UIC Alumni

On February 22, 1975, the University of Illinois at Chicago Circle celebrated its tenth anniversary and had at least 20,000 students enrolled. These photos only show a glimmer of how bustling students were during that year as they participated in theatrical performances, modern dance classes and on-campus concerts, among others.

Have you seen the new sculpture by CTA’s UIC-Halsted Station? It was sculpted by UIC alumni. and internationally-known artist, Tom Friedman.

The sculpture, known as Takeaway, is a modern depiction of Hermes, a messenger in Greek mythology, running and balancing a stack of restaurant takeout boxes.

UIC’s 2025 Alumni Award nominations are open! Do you know a UIC alumni who has done amazing work in their field?

Nominate them for an alumni award and help them get recognized.

Nominations are open for four categories.
Deadline to nominate: August 19, 2024.

Click the link for more info: https://loom.ly/VDqjNN8

Another beautiful summer day at the University of Illinois Chicago's East Campus. We hope you're staying cool and enjoying your summer.

Did you know you get exclusive benefits as a UIC alumni? You get access to the library, fitness centers and more as an alumni!

Read more: https://loom.ly/2CWjFIk

Here's a look into some of the activities students at the University of Illinois Chicago Undergraduate Division at Navy Pier participated in. They included dances, photography, archery and a beard growing contest.

Who thinks we should bring back beard growing contests?

We are excited to share that the UIC College of
Pharmacy will become the Herbert M. and Carol H. Retzky College of Pharmacy. University of Illinois Board of Trustees approved the new name change on July 11, and it honors the Retzkys' legacy and long-term, substantial commitment to the college.

Read more: https://ow.ly/vzAB50SCo0z

Thank you to everyone who joined us for Sparky's Summer Kickoff! We hope you made new connections and rekindled friendships and memories. We're looking forward to seeing you next year along with new alumni!

Click the link to see the full photo gallery: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjByY6j

UIC music department and Chicago Hip Hop Heritage Museum researchers are digitally archiving significant materials that tell the story of Chicago hip-hop.

Music videos, flyers, magazines and archived photos of graffiti are being catalogued and built into online databases to create "an authoritative archive of the history of Chicago hip-hop."

Read more: https://loom.ly/CiUkaBA

Who doesn't love summer in Chicago, especially summer at UIC! With our iconic red chairs and the occasional hammock swinging in between trees, it's hard not to want to find a shady spot and take a summertime nap!

For those who can't handle the heat, what's your favorite time on campus?

Join us in congratulating associate dean Liz Aquino, assistant prof Hongjin Li and all alumni being inducted into the American Academy of Nursing's 2024 class of Fellows! UIC Alumni

Read more about this year's inductees!
https://loom.ly/_jw8rR0

Wishing our UIC community a safe and joyful Fourth of July!

Whether you're celebrating with family, friends, or taking a moment of reflection, remember to stay safe and cherish this time together.

Happy Independence Day, Flames! 🔥

In December 2023, the FDA approved a groundbreaking gene-editing treatment for sickle cell disease. Now, the final results from the pivotal clinical trial are published in the New England Journal of Medicine. This study, coauthored by UIC’s Dr. Damiano Rondelli, reveals that the therapy significantly reduces painful symptoms.

We're proud of Dr. Rondelli's contributions to this major medical milestone!

Read the full story: https://loom.ly/l8F4_cM

A new initiative at the University of Illinois Chicago — Brothers Teaching — is expanding the UIC College of Education’s approach to supporting men of color as they pursue undergraduate and advanced degrees in education and become teachers. Brothers Teaching will launch its first group of students this fall.

Read the full story: https://loom.ly/alNuIbc

Did you know the University of Illinois Chicago Undergraduate Division at Navy Pier used to be known as "Harvard on the rocks?"

For 20 years, from 1945 - 1965, UIC's Navy Pier location served as a two-year branch campus before students went downstate to finish their degrees at Urbana-Champaign. The branch served more than 100,000 students who attended classes on the pier.

