Hometown: Brandon, SD    

Current City: Rochester, MN

Undergraduate Institution and Major: University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Bachelor of Arts in English and Spanish. 

Graduate Institution and Major: University of South Dakota, Master of Public Administration (Leadership Theory emphasis). 

Student Spotlight: Chase Brinkley

Chase Brinkley is an outstanding Teacher Education student who presented a project for our annual UIS StARS research syposium in April 2014.

“During my second semester at UIS I was introduced to TEP advisor, Dr. Kahn.  His experience as a teacher and passion for teaching changed my ideas of becoming an educator.”

Read more about Chase Brinkley (PDF)

Student Spotlight: Madalyn M. Barnes, Child and Family Studies Student

Madalyn Barnes is a Department of Human Services student in the Child and Family Studies concentration.  She is a Service Coordinator for Early Intervention. Early Intervention is voluntary program for children birth to three with special needs. I enjoy the helping field, it’s a way of life for me. I received my undergraduate degree from UIS in just three years.

Student Spotlight: Mr. Matt Rhoades, Principal

Mr. Matt J. Rhoades is the Principal and Athletic Director of the Athens Junior High School in Athens, Illinois. He originally taught 1st grade there for one year and then 3rd grade for 8 years.   During that time, Matt went back to school and obtained his Master’s degree from UIS in the Educational Leadership Department and pursued an Elementary Principalship in the Jacksonville School District at Murrayville-Woodson.

Lexi Throne was University of Illinois Springfield’s seventh runner in the NCAA Division II Midwest Region Cross Country Championships. The meet was held in Angel Mounds, Indiana. The junior finished the 6,000-meter run in 25 minutes, 1.9 seconds. She was 177th overall.

This article appeared in The Journal-News on Jan. 10, 2022.

Read the entire article online.