Office of Public Engagement
The Office of Public Engagement advances the University of Illinois land-grant mission through programs, partnerships, and platforms that strengthen communities, expand opportunity, and connect campus expertise with public priorities.
Our Work
These programs bring campus and community partners together through research, leadership development, collaboration, charitable giving, and shared learning.
Research & Talent Development
AREES prepares undergraduate scholars from Emerging Research Institutions for graduate education and research leadership through immersive research, mentorship, professional development, and cross-institutional collaboration.
Learn MoreCampus-Community Collaboration
The Compact brings university and community partners together to identify shared priorities, strengthen relationships, and develop collaborative projects that address community-identified needs.
Learn MoreCivic Leadership
ECL@IL develops faculty and staff as civic and community leaders through nonprofit board service, leadership development, and sustained partnerships with community organizations.
Learn MoreCampus Giving
CCFD mobilizes University of Illinois faculty, staff, and retirees through an annual giving campaign that supports charitable organizations and strengthens communities locally and beyond.
Learn MoreSupporting Public Engagement
Public engagement at Illinois is advanced through shared learning, coordinated campus leadership, and universitywide collaboration.
Spring 2026
A campuswide convening for connection, learning, and the advancement of publicly engaged work across Illinois.
The Spring 2026 Public Engagement Summit convenes faculty, staff, students, community partners, and institutional leaders to exchange ideas, strengthen relationships, share promising practices, and advance publicly engaged work across Illinois.
Explore the Spring 2026 SummitUniversitywide Coordination
CCPE includes representatives from major academic and administrative units across campus.
CCPE works collaboratively to advance the university’s publicly engaged research, teaching, and outreach. Its activities focus on strengthening policies, procedures, programs, and platforms to improve coordination and alignment across Illinois.
Articulate and assess a contemporary vision for public engagement grounded in Illinois’ strengths and public purpose.
Strengthen relationships among faculty, students, staff, and community members to support universitywide collaboration.
Promote public engagement in ways that fulfill the university’s land-grant mission.
Facilitate open communication among central administration, campus engagement units, and the broader community.
Inventory public engagement activities involving faculty, students, staff, and community partners.
Identify promising practices that support strong outcomes and meaningful community involvement.
Steve Anderson, Ph.D. — School of Social Work (Ex officio)
Elsa Augustine — Center for Social & Behavioral Science
Wendy Bartlo, Ph.D. — College of Applied Health Sciences
Christine Beuoy — College of Veterinary Medicine
Nancy Castro — Humanities Research Institute
Jason Chambers, Ph.D. — College of Media
Krista Gaedtke — College of Law
Jancie Harris, DMA — College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
Lara Hebert, Ph.D. — The Grainger College of Engineering*
Lexie Kesler — Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology
Linda Larsen — School of Labor and Employment Relations
Claudia Lutz, Ph.D. — Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology*
Zeynep Madak-Erdogan, Ph.D. — Cancer Center at Illinois
Ryann Burns Monahan — Carle Illinois College of Medicine
Heather Murphy — University Library
KJ Naum — National Center for Supercomputing Applications
Penny Nigh — Office of Public Engagement (Ex officio)
Carolyn Randolph-Kato, Ph.D. — College of Fine & Applied Arts*
Marissa Siero, Ph.D. — Gies College of Business
Emily Stone, MPH — College of Education
Jess Holmes — Graduate College
Kevin Tan, Ph.D. — School of Social Work
Celina Trujillo — Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Institute
Kandace Turner — Office of Public Engagement (Ex officio)
Matthew Vann, Ph.D. — College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences
Robin Warne, Ph.D. — Prairie Research Institute
Martin Wolske, Ph.D. — School of Information Sciences*
*Subcommittee chair