A clinical trial studying using licorice root for prostate cancer is underway at the University of Illinois Chicago. The study will be the first to assess whether the natural product has anti-cancer effects that could benefit patients as they await surgical treatment.

Dr. Natalie Reizine, lead investigator of the trial, is trying to address underrepresentation of minority men as Black male patients, who suffer higher mortality rates from prostate cancer, remain underrepresented in trials.

Read the full story: https://loom.ly/_t5VROM

Business education at goes beyond technical expertise and is recognized in any industry, as exemplified by the experience of Mutaz Alhijaj, who graduated this spring with his MBA degree.

"My journey with UIC began in 2013 when I started my PhD in civil engineering. After graduating in 2016, I transitioned into a role as a senior structural engineer at StructurePoint, a leading provider of concrete software solutions. Recognizing the need to augment my technical expertise with managerial and leadership skills, I returned to UIC Business School to pursue an MBA with a concentration in management.

It was a truly transformative educational experience. While all the courses offered valuable insights, several, including Negotiations, Strategic Management, Mergers and Acquisitions, and Lead for Impact, left a significant mark on my professional growth. I had the privilege of learning from exceptional faculty members, among whom Dr. Shelley Brickson stood out. Dr. Brickson did not only demonstrate profound expertise, but also provided genuine mentoring. Under her guidance, our class fostered a strong sense of community, which significantly enhanced my educational journey,” he expressed.

Mutaz, there's no doubt that your achievements and commitment to your education will ensure that your next career move is a successful one. Thank you for sharing your story!

Congratulations to University of Illinois Chicago researcher Gabriela Nunez-Mir!

Nunez-Mir received a $300,000 award to fund research on invasive plants in Chicago and across the United States. The award funds a three-year long program for early-career researchers who seek to restore, protect and conserve biodiversity.

Read more: https://loom.ly/xRxpjus

University of Illinois Chicago engineers helped design a new method to make hydrogen gas from water using only solar power and agricultural waste, such as manure or husks.

The method reduces the energy needed to extract hydrogen from water by 600%, creating new opportunities for sustainable, climate-friendly chemical production.

Read the full story: https://loom.ly/6G56T3M

Happy Pride Month! Earlier this month, dozens of UIC's community members gathered on campus for the 2024 Pride Picnic, hosted by the Chancellor’s Committee on the Status of LGBTQ+ People and the UIC Gender and Sexuality Center.

See the full gallery: https://loom.ly/zrgNeLE

Take a moment to read about our Alumni Spotlight!

Meet alumnus Miguel Lemus!

During his undergraduate days, Miguel pursued his passions for media and public relations in two major ways: through the Marketing degree program and as an on-air personality at UIC Radio 🎙

Today, he is proud to be employed as a Corporate Communications Assistant for the Chicago Bears 🐻🏈 where he carries out storytelling strategies by crafting press releases, coordinating media interviews for players, staff, and executives, pitching media, translating communications for Spanish-speaking audiences, and much more.

Looking ahead, Miguel plans to continue his development as a media and PR professional in the sports industry while supporting younger generations. He wants to use his platform to create meaningful opportunities for students and youth from underfunded communities, specifically the South Side of .

Thank you for sharing your story with us! We are so confident that you will achieve each one of your goals.

Four UIC Campus Housing student leaders were recognized for their leadership during the National Affiliate of Colleges and University Residence Halls Conference at New Mexico State University.

The 70th annual conference, Leadership Through the Ages, provided students with professional development opportunities and recognized student leaders at the national level. Participants voted on important pieces of legislation that impact the student-run housing associations across the nation and individual regions.

Read the full story: https://loom.ly/EsPFyR4

Meet two UIC students who will be able to study abroad this upcoming year: Alicia Ribeiro and Kendal McGinnis.
Ribeiro will be living in Busan, South Korea, studying Korean, and McGinnis will be able to continue her Russian language studies in Austria. Both are recipients of the U.S. State Department Critical Language Scholarship and McGinnis is a recipient of the Boren Fellowship.

Read the full story: https://loom.ly/NAnOTTU