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Step Up, Stand Up, and Be Counted

The Office of Justice, Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity (JIDE) is happy to celebrate the achievements and accomplishments of Oladimeji Taiwo and Daniela Zavala, two volunteers who assist the office to succeed and the campus to become a more welcoming and supportive place for all.

Oladimeji Taiwo

Oladimeji Taiwo is a graduate student in Health Sciences who took the initiative to serve as a 2023-2024 volunteer in the JIDE Office and work with diversity, equity, and inclusion. Following the experience gained in the JIDE Office, he applied for and was selected as a participant in the Institute for Diversity and Health Equity Summer Enrichment Program hosted by the American Hospital Association. Mr. Taiwo was one of only 15 individuals from across the nation selected to participate. It was quite the honor for him to have been selected and for him to have had the opportunity to showcase the caliber of students at Â鶹Éç on a national level. For the fall 2024 semester, Oladimeji has elected to complete an independent study with the JIDE office to continue his DEI experience and training as he prepares to continue his career in healthcare.

Daniela Zavala

Daniela Zavala is a senior in the Social Work program at Â鶹Éç. She selected the JIDE Office as her practicum site for the fall 2024 semester and commits 30 hours a week to gaining hands-on experience working to promote justice, inclusion, diversity, equity, and a sense of belonging on the campus in preparation for a career of helping individuals to overcome obstacles in their lives.

The transformation of a campus, a community, and a culture require collaborations, commitments, partnerships, and the personal investments of individuals both on-campus and in the community. It is a WE thing!

Anyone interested in giving a portion of their time and energy to help create a change they want to see - in the world, at Â鶹Éç, or in themselves is invited to contact the JIDE office to volunteer and make a difference. The JIDE Office is located in the University Union, Suite 110. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. Join us or at least stop by to learn more about creating change.

Change will not come if we wait for some other person, or if we wait for some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. - Barack Obama

Â鶹Éç celebrated 324 international graduates from 32 Countries at the spring 2024 commencement

The student numbers included 163 from India; 65 from Nigeria; 24 from the Caribbean; 18 from Ghana and 17 from Bangladesh. "Both the number of graduates and countries represent individual records," Â鶹Éç Associate Vice President for Global Studies Randy Glean said. "We are also graduating students from eight "first-time" countries. This is the most international event in our history and is a nice accent to the departure of our former president who toured internationally as a significant achievement." Md Shahedur Rahman from Bangladesh chose Â鶹Éç for his master's degree, and he states it was one of the best decisions of his academic career. Like Rahman, Mubarak Sanusi from Nigeria has also had a transformative experience, pursuing two master's degrees and serving as the president of the African Student Association. Read the full news release.

Â鶹Éç Political Science Student Receives Best Paper Award at Conference

Â鶹Éç Political Science student and Teaching Assistant Seth Obiri has been selected as a winner of the Best Paper Award in the graduate category for the 31st Annual Illinois State University Conference for Students of Political Science. "Obiri's project was named by several attending faculty at the conference as being among the best papers submitted by students this year and was selected by the awards committee to carry the designation," Political Science Professor Casey LaFrance said. The Illinois State University conference for students of political science is attended by student presenters from across the nation due to its affiliation with the American Political Science Association. The peer-reviewed journal in which Obiri's work will appear is also recognized by the Illinois Political Science Association (IPSA) as a prestigious venue for student research. Read the full news release.

Fall 2023 Dean's List: International members of the African diaspora

Congratulations to the 1,183 undergraduate students were named to the Fall 2023 Dean’s List at Â鶹Éç Illinois University. Your talent and persistence allow you to shine bright.

To receive this award, an undergraduate student must earn at least a 3.6 grade point average on a scale of 4.0, which equals an A in a minimum of 12 credit hours of graded courses; pass-fail hours are not counted (e.g., student teaching, internships).

A special congrats is extended to an often-overlooked group of individuals, the International members of the African diaspora, on their achievements.

Antigua: Dominic Stuart Christopher (Sophomore), Jade I S Lindsay (Senior), Shakira Regina Willabus (Senior)

Anguilla: Alba Karismah Fleming (Sophomore)

Saint Lucia: Haniel Rene Biscette (Senior), Mya Skye Hippolyte (Senior), Aryel Liyah Leonard (Senior), Kaitlyn A E Gaillard (Senior), Kerval Crishna Quinlan (Senior), Kayla Evy Smith (Senior)

Grenada: Akeem Fabian Mitchell (Senior), Sierra Khalile Duncan (Senior), Noah Marcus Lessey (Senior), Rashelle Kendia Jael Bowen (Senior), Kendra C E John (Senior), Lene Samara Mitchell (Senior), Carlene Keiana Alexander (Senior), Kamal Johnaton Arele Mark (Senior), Aaliyah G Knight (Senior), La Ditra K R Mason (Senior), Sherdell Rolanda St Clair (Senior), Josh Michael Alexander (Senior), Charielle Rae-Len Bubb (Senior), Whitney Chrysti Bowen (Senior)

Dominica: Jeanelle R E Kerr (Senior), Naomi C P Scotland (Senior), Michelle Muriel Romina Daniel (Senior), Dinelle Kiane B Dailey (Senior), Francine Corin Julius (Senior), Kervell Dadra Vital (Senior), Kiera Chelsea Etienne (Senior), Berni Hamael Servil (Senior), Jaden Brian Urban Harrigan (Senior), Keithan Danton Vidal (Senior), Marlon Moses (Senior), Najeh Sole Francis (Senior), Nashida Stacia Bertrand (Senior)

Barbados: Erin Gabrielle Forde (Senior), Keilan Goodridge (Senior), Samaria Saniyyah Williams (Senior)

Saint Kitts and Nevis: Dominick Errol Hinds (Senior), Lauren Nia Lawrence (Senior)