Our department relies on the generous support of alumni and friends to provide the best possible learning and research environment for our students and faculty members.
Donor support allows us to:
- Offer scholarships to academically strong undergraduate and graduate students, as well as to those with financial need
- Recruit and retain the best faculty members
- Provide state-of-the-art facilities that house important research and teaching
- Provide learning and professional development opportunities for our students
Latina/Latino Studies Annual Fund
For student financial support, conferences, other events and activities sponsored by Latino Studies, and the current operations of the program
Your contribution, no matter what amount, will be very much appreciated.
Professor Edna Viruell-Fuentes Memorial Fund
The Professor Edna Viruell-Fuentes Memorial Fund honors our dear former colleague, who touched all within the Department until her untimely passing in 2020. To read more about Dr. Viruell-Fuentes, visit here. This fund will financially support Latinx students within LLS with unpaid internships, with assistance in presenting at conferences, and with scholarships for research in the field of Latino/a immigration. Dr. Viruell-Fuentes’ immigration experience shaped her research, and her impact to our Department can best be measured by the numerous students and colleagues who she impacted as a mentor, collaborator, and friend.
Professor Jorge Chapa Memorial Fund
The Professor Jorge Chapa Memorial Fund honors our beloved former colleague who greatly impacted the department, the university, the State of Illinois, and beyond until his untimely passing in 2015. Read more about Chapa here. This fund provides scholarships to Latina/Latino studies undergraduate majors and minors who embody his legacy. Chapa was a dynamic sociologist and public scholar who championed civil rights for all people, especially the most marginalized. He tirelessly supported the educational aspirations of marginalized students and activated his scholarship to create positive social change.
Ethnic, Gender, and Women’s Studies Building Fund
Ethnic, gender, and women's studies units at Illinois have played a pivotal role in building the university we are today—a collaborative, inclusive, and empowering community of scholars, educators, and learners working toward an informed and equitable future through an honest understanding of our past. As we look toward the future, these disciplines have never been more essential in advancing scholarship and educating future leaders to address society's challenges.
At present, the Departments of African American Studies, Asian American Studies, Gender & Women’s Studies, Latina/Latino Studies, and the Program in American Indian Studies are spread across outdated buildings that hinder their vital work in social justice and advocacy.
The construction of a new, modern building will bring these disciplines together under one roof. Co-locating these units will foster opportunities for idea exchange, collaboration, and community engagement—enhancing their academic, cultural, and social impact.