Illinois Higher Education Equity Symposium

Derek Hoiem is a Professor in the Siebel School of Computing and Data Science at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where he is active in AI teaching, research, entrepreneurship, and administration. Most recently, he has been leading efforts to develop a comprehensive plan for AI education and to enable AI readiness across the state, with roles including Associate Director for AI Strategy and Programs in the Siebel School, Grainger Dean's Fellow for AI Education, and chair/co-chair of the AI curriculum task forces for The Grainger College of Engineering and the Urbana-Champaign campus. An IEEE Fellow, his research investigates how to create systems that continue to improve and are physically intelligent; awards include a Sloan Research Fellowship, the IEEE PAMI Young Researcher Award, and best paper awards. Prof. Hoiem is also co-founder and Chief Science Officer of Reconstruct, which provides construction stakeholders with an AI-based Visual Command Center for timely access to project information.

Dr. Kamau Bobb is the founding Senior Director of the Constellations Center for Education in Computing at Georgia Tech. An engineer and science and technology policy scholar, his work focuses on STEM education, large educational systems, technology, and the structural conditions that shape contemporary American life.

Prior to his leadership at Georgia Tech, Dr. Bobb served as Director of STEM Education Strategy and Research at Google and as a Program Officer at the National Science Foundation within the Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering. During his federal service, he served on President Barack Obama’s My Brother’s Keeper (MBK) STEM Taskforce. He previously directed the STEM Initiative for the University System of Georgia.

Dr. Bobb earned a Ph.D. in Science and Technology Policy from Georgia Tech, as well as M.S. and B.S. degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley. His career reflects a longstanding commitment to expanding access to computing and STEM education and examining how technology can contribute to greater educational opportunity and equity.

Dr. Bobb is also the author of The Bullwhip’s Algorithm: Artificial Intelligence and America’s Racial Caste System, forthcoming from Beacon Press on October 20, 2026. The book examines the intersection of artificial intelligence, education, race, technology, and equity, asking critical questions about how AI may reshape American education and whether emerging technologies can truly advance educational opportunity.

Through his scholarship, leadership, and public engagement, Dr. Bobb brings an important perspective to conversations about the future of computing, education, artificial intelligence, and equity.

Sarah Lewis, Ph.D.

Sarah Lewis is the John L. Loeb Associate Professor of the Humanities and Associate Professor of African and African American Studies at Harvard University. She is the founder of Vision & Justice, a leading publishing and research initiative that serves as a key organizer, partner, and resource for artists, scholars, and leaders seeking to examine the foundational role of visual culture in America’s representational democracy. Lewis is also known for her landmark work on creativity and the gift of failure for innovation.
She has authored and edited over 60 publications including the award-winning book, The Unseen Truth: When Race Changed Sight in America (Harvard University Press, 2024); the bestseller, The Rise: Creativity, the Gift of Failure, and the Search for Mastery (Simon & Schuster, 2014); and the award-winning volumes Carrie Mae Weems (MIT Press, 2021) and “Vision & Justice” (Aperture, 2016), taught widely in universities in the United States and abroad and made required reading for incoming first-year students at New York University Tisch School of the Arts.
A frequent speaker at universities and conferences, her mainstage TED talk, Embrace the Near Win, has received 3.1 million views. She has delivered keynotes, talks and commencement addresses for many universities and organizations. As founder of Vision & Justice, Lewis has organized landmark convenings and founded a Vision & Justice Book Series, launched in partnership with Aperture. Her writing has been published in the New Yorker, The New York Times, Artforum, and the New York Review of Books, and her work has been the subject of profiles from Vogue to The Boston Globe to The New York Times.
Lewis’s awards and recognition include the American Book Award (2025) for The Unseen Truth, the Walter Channing Cabot Fellowship at Harvard University (2025), the Andrew Carnegie Fellowship (2022), the Arthur Danto/ASA Prize from the American Philosophical Association (2022), the Freedom Scholar Award from the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (2019), and the Infinity Award for Critical Writing and Research from the International Center of Photography (2017). She has received an honorary degree from Pratt Institute (2024) and was also asked to deliver the commencement address for Pratt Institute that year at Radio City Music Hall, following other commencement addresses for Capella University (2021) and Yale University School of Art (2019).
Before joining the faculty at Harvard, Lewis held curatorial positions at The Museum of Modern Art, New York and the Tate Modern, London. She also served as a Critic at Yale University School of Art. Lewis currently serves on the boards of Thames & Hudson Inc., Creative Time, and Civil War History journal and served on the Yale Corporation Committee on Honorary Degrees. Her research has received grants ranging from the Ford Foundation to the Whiting Foundation, and the Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center for Scholars and Writers at the New York Public Library.
Lewis received her bachelor’s degree from Harvard University, an M. Phil from Oxford University, an M.A. from Courtauld Institute of Art, and her Ph.D. from Yale University. She lives in Cambridge, MA.

