,000 students annually and has implemented innovative programming and support in response to challenges like COVID-19 and increased mental health concerns. The program has demonstrated a commitment to equity, inclusion, and student success by integrating trauma-informed pedagogy, developing student-friendly academic integrity policy for AI-based writing programs, and revising their course placement assessments to be more equitable. Team members include: Kristi McDuffie, Dana Kinzy, Jordan Sellers, Heather McLeer, Dani Nyikos, Meg Cole, Dusty Bacon, Tessa Crosby, Finola McMahon, Alexis Schmidt, Dana Smith, and Gillian Gabriel.
2024 Team Honorable Mentions
Kim Alexander-Brown and Office of Minority Student Affairs
The Office of Minority Student Affairs supports student success and engagement by offering a range of services including a campus-wide online tutoring initiative, an advising management system to track student stress points, and workshops to help students manage these stressors. OMSA also leads the campus’ first-generation student initiative, administers the Illinois Student Government’s iClicker Loan Program, and partners with the Office of Undergraduate Admissions to provide student-centered communications and presentations. These efforts are indicative of OMSA’s consistent commitment to enhancing student success and expanding resources for students.
Mariana Ortega and La Casa Cultural Latina
With student success at its core, La Casa Cultural Latina continues to adapt its programs to meet student needs and help them overcome institutional challenges. Recognizing its importance to student success, La Casa prioritizes family involvement in its programming. Through a range of bilingual programs and events, as well as advocacy and support, La Casa takes a holistic approach to student success, considering not just the students but also their families and extended families.
2023 Student Success Champion Award
Teresa Spence
Student Success Champion – Individual
Teresa Spence was the recipient of the inaugural Student Success Champion Award in 2023. As the Assistant to the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education and the Executive Associate Provost for Academic Programs in the Office of the Vice Chancellor For Academic Affairs and Provost, Teresa has been an integral part of SSI since it’s inception in 2019. She was part of the Student Success Steering Team and a subgroup that put together the initial Student Success Symposium in 2022, including pivoting the entire event to virtual thanks to a weather event. Teresa has continued to co-lead the Symposium Planning Committees since then, and her work on this event is one way she demonstrates her commitment to working with students. Teresa demonstrates excellence in all facets of her job that involve students and their success, and the growth of the Symposium is evidence of her hard work and attention to detail.
