Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
Major: Public Administration
Future Plans: Work for the FBI or in Student Affairs

Garrett Nimmo enjoys being a voice for his fellow students. He was recently elected president of the University of Illinois Springfield Student Government Association (SGA) in a campus-wide race. As SGA president, Nimmo meets with university leaders to express student positions on important issues. He was first elected to the SGA as a senator-at-large his freshman year. Nimmo is also a mentor for Leadership for Life, a service and leadership program where students complete 40 hours of service each semester.

Melissa Van is getting a jumpstart on her future career at the University of Illinois Springfield where she helps promote student events on campus as the marketing chair for the Student Activities Committee and the Asian Student Organization. “I make flyers, distribute flyers, do word of mouth and social media advertising,” she said. Van is also the vice president of the UIS Community Garden Club and a Capital Scholars Honors Program peer mentor.

Abbie Varble loves to give back to her community. At UIS, Varble is co-president of the Habitat for Humanity Club, a resident assistant and member of the Leadership for Life Service Program. She is also a peer mentor for the Capital Scholars Honors Program, a member of the Christian Student Fellowship and plays in the UIS Concert Band. Varble says she chose UIS because she loved the environment and it felt like home. Following graduation from UIS, she would like to become an accountant or executive director of a non-profit organization.

Hometown: Sycamore, Illinois, born in Sudan, Africa
Major: Biology (Pre-med)
Future Plans: Apply to dental school

Hometown: San Diego, CA
Major: MBA
Future Plans: Work for a Fortune 500 company

Hometown: Mumbai, India
Major: Management Information Systems
Future Plans: Play cricket/find a full-time job

Hometown: Lagos State, Nigeria
Major: Management Information Systems
Future Plans: Become an IT Consultant

Hometown: Edwardsville, Illinois
Major: Master’s in Political Science
Future Plans: Earn a doctorate

Hometown: Chicago
Major: Economics
Future Plans: Attend graduate school or find a full-time job

Rommel Shaw says his favorite thing about the University of Illinois Springfield is the “family feel the campus brings.” He is a student worker at the Student Union, treasurer for the Upsilon Xi Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and treasurer for the Black Male Collegiate Society (BMCS). He chose UIS for the small class sizes. Following graduation from UIS, in fall 2021, he plans to attend graduate school or find a full-time job.