Dr. Terrance Jordan is a lifelong educator with nearly 23 years of service in Springfield Public Schools District 186. A native of Lexington, Mississippi, he is a graduate of Jacob J. McClain High School and holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Mississippi Valley State University.
Dr. Jordan began his career in District 186 as a kindergarten teaching assistant, an experience that ignited his passion for education and student success. He later served as a library media specialist and parent educator before earning his elementary teaching certificate from the University of Illinois at Springfield. Dr. Jordan has taught first and third grade, where his instructional excellence earned him the Horace Mann Rising Star Teaching Award.
Motivated to broaden his impact, Dr. Jordan earned a master’s degree in Educational Leadership and a post-master’s certificate in Educational Law. He served as guidance dean at Washington Middle School before being appointed principal of Black Hawk Elementary School, where he served for seven years. As principal, he focused on fostering a family-centered school culture, expanding mentoring opportunities, and strengthening community partnerships. His leadership was recognized with the Springfield Public Schools District 186 Administrator of the Year award and the Illinois State Board of Education Award of Excellence.
Dr. Jordan has held several district-level leadership roles, including Director of School Leadership and Family and Community Engagement. He currently serves as Assistant Superintendent of Family, Community, and School Leadership. He holds a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from Saint Louis University.
Beyond his professional responsibilities, Dr. Jordan is deeply engaged in the Springfield community. He has served as a youth coach and board member for numerous civic and nonprofit organizations, including the Springfield YMCA, Springfield Art Association, Memorial Behavioral Health, United Way of Central Illinois, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Sangamon CEO, and Springfield Ball Charter School. He is a graduate of the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Springfield program and serves on the Heartland Continuum of Care Youth Homelessness Task Group, the Community Health Roundtable, and the Faith Coalition for the Common Good Education Task Force. He is also a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
Dr. Jordan’s recognitions include the Springfield Business Journal 40 Under 40, the MacArthur Boulevard Association Excellence in Education Award, University of Illinois Springfield Good as Gold Volunteer Award finalist, Parent Place Champion for Children Award, Springfield Art Association Outstanding Community Arts Advocate, and the Springfield Lincoln Library Dedication and Excellence in Community Contributions Award.
Dr. Jordan is the husband of Ashley Jenkins-Jordan and the father of Markayla Jordan. Guided by a leadership philosophy rooted in kindness, integrity, and service, he remains committed to ensuring every student has access to a high-quality education, meaningful relationships, and the support needed to succeed.

Dr. Curt Oldfield is President of Lincoln Land Community College, bringing nearly 14 years of experience as President of Spoon River College and more than two decades of leadership in Illinois community colleges. Throughout his career, Dr. Oldfield has demonstrated a strong commitment to student success, workforce development, community engagement, and regional economic development.

Under his leadership at Spoon River College, Dr. Oldfield focused on increasing student retention, expanding workforce development opportunities, and building strategic partnerships that strengthened the college’s connection to the communities it serves. His career reflects a deep belief in the transformative role of community colleges in creating educational and economic opportunity.

Dr. Oldfield began his career in education as an agriculture teacher at Roseville High School, where he also advised the FFA chapter and coached football and basketball. He later joined Spoon River College as a full-time agriculture faculty member and advanced to dean of instruction. He subsequently served as Vice President of Instruction at Northeast Iowa Community College before returning to Spoon River College as President.

Dr. Oldfield is a fellow of the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program and has served on the Commission on Student Success for the American Association of Community Colleges. His leadership and advocacy have been recognized with the Illinois Community College Trustees Association Advocacy Award. He was also named a Top 10 finalist in the Aspen Institute’s Community College Excellence Program and previously served as chair of the Illinois Council of Community College Presidents.

Dr. Oldfield earned his doctoral degree from Ferris State University, a master’s degree from the University of Illinois, and a bachelor’s degree from Illinois State University. His educational journey began at Spoon River College, where he earned his associate degree.

As President of Lincoln Land Community College, Dr. Oldfield brings extensive community college leadership experience and a longstanding commitment to ensuring students have access to high-quality education, career opportunities, and the resources needed to succeed.

Having worked in higher education for over 25 years, Dr. Dan Mahony has served in roles from professor to president. He is a respected, consultative leader who has demonstrated the ability to bring a community together around shared goals which is why he was chosen to be the 10th President of Southern Illinois University beginning in March 2020.

Originally from Clinton, New Jersey, Dr. Mahony earned a B.S. in accounting from Virginia Tech, an M.S. in sport management from West Virginia University, and a Ph.D. in sport management from Ohio State University. He and his wife Laura have two children, Gavin and Elena.

Before his academic career, Dr. Mahony worked in both public accounting and intercollegiate athletics. He is an active researcher in the areas of sport consumer behavior and intercollegiate athletics.

Dr. Mahony has received many awards for his work. Most recently, he was the 2020 recipient of the Charles Whitcomb Service Award given by the Minority Opportunities Athletic Association (MOAA) which recognizes individuals who foster diversity and inclusion within the intercollegiate athletics community. 

AI Panel

President's Panel

Legislative Panel

Spoken Word/Creative Expression Session