University of Illinois College of ACES

The best color palette 🎨

𝐓𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐥 𝐓𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝
Matthew Nolan 🎓
Degree ➡️ M.S in AAE Agricultural and Applied Economics
Destination 📍President and Founder of Gravitas Grove

𝐓𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐥 𝐓𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝
Christopher Mujjabi 🎓
Degree ➡️ Doctorate in Crop Sciences
Destination 📍Plant Scientist at BioLumic USA

𝐓𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐥 𝐓𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝
Ellen Persson 🎓
Degree ➡️ Environmental Science & Management
Destination 📍Professional Soccer Player

Congratulations to Dr. Dan Shike on his appointment as head of the Department of Animal Sciences!

Since joining the Illinois faculty in 2011, Dan has built a nationally recognized program, mentored generations of students, and served producers and communities through research and Extension. As head, he will guide a department whose work spans animal agriculture, companion animals, animal welfare, biomedical sciences, and more.

We are excited for the future of the department under his leadership.
https://aces.illinois.edu/news/dan-shike-appointed-head-department-animal-sciences-illinois

𝐓𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐥 𝐓𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝
Sadie Allison 🎓
Degree ➡️ Agricultural Education
Destination 📍Agricultural Lender

𝐓𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐥 𝐓𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝
Carter Haney 🎓
Degree ➡️ Digital & Precision Agriculture
Destination 📍Precision Drone Application Specialist

Congratulations to Mia Bonds and Dr. Paul McNamara on receiving the 2026 International Achievement Awards! Their work shows how classroom expertise can be used to solve real global challenges:

🔹 Mia Bonds received the Undergraduate Achievement Award for her student research and agribusiness projects focused on sustainable food systems in Ecuador, Peru, and Malawi.

🔹 Dr. Paul E. McNamara received the Sheth Distinguished Faculty Award for his extensive fieldwork leading AgReach and the ADM Institute, which has supported more than 16 million smallholder farmers across Africa and Asia.

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Department of ACE - University of Illinois

Brianne has turned her tassel 🎓 A Hospitality Management major, her next destination is at Michael's Catering as a Kitchen Floor Manager.
Join us in congratulating Brianne 👏

It looks like an alien planet, but it’s actually an Illinois forest after 9:00 PM 🌌🐛

Congratulations to ACES graduate student Alexa Rojas for winning Second Prize in the 2026 Image of Research competition! Alexa uses ultraviolet flashlights to reveal a glowing, nighttime world of caterpillars, helping us understand how they navigate forests surrounded by agriculture.