Senior Spotlight: Lillian Webb (BA ’26, history and biological anthropology with a minor in integrative biology)
“History has given me critical thinking skills and the ability to consider diverse viewpoints which are valuable in conducting research that is empathetic and open-minded at its core. History has also allowed me to place modern events and data within a broader socio-political context, making sure I know how to place my research into its wider context in order to help create future solutions.” - Lillian Webb
Internships & awards
In her time at Illinois, Lillian interned at the Champaign County History Museum as an Artifact Processing Intern and with We CU, Humanities Research Institute, and the Education Justice Program as a Humanities in Action Intern. For serving 20 hours with the EJP, We CU recognized her as a We CU Scholar, and she was awarded a LAS Global Engagement Scholar for writing an essay about her study abroad experience. Lillian was also on the Dean’s List in Spring 2024 & Fall 2025.
RSOs & research
Lillian was Social Chair for Beta Psi Omega, a fraternity for the biological sciences. She was also PR Chair & President for the Society of Minority Students in History and served on the History Undergraduate Studies Committee. She is currently conducting research in Dr. Taiye Winful’s lab, where she examines the biological impacts of stress on health by focusing on inflammation biomarkers.
Favorite memory
Her favorite memory was giving the opening keynote speech to the Undergraduate History Conference in 2025, where she represented SMSIH and spoke in front of undergraduate students who were doing original research in the history field.
Plans after college
Lillian plans on attending graduate school for biological anthropology, where she will conduct research on skeletal variation and its applications to identifying victims and reuniting them with their families.