David Dodds Henry Lecture Series

Robert J. Jones

President, University of Washington

Robert J. Jones became the 34th president of the University of Washington in August 2025 and holds a faculty position in the Department of Biology. A distinguished crop physiology and seasoned university leader, Jones previously served as chancellor of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign for nine years, and before that, as president of The University at Albany (SUNY Albany). Prior to his administrative leadership roles, he spent over 34 years as a member of the faculty and senior administrator at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities.

At Illinois, Jones launched the world’s first engineering-based medical school and expanded access to a college degree through scholarships like the Illinois Commitment and led a $2.7 billion fundraising campaign. Under his leadership, enrollment grew by 25 percent. Jones also launched radical research partnerships and initiatives in quantum computing, bioprocessing and precision fermentation and the inflammatory states that underly many human diseases.

Jones has served as a leader in numerous national academic organizations, including as chair of the boards of the Association of American Universities (AAU), the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU), and the Big Ten Council of Presidents and Chancellors. A Georgia native and first-generation college student, he holds degrees in agronomy and crop physiology from Fort Valley State, the University of Georgia, and the University of Missouri.

Stephanie Banchero

Education & Economic Mobility Program Director, The Joyce Foundation

Stephanie Banchero is the Director of the Education & Economic Mobility program at the Joyce Foundation in Chicago. The program seeks to close income and race disparities in college and career success through equitable access to high-quality education. It invests in local, state and federal policies that aim to ensure historically underserved young people have diverse and effective educators, graduate high school with academic and career momentum, and attain affordable college credentials with economic value. The Program invests in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, and Ohio, as well as at the federal level and in Chicago.

Before coming to Joyce, Stephanie was national education reporter for the Wall Street Journal and, before that, spent 13 years covering K-12 education for the Chicago Tribune. Her nationally recognized reporting has received first-place awards from the National Education Writers Association and the Missouri School of Journalism. She also received the Harry Chapin Media Award and an honorable mention from the Casey Journalism Center on Children and Families. She was awarded a prestigious one-year Knight Fellowship in journalism at Stanford University. Stephanie holds a bachelor’s degree in Communications from the University of Utah and a master’s degree in Journalism from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. She completed a one-year Knight Journalism Fellowship at Stanford. She is a past president of the National Education Writers Association and is a member of the Spencer Education Journalism Fellowship Board.

Rafael L. Bras

K. Harrison Brown Family Chair and Regents Professor, Georgia Institute of Technology

Prior to becoming provost, Dr. Bras was Distinguished Professor and Dean of the Henry Samueli School of Engineering of the University of California, Irvine. For 32 years prior to joining UCI, he was a professor in the departments of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences at MIT. He is past Chair of the MIT Faculty, former head of the Civil and Environmental Engineering department and Director of the Ralph M Parsons Laboratory at MIT. He has served as advisor to many government and private institutions. Some of the most significant ones include: Advisory Board, Engineering Directorate, NSF; Board of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate, National Research Council; Chairman, Earth Systems Sciences and Applications Committee of NASA and the NASA Advisory Committee; National Academy of Sciences Committee on New Orleans Regional Hurricane Protection Projects; Advisory to departments at Cornell university, Princeton university, Johns Hopkins, Technion, RPI, University of Puerto Rico; University of California-Irvine; Fundacion Chile; Instituto Veneto; Stockholm Water Foundation and Prize; Clarke prize. He is a director of the American Geophysical Union and a former member of the UCI Foundation. Dr. Bras has been very active in several professional organizations.

He is past president of the Hydrology section of AGU and is presently a member of its Board of Directors. Dr. Bras has received many honors and awards. These include: honorary degree for the University of Perugia, Italy, Hispanic Engineer National Achievement Award Hall of Fame member, NASA Public Service Medal, the Macelwane Medal of AGU, John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship, the Athalie Richardson Irvine Clarke Prize, Simon W. Freese Environmental Engineering Award, Honorary Diplomate of Water Resources Engineering of the American Academy of Water Resources Engineers, Horton Medal of AGU, AGU Hydrology Days Award, and Drexel University’s 2010 Anthony J. Drexel Exceptional Achievement. He is an elected member of the US National Academy of Engineering, the Academy of Arts and Sciences of Puerto Rico, and corresponding member of the Mexican National Academy of Engineering. He is also an elected Fellow of AGU, ASCE, AMS and AAAS.

Dr. Bras maintains an active international consulting practice. Presently he chairs a panel of experts that supervises the design and construction of a multibillion-dollar project to protect the City of Venice from floods. Dr. Bras has published two textbooks, over 180 refereed journal publications, and several hundred other publications and presentations.

Lynn Fisher

Professor of Anthropology, University of Illinois Springfield

Lynn Fisher is professor of anthropology at the University of Illinois Springfield (UIS), chair of the UIS Campus Senate, and a member of the University of Illinois Senates Conference. She has served as chair of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology and is a Research Associate at the Illinois State Museum. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of Michigan. Her archaeological fieldwork focuses on cultural landscapes of early farming communities in what is now southern Germany. Fisher’s research has been supported by the National Science Foundation, the Fulbright Program, and a Mercator Fellowship at the University of Kiel, Germany. A recipient of the University Scholar Award and UIS Faculty Excellence Award, Fisher engages students, international colleagues, and community members in her research. At UIS, she co-chairs the Chancellor’s Committee on Belonging, Dignity, and Justice, and is currently serving on the Steering Committee for the UIS 2027-2028 Higher Learning Commission reaffirmation of accreditation process. Locally, she has served on the Illinois State Museum Society Board.

