Faculty and Student Nominations to the Athletic Board Faculty Nominations to the Athletic Board

Elizabeth Delacruz (FAA)

Dr. Elizabeth Delacruz is a nationally recognized scholar and educator. She is Associate Professor in the School of Art and Design, the Gender and Women’s Studies Program, and the Division of Academic Outreach; and she is Editor of Visual Arts Research. Elizabeth’s awards in teaching and research include the Vice Chancellor's award for Teaching Excellence, Vice President Sylvia Manning's Applications for Learning Technologies in Higher Education award, the Sloan Center for Asynchronous Learning Environments award, the College of Education PT3 Talent award, and a 2006-2007 Research Fellowship in the UIUC Center on Democracy in a Multiracial Society.

Elizabeth’s leadership and service are evidenced by her 5 year tenure as Chair of the Art Education Division at UIUC, service on numerous Deans’ and Directors’ committees on multicultural education and affirmative action, service as Chair of the Senate Committee on Academic Freedom and Tenure, and participation on several Senate Executive Committee subcommittees.

John Erdman (ACES)

John Erdman is Professor and Nutrition Research Chair in the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition.He holds appointments in the College of Medicine and the Division of Nutritional Sciences (DNS) where he was previously Director.He also was Assistant Dean in the Office of Research, College of ACES.He has received a number of national teaching and research awards and is former President of the American Nutrition Association.

He is Fellow of two organizations including the American Heart Association.In 2003, he was elected to membership in the Institute of Medicine, National Academy of Sciences. He has served on many committees, most recently the Chair of the College of ACES P & T Committee.He and his wife are long time season ticket holders for football, men’s basketball and woman’s volleyball.He and his colleagues have previously provided nutrition advice for men’s football and basketball and woman’s track.

Christopher Span (EDUC)

Christopher Span has been an assistant professor in Educational Policy Studies since 2003.He received his B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.Since his return to UIUC, he has been actively involved in campus and community affairs

He has served on the Graduate Awards and Technology Committees for the College of Education, he is the immediate past President of the regional chapter of Phi Delta Kappa, he is the departmental representative for the college and campus Distinguished Scholar's Award, and he has repeatedly lectured on equity and social justice issues in Urbana public schools.In 2004, he received the Center for Democracy in a Multiracial Society Fellowship and since Fall 2003 he has consecutively made the "Incomplete List of Teachers Ranked Excellent by their Students."He is currently finalizing a book manuscript on the educational history of black Mississippians between 1862-1875.

Thomas S. Ulen (LAW)

Tom Ulen has been at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign since 1977 and is now a professor in the College of Law.He has served as a Senator and as a member of various Senate and campus committees.During the 1995 academic year he served on the search committee for a President of the University of Illinois, and during the 2000-2001 academic year, he chaired the search committee for a Chancellor of the Urbana-Champaign campus.In 2003-2004 he co-chaired the committee that arranged campus-wide activities in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education.

He was one of the founders of the American Law and Economics Association in 1991 and served on its Board of Directors.He has recently been a Fulbright Scholar in Israel, has occupied the Foreign Chair in Law at the University of Ghent, and since 2003 has been a Swanlund Chair.

Student Nominations to the Athletic Board

Ben J. Blaiszik (GRAD)

Ben Blaiszik graduated summa cum laude from Elmhurst College in 2003 with a B.S. degree in Physics and Mathematics.He recently received his M.S. from the Department of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics at the University of Illinois, and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. for his work in self-healing materials. Sports have always been an integral part of his academic work.

While attending Elmhurst College, he competed for the men’s tennis team, and was honored as a Verizon Academic All-American.In high-school at St. Bede Academy, he was a three time state qualifier in tennis, a cross-country team captain, and a varsity basketball player.He has also worked closely with coaches in the past to ensure the academic integrity of the teams he has been a part of.As a former student-athlete, he would like to give back to the university using his personal experience.

Jeff Brown (LAS)

Jeff Brown is a sophomore from Morris, Illinois. The most significant of the many positions he held in high school were: president of his class freshmen to junior year, student council executive board and business editor for the newspaper and yearbook his senior year.Beyond just starting structured cheering sections, his work ethic is evident in his academic accomplishments such as: National Honor Society, Illinois State Scholar, and National Honor Roll to name a few.His character is evident in the fact that he was chosen for Who’s Who Among America’s High School Students on two separate occasions.At the University of Illinois he holds the positions of wrestling and soccer chairs on the Illini Pride Executive Board, I-Guide, Football Blockhead, and Orange Krush helper.

He is also involved with nearly every cheering section on campus.He plans on majoring in business administration and attending law school after graduation. Justin Volker (LAS) Justin Volker is an MIS student in the University of Illinois’ College of Business.He was chosen as a Natural Peer Helper by fellow classmates and teachers, and was able to attend a skill-building retreat to further abilities of listening to and aiding people in troubled times. He was the Vice-President of his National Honor Society chapter, and also served two terms as the Student Director on the Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors in his hometown.Prior to attending college he was selected as an Illinois State Scholar.Currently, he is a member on the Athletic Advisory Board and the Academic Progress and Eligibility Committee.

John Yu (ENGR) J.

John Yu is a junior in the College of Engineering majoring in Aerospace Engineering. He currently serves on the Senate Academic Freedom and Tenure Committee, the Student Discipline Committee and various other Vice Chancellor’s committees. As a director of Engineering Initiatives, John has worked closely with the Deans of the College of Engineering in improving the experience of engineering students during their tenures with UIUC. As a former high school athlete, John has learned the value of organizational skills and good sportsmanship.

Athletes at this great institution are required to balance the rigors of academia with the commitments of a demanding athletics program; John would like to serve on the Athletic Board to assist these student athletes in realizing their goals and to maintain a proud and thriving athletics program. John hopes his contributions will strengthen the collective spirit and identity UIUC sports bring to the Illini.