Alumni Awards and News
Alumni awards and news
Stay connected with the latest from Gies College of Business. Discover inspiring stories from our alumni community, celebrate those making a meaningful impact, and find out how you can stay engaged and informed.
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Alumni awards
Gies Business and the Gies Business Alumni Association (GBAA) proudly recognizes the outstanding achievements and contributions of our alumni and faculty. These awards celebrate those who exemplify excellence in their careers and communities.
Gies College of Business Awards
Gies Business has tens of thousands of exceptional alumni and friends who work every day to make the world a better place. The following awards are presented at the Spring Luncheon each year for outstanding career achievements and service to Gies Business.
Congratulations to our 2026 winners:
- Distinguished Alumnus Award - Donald J. Edwards, ‘88 FIN; Founder & Executive Chairman, Flexpoint Ford LLC
- Gies College of Business Alumni Impact Award - Jane Romweber Santogrossi, ‘75 ACCY; Partner, Meridian Compensation Partners, LLC (Retired)
GBAA Excellence-in-Teaching Award Recipients
Congratulations to the 2026 GBAA Excellence-in-Teaching Award Recipients:
- Sandra Corredor - Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching
- Xing Gao - Excellence in Graduate Teaching
- Chengyuan (Nicko) Wei - Excellence in Teaching for Teaching Assistants
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Alumni in the News
Stay up-to-date with the remarkable achievements of our alumni. Discover the latest news featuring their successes and contributions. Want to see more? Browse all alumni news.
MSF alum Reddic applies Gies-inspired learning approach to leadership role at Syracuse
Jul 29, 2026
Willie Reddic credits Gies Business with helping shape the resilience and hands on teaching philosophy that have defined his career. After overcoming significant academic challenges through persistence and mentorship, he earned a PhD and has risen into academic leadership.
University of Illinois launches campuswide Entrepreneurship Minor
Jul 22, 2026
For the first time ever, students from across the University of Illinois can now pursue an entrepreneurship minor. Beyond core courses from both Gies Business and Grainger Engineering, the minor allows students to choose from more than 70 elective courses from within their respective colleges to round out the minor.
Accountancy Alumni Business Administration Entrepreneurship Faculty Finance Student
A different kind of MBA, built for a different kind of career
Jul 14, 2026
Traditional MBA programs are facing growing pressure as AI reshapes hiring, salaries soften, and graduates take longer to find jobs. The Gies Business iMBA was built for this environment by focusing on experienced professionals who apply AI, analytics, and leadership skills directly at work while earning the degree.
Accountancy Alumni Business Administration Faculty Finance iMBA Student
Bridging the divide: 20 years of leading technology management at Gies Business
Jul 09, 2026
Celebrating its 20th anniversary, the Master of Science in Technology Management (MSTM) program at Gies Business continues to prepare professionals to bridge technology and business strategy.