Collective Impact: Stories of Giving and Achievement, Alumni in Action
In times of both uncertainty and progress, philanthropy and alumni leadership strengthen our mission and expand our impact in communities across the globe.
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Financial Support for Field Placements
Thanks to the generosity of our donors and community partners, the School of Social Work is proud to be able to provide financial support to every student completing an unpaid field placement. Every gift, regardless of size, helps ease financial burdens for students balancing personal responsibilities, coursework, and employment. These essential experiences allow students to apply their learning, develop professional skills, and serve communities while preparing for careers in social work. This support enables students to focus on their education and fieldwork, helping them succeed today and make a lasting impact tomorrow. Together, we are investing in the next generation of social workers and the individuals, families, and communities they will serve.
Learn more about how the Fund for Field impacts our students in their internships.
2026 Sanders Lecture Speaker: Dr. Jerome Galea, Associate Professor of Social Work, University of South Florida
A Lasting Commitment to International Social Justice
When Christobel C. Sanders passed away in 2023, she left a thoughtful gift to the School of Social Work through her estate, ensuring continued support for the international work that was central to her life and to the career of her late husband, Dean Daniel S. Sanders. Her generosity supports doctoral research in international social development, student and faculty participation in global conferences, and the annual Daniel S. Sanders Peace and Social Justice Memorial Lecture. This gift reflects the lasting impact of intentional, forward-looking philanthropy and strengthens opportunities for students and scholars to engage in global dialogue, deepen their understanding of social justice, and contribute to meaningful change worldwide. Christobel’s gift ensures this important work continues to grow and inspire future generations.
Strengthening Trust Through Representation
The Lori Davis DeYoung Scholarship for Cultural Representation in Child Welfare was established through the generosity of alumna Dr. DeYoung (BS ’90, MSW ’92, PhD ’00), the scholarship reflects a deeply personal commitment shaped by more than three decades of advocacy in child welfare, mental health, and Veteran care. Through her work with children and families, Dr. DeYoung witnessed the importance of culturally responsive services and a workforce that reflects the communities it serves. By supporting students committed to equity, advocacy, and culturally responsive, family-centered care, this new scholarship invests in future social workers who will strengthen trust, improve outcomes, and lead meaningful change.
Investing in Collaboration, Creating Real-World Impact
The Merlin Taber Faculty Scholar for Collaborative Research, established through the generosity of a friend and colleague, honors Merlin Taber’s legacy of collaborative, agency-partnered scholarship and his belief that social work is the pragmatic pursuit of values. This investment strengthens the connection between the School of Social Work and the Children and Family Research Center, advancing research translated into practice with public agencies and underscoring the importance of sustaining faculty research that drives innovation, deepens partnerships, and creates real-world impact through collaboration. Dr. William Schneider has been named the inaugural Merlin Taber Faculty Scholar for Collaborative Research, in recognition of his role as Faculty Director of the CFRC since 2023 and his continuing commitment to applied, cross-sector child welfare scholarship.
Advancing Community Partnerships Through Small Grants
Since Fall 2022, the Community Learning Lab’s “Small Grants, Big Impacts” initiative has demonstrated how modest investments can create meaningful community change. Donor support has enabled 20 community-engaged projects that strengthen partnerships across Illinois and expand access to education, basic needs, and wellness supports. These grants have supported youth connection to higher education, service-learning partnerships, school-based social work, and nonprofit capacity building. Projects have addressed food insecurity, housing stability, sexual assault survivor support, youth social-emotional learning, and access to essential items such as hygiene products. They have also supported hands-on training opportunities for MSW students serving communities across east-central Illinois. Together, these community-engaged efforts show how small grants can generate meaningful, lasting outcomes for students, community partners, and the populations they serve.
Alumni in Action
Joyce Yen Feng Named Prestigious International Alumni Award Recipient
The School of Social Work proudly celebrated alumna Joyce Yen Feng, MSW '81, PhD '88, who received the 2026 Madhuri and Jagdish N. Sheth International Alumni Award for Exceptional Achievement. Presented by the University of Illinois, the award recognized distinguished international alumni whose professional accomplishments and contributions to humanity exemplified the impact of an Illinois education.
