We're pleased to announce that our graduate program coordinator, Shannon Croft, has been awarded the Excellence Award for Graduate Contacts by the University of Illinois Graduate College. Croft has worked with the History department for nearly ten years.

From the the Graduate College award announcement:

What truly stands out about Shannon is her compassion for her students. She is described as “a Rock of Gibraltar” and having an “immense reserve of patience.” Always approachable and willing to help, whether it’s answering questions or guiding students through administrative processes, her clear explanations and quick responses make all the difference in navigating the policies smoothly. One student remarked, “Sometimes I feel like she’s doing the PhD with us!”

Marc Herztman, director of graduate studies (DGS) wrote, “I have been moved beyond words hearing Shannon offer advice and suggestions informed by her own experiences to help guide one of our students through remarkably treacherous waters. At every step, she has thought and acted with empathy, but also creativity and innovation, to help the student manage a situation that our standard approaches to graduate training does not really take into account.”

Croft was recognized at a reception at the Illini Union Art gallery on Friday, February 28th. Michelle Tomaszycki in the Neuroscience Program also received the award. They were honored along with twelve other nominees. 

“Graduate studies can be complicated territory to navigate,” said Wojtek Chodko-Zajko, dean of the Graduate College. “Graduate Contacts serve as practical guides through this terrain, providing timely information, clarifying procedures, and helping graduate students understand what they need to succeed. They are often the first point of contact for students with questions or concerns, and their knowledge of how things really work makes a huge difference in students' daily lives.”

Editor's Note: This story was adapted from the Graduate College announcement.