Center for the Study of Global Gender Equity

Happy Motivational Monday!

August is National Wellness month! Take time to do things you enjoy to clear your mind!

Mary Temple Grandin graduated with a PhD from the College of ACES in 1989. Mary is a well-known professor of animal sciences, but she is best known for being one of the first individuals on the autism spectrum to speak out about her experience with autism. She has authored several books and articles, both about her personal experiences as well as research regarding livestock. In her research, she was one of the first scientists to discover animal sensitivities to visual distractions in handling facilities. Temple developed a major piece of handling equipment, known as a center track (double rail) conveyor restrainer system for holding cattle during stunning in large beef plants. In 2010, Mary was named one of Time Magazine’s most influential people in the world. She has received numerous awards and honorary degrees, and in February 2017, she was named to the National Women’s Hall of Fame.

Happy International Self-Care Day!

May Berenbaum joined the Entomology Department at the University of Illinois in 1980. She has been Head of the Entomology Department since 1992, and Swanlund Chair of Entomology since 1996. May is a member of the National Academy of Sciences. In 2009, she received the Public Understanding of Science and Technology Award from the American Advancement of Science. May has received several other awards, but most recently President Barack Obama awarded the National Medal of Science to her at a White House ceremony on November 20, 2014.

Mildred Trent joined the staff of the College of Education and Office of Diversity around 1984. A constant source of encouragement, Dean Trent was a gracious leader, mentor, educator and friend to students, faculty, staff, administrators, parents, and community members throughout the extended University of Illinois system. Dean Trent motivated others to achieve their highest potential. She welcomed everyone from diverse educational and socio-economic backgrounds, ethnicities and cultures, abilities, and identities. Her daily life demonstrated a respect for humankind and a true love for the University of Illinois.

Ollie Watts Davis, an alum of the University of Illinois, joined the College of Fine and Applied Arts faculty in 1987. She is the founding director of the Black Sacred Music Symposium (1991), held biennially on the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign campus with participants from across the nation. In 1993, Ollie received the College of Fine and Applied Arts Outstanding Faculty Award, an Appreciation and Recognition Award from the UI Alumni Association, and was named the Alumna of the Year by the College of Arts and Sciences at West Virginia Institute of Technology. Outside of teaching, Ollie has appeared in several leading symphony orchestras and international performances and has released two recordings.