Known in Taiwan as the "Mother of Social Enterprise," Feng dedicated her career to advancing child welfare, nonprofit development, ethical governance, and social enterprise policy. Among her many achievements, she led the planning and passage of Taiwan's landmark 2014 Social Enterprise Action Plan, helping establish a national ecosystem to support social innovation.
Feng's lifelong commitment to research, public service, and social change has enhanced the lives of countless individuals and communities. Her career reflected the global impact of Illinois social work alumni and the enduring value of a School of Social Work education.
Kelly Clary Honored for Community-Engaged Research
Kelly Clary, who earned three degrees from the School of Social Work, received the Texas State Presidential Award for Excellence in Scholarly and Research Activities for scholarship that brings researchers, students and communities together to create lasting change. Clary, BSW '15, MSW '16, PhD '20, says the recognition affirmed that collaborative, community engaged research can be both rigorous and meaningful beyond the university. She credits her nine years in Urbana-Champaign, including alcohol prevention work and research with emerging adult Veterans and military members, with shaping her belief that “the people closest to a problem are often closest to the solutions.” Since joining Texas State, Clary has led initiatives that engage students and community advisory boards in addressing urgent health and mental health needs across Texas. Her FESTA program has provided fentanyl and overdose prevention education to thousands of middle and high school students, while the BRAVE project elevates the voices and lived experiences of Veterans who have experienced moral injury and their Caring Circles. Through the TexVet Legacy Project, she also preserves and honors Veterans’ stories through storytelling, education and community engagement. Recently appointed a Senior Faculty Fellow at Texas State’s Translational Health Research Center, Clary will continue building partnerships that promote health, resilience and well-being. As the mother of two young daughters, she says motherhood has deepened her empathy and strengthened her commitment to prevention, early intervention and empowering young people.
Alumna Leads with Lived Experience
For alumna Katie Harmon, MSW '10, becoming executive director of Courage Connection marked a meaningful return to the organization where her social work journey first began as an intern. Inspired to pursue social work after taking a course on social inequality as an undergraduate at Illinois, Harmon built a career dedicated to supporting individuals and families through some of life's most difficult challenges.
Her commitment to this work is also deeply personal. As a survivor of domestic violence, Harmon brings both professional expertise and lived experience to her leadership. Today, she leads an organization that provides critical, lifesaving services, including a 24-hour crisis hotline, counseling, and emergency and transitional housing for individuals and families seeking safety and support.
After earning her Master of Social Work from Illinois, Harmon began her career at Courage Connection as an outreach case manager, helping individuals and families facing housing instability connect with employment, child care, financial assistance, and other essential resources. She later advanced into leadership roles before spending nearly a decade with the Champaign County Regional Planning Commission, where she oversaw community services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and coordinated regional efforts to address homelessness.
Today, Harmon has come full circle, leading Courage Connection with a focus on expanding access to safety, stability, and opportunity. Drawing on both her professional expertise and personal experience, she remains committed to ensuring individuals and families have the resources they need to build stronger futures.
Honoring Community, Advancing Peace and Advocacy
Alumna Jewelry Pouna Keodara (BSW ’22, MSW ’23) was named a 2025–2026 Titus and Linda Peachey Peace Fellow with Legacies of War. As part of the fellowship, she traveled to Laos to witness the lasting impact of unexploded ordnance (UXO) on local communities and the environment before sharing her experiences with U.S. lawmakers and audiences across the country to raise awareness and inspire advocacy.
The daughter of Lao immigrants, Keodara focused her MSW studies on the intergenerational impacts of war in Laos and championed AAPI communities through her work with the University of Illinois Asian American Cultural Center and the Southeast Asia Resource Action Center. Reflecting on the fellowship, she said, “This fellowship represented both a continuation of my family’s story and a way to honor the resilience of my community.”
Celebrating Social Work in Action - National Social Work Month 2026
Social Work Alumna, Candice H.
During National Social Work Month 2026, the School of Social Work celebrated the advocates, allies, problem solvers, and changemakers who make a difference every day. This year's theme recognized the many ways social workers uplift individuals and families, defend dignity and justice, and transform communities through compassion, collaboration, and service.
To celebrate, we invited students and alumni to share what inspires their work and how they are making an impact in their communities. The posts featured on our website reflect the diverse experiences, unwavering commitment, and shared purpose that unite the Illinois Social Work community. Together, they demonstrate the lasting impact of social work and the many ways our alumni continue to uplift, defend, and transform lives every day.