In February, 2016, Amy Hathaway, National Register and Survey Specialist for the  Illinois Historic Preservation Agency visited Dr. Devin Hunter’s Graduate Public History course, HIS: 505. Hathaway provided practical and technical knowledge for students to apply in their final projects for their Historic Environmental Preservation class and in their future historical careers.

Dr. Michael Burlingame, Chancellor Naomi Lynn Distinguished Chair in Lincoln Studies, presented a preview of his 2016 Lincoln Legacy Lecture to his master class and the UIS community on April 20th. Dr. Burlingame framed the problem as follows:

“The Reconstruction period after the Civil War saw a valiant attempt to make the promise implicit in the Emancipation a living reality. How and why did it fail in the nineteenth century, but laid the ground work for the Civil Rights Movement of the twentieth century?”

Today UIS welcomes a new sculpture of a smiling young Lincoln crafted by George Lundeen. History Department faculty members Dr. Holly Kent and Dr. Michael Burlingame helped bring this beautiful sculpture to our campus. Dr. Kent served as a member of the sculpture advisory board and Dr. Burlingame advised Mr. Lundeen on Lincoln’s personality, traits, and history. Lincoln signed the Morrill Land Act on July 2, 1862 which provided the resources for creating the University of Illinois.

Edgar Gasca came to UIS because he knew he would be known by his name, not a number.

The small campus community was ideal for the first-generation college student. He is studying counseling psychology with hopes of becoming a mental health counselor or a therapist.

He knows reaching his goal will be easier thanks to the scholarships he has received. The generosity of others has allowed him to focus on his studies and involvement at the Diversity Center.

This past summer, Dr. Peter Shapinsky,  Department Chair and Associate Professor of History, led a group of UIS students to Japan as part of the annual exchange between the University of Illinois, Springfield and the Ashikaga Institute of Technology–UIS Global Experience: Ashikaga, Japan.