About the University of Illinois Foundation Community Forum

The University of Illinois Foundation Community Forum is a new speaker series specifically designed for local thought and business leaders. The series will showcase areas of excellence and innovation from the University of Illinois that are impacting our communities and the world.

Past Community Forum Series Events (listed with more recent events first)

Community Forum on College Athletics | April 14, 2022

This Community Forum featured a panel discussion about the changing landscape of college athletics. Participants from the University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics included:

Josh Whitman 
  • Director of Athletics, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Sara Burton
  • Executive Senior Associate Director of Athletics, Sports Administration/Senior Woman Administrator
Kam Cox
  • Director of the INFLUENCE Program
Evan Taylor
  • Director of Compliance

Community Forum on Entrepreneurship | November 17, 2021

This Community Forum featured a panel discussion which included leaders within the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the greater community. Panelist included:
 
Susan Martinis, PhD
  • Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Stephen Boppart, PhD, MD
  • Executive Associate Dean and Chief Diversity Officer, Carle Illinois College of Medicine
  • Professor and Grainger Distinguished Chair in Engineering Departments of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Bioengineering
  • Director, Center for Optical Molecular Imaging Laboratory, Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Peter Fox
  • Partner, Fox Ventures
Catherine Kleinmuntz
  • Principal, Kleinmuntz Associates
Rick Stephens
  • Entrepreneur and Philanthropist

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Community Forum on Translating Innovation to Improve Care | March 8, 2021

This Community Forum highlighted the Carle Illinois College of Medicine and how it is progressing and translating innovation to improve care. We heard from leaders and current students who shared research and insights on the program:
 
King Li, MD, MBA
  • Dean, Carle Illinois College of Medicine
  • Chief Academic Officer, Carle Health System
Blair Rowitz, MD
  • Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs, Carle Illinois College of Medicine
  • Associate Chief Medical Officer, Carle Health System

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Community Forum on Health Innovation | December 11, 2019

This was the first-ever Community Forum and it showcased the vibrant and powerful health sciences ecosystem at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The following researchers shared their insights and passion about the inspiring and transformative work being conducted in research labs and startups:

Neal J. Cohen

  • Director, Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Institute (IHSI)
  • Professor, Department of Psychology, Neuroscience Program, Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, and Carle Illinois College of Medicine at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Martin D. Burke

  • Associate Dean, Carle Illinois College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Paul J. Hergenrother

  • Kenneth L. Rinehart Jr. Endowed Chair in Natural Products Chemistry and Professor of Chemistry

Rashid Bashir

  • Dean, The Grainger College of Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

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This resource page will be growing and developing over time. Please check back periodically for more information.