Hometown: Bloomington, Illinois
Major: Teacher Education
Future Plans: Become an elementary teacher

Jen Brooks leads a busy life working a full-time job, while raising two children. That’s why she decided the University of Illinois Springfield’s online Teacher Education Program was the perfect choice to help her complete the state’s requirements to become a teacher. She recently presented her research on the Illinois teacher shortage to lawmakers at the state capitol as part of the sixth annual Illinois Innovation Network Undergraduate Research Day. She is also a member of the Kappa Delta Pi Educational Honor Society at UIS. Following completion of her licensure requirements, she hopes to teach at an elementary school in the Bloomington-area. “I’m going to be more of a teacher-researcher, than just a teacher,” she said. “In the future, I’d like to become a professor and get into higher education.”

Leadership is lived at UIS. Every day.