News from Undergraduate Programs

Undergraduate Program Update

Students lined up for a group photo on a rooftop with the Chicago skyline in the background.
Students in ACE 430: Corporate Food Marketing pose with Professor Maria Kalaitzandonakes in downtown Chicago during their action learning trip.

Greetings from ACE Undergraduate Programs! We have been hard at work serving over 900 students, encouraging them to excel in the classroom and to build their skills outside the classroom through action learning opportunities. In the stories below, you will see how our faculty and staff are partnering to create unique opportunities to apply what students are learning in their classes to critical issues in industry, preparing them to be leaders in their chosen industries. If your business would like to host ACE students during an action learning trip, please let us know by filling out this form or emailing our experiential learning coordinator, Chaya Sandler. Cities our students visit include Washington DC, Chicago, and Springfield.  

We are thrilled to congratulate our undergraduate students who were recognized by the College of ACES with leadership awards. Benjamin Quirke received the Robert M. Harrison Leadership Award, and graduating senior Julia Podgorni received the Warren K. Wessels Award, which is chosen based on above-and-beyond academics, leadership record, participation in development activities, and their contributions to improving the overall quality of life for others as a part of ACES. Our students are truly exceptional! 

As we near the end of another successful year, we eagerly anticipate changes to come in the fall. Our undergraduate curriculum review process is nearing conclusion as our proposed majors received campus approval to move forward for review by the Illinois Board of Higher Education. Once passed, the Undergraduate Advising Office will work to implement the new majors, educating current students about their curricular options and recruiting future students into these exciting new programs. We will also continue to promote the newly launched Certificate in Personal Finance, which has been met with significant interest from students across the university. Keep an eye out in our next newsletter for an update about these programs! 

Faculty Achievements

Faculty Achievements

We have had many faculty members accomplishing remarkable things this semester, and we are excited to highlight them. 

Dr. Madhu Khanna was named a 2025 Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) this spring. This prestigious honor recognizes her outstanding contributions in research, teaching, and communicating science to broader audiences. To learn more, continue reading here: Madhu Khanna 

Congratulations to Dr. Paul McNamara, recipient of the 2026 Sheth Distinguished Faculty Award for International Achievement. This honor recognizes Illinois faculty who demonstrate exceptional accomplishments in teaching, research, and public service on a global scale, an area where Dr. McNamara’s leadership and impact continue to shine. We also celebrate ACE student Mia Bonds, the Illinois International Undergraduate Achievement Award recipient. This award recognizes an undergraduate student whose service or contributions stem from meaningful participation in an international study course, program, or project. Mia’s work reflects the global engagement and curiosity we are proud to see in our students. To read more about their stories, click here: Paul McNamara and Mia Bonds International Achievement Awards 

Professors Joe Janzen and Natalie Loduca participated in this year’s Extension Academy, a professional development program designed to help College of ACES faculty deepen their understanding of the university’s land grant mission and strengthen their engagement with Illinois communities. Together with our department head, they participated in an Extension Academy bus trip around the state after the semester ended, visiting Extension stakeholders and ACE alumni in Freeport, Macomb, Collinsville, and nearby locations. Read more about this initiative here: Illinois Extension Academy  

Professor Ailie Elmore was awarded the Emerging Agribusiness Leader of the Year Award at the Illinois Agricultural Summit. This recognition reflects her outstanding dedication to teaching, her commitment to student success, and the leadership she brings to the ACE community. We are incredibly proud of her achievements and grateful for the energy, expertise, and support she invests in her students every day. 

On April 21, the Department of ACE came together to celebrate Professor Paul Stoddard’s Last Lecture, a truly memorable event. Foellinger Auditorium was filled with students, alumni, colleagues, family, and friends who gathered to honor his decades of teaching, mentorship, and impact. 

Throughout the evening, Professor Stoddard reflected on his career at the University of Illinois, sharing stories from the classroom and revisiting many of the signature lessons that shaped his courses. His ability to connect with students, challenge them to think differently, and make learning unforgettable has left a lasting legacy on the thousands of Illini he has taught and mentored. 

We are deeply grateful for his contributions to ACE and wish him the very best in his well-earned retirement. You can watch his Last Lecture here, and you can read more about the event here.