Thomas Gibson

Chancellor, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Thomas Gibson has served as chancellor of UW-Milwaukee since July of 2025. Previously, he served as chancellor of UW-Stevens Point from 2021 to 2025 and as a professor in the School of Education. Prior to that, he served as vice president for student affairs and vice provost at Bowling Green State University, associate vice president for student affairs at Ball State University and associate dean of student development at York College. He holds a bachelor’s degree in mass communication from Eastern Connecticut State University, a master’s in education from the University of New Haven and a doctorate in educational leadership in higher education administration from Johnson & Wales University.

Charles L. Isbell, Jr.

Chancellor, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Charles L. Isbell, Jr. is the 11th Chancellor of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He is a computationalist, researcher and an award-winning teacher who has been recognized internationally for his work in providing high-quality, accessible education at scale. His research has focused on artificial intelligence and machine learning, with an emphasis on how those systems interact with humans in responsible and inclusive ways.

Isbell completed his undergraduate studies at Georgia Tech and holds a Ph.D. from MIT. He previously worked for AT&T Labs/Research, was dean of the College of Computing at Georgia Tech and Provost at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Though born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Isbell’s earliest memory is arriving in Atlanta on a moving truck, so he thinks of himself as being from Atlanta. He and wife, Sheila D. Isbell, are parents to daughter Joni and son Cody.

Timothy L. Killeen

President, University of Illinois System

Timothy L. Killeen is the 20th president of the University of Illinois System, which includes universities in Urbana-Champaign, Chicago and Springfield. He took office in May 2015.

Since taking office, Killeen has helped lead a surge of growth across the state’s flagship university system. Enrollment is at record highs, including increases among in-state and underrepresented students.

A leading researcher in geophysics and space sciences, Killeen champions efforts to expand research discovery that drives progress and job creation. That includes helping lead the creation of the Discovery Partners Institute, a world-class research, technology talent development and business-building center in downtown Chicago, and Illinois Innovation Network, a system of satellite hubs that combine research, public-private partnerships, entrepreneurship and workforce training to spur inclusive economic development across the state.

Killeen was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2007, and is a member and past president of the American Geophysical Union.

A native of Wales and a U.S. citizen, Killeen received his bachelor’s degree in physics and astronomy at University College London, where he also earned his doctoral degree in atomic and molecular physics.

Angela Lyons

Professor of Agricultural and Consumer Economics, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Angela Lyons is a Professor in the Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics and a Faculty Fellow at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Her deep commitment to shared governance spans more than 16 years of Senate service, including through the state budget crisis and the pandemic.  She currently serves as Chair of the Urbana Senate Executive Committee and on the Executive Committee of the University Senates Conference. She also serves on the Chancellor’s Strategic Planning Committee, the Chancellor’s Sustainability Council, the Provost’s Boldly Illinois Steering Committee, and the President’s Advisory Council. An internationally recognized thought leader in higher education, Dr. Lyons brings over two decades of experience building research programs at the intersection of economics, data science, public policy, and global development. To date, she has partnered with organizations in more than 40 countries and has served under five G20 Presidencies through the T20 (Think20), the research and policy advice network of the G20 countries, contributing to the global advancement of the future of work and education in the digital age. Her broad leadership across campus, systemwide, and globally brings an institutional perspective well-suited to assist the University of Illinois in identifying future priorities and leadership needs. Dr. Lyons earned her Ph.D. in Economics from The University of Texas at Austin.

Shirley Malcom

Senior Advisor and Director of SEA Change, American Association for the Advancement of Science

Shirley Malcom is senior advisor and director of SEA Change at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). In more than 45 years at AAAS she has worked to improve the quality and increase access to education and careers in STEMM for all.

Dr. Malcom is a trustee of Caltech and regent of Morgan State University. She was a member of the National Science Board, policymaking body of the NSF, and served on President Clinton’s Committee of Advisors on Science and Technology. Malcom, a native of Birmingham, Alabama, holds a PhD in ecology from Penn State, and M.A. from UCLA and B.S with Distinction from the University of Washington, both in zoology. She is a fellow of the AAAS and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences where she serves as International Secretary. She has received 19 honorary degrees.

Malcom was co-chair of the Gender Advisory Board of the UN Commission on Science and Technology for Development and co-chair of Gender InSITE, an international collaboration to support application of a gender lens in policymaking in science, technology and innovation. She serves on the boards of the Heinz Endowments and Kavli Foundation. She chairs the board of the National Math-Science Initiative. In 2003, Malcom received the Public Welfare Medal of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, the highest award given by the Academy.

Na’ilah Suad Nasir

President, Spencer Foundation

Na’ilah Suad Nasir is the sixth President of the Spencer Foundation, which funds education research nationally. Prior to joining Spencer, she held a faculty appointment in Education and African American Studies at the University of California, Berkeley where she also served as the chair of African American Studies, then later as the Vice Chancellor for Equity and Inclusion. Her scholarship focuses on race, culture, and learning, and how what we know about learning has implications for how we design schools for equity. In her foundation work, she has worked to bring a deep equity lens to grantmaking and has spearheaded innovative funding opportunities rooted in the promise of research to support more equitable education systems.

She is a member of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences and the National Academy of Education and is a Fellow of the American Educational Research Association. She is a Past President of the American Educational Research Association and serves on the board of Sage Publications, the National Equity Project, and the UC Berkeley Board of Visitors.

Adrienne Nazon

Vice President of External Relations and Communications, University of Illinois System

Adrienne Nazon is the vice president of External Relations and Communications for the University of Illinois System, leading systemwide efforts to strengthen the institution’s brand, reputation, and strategic priorities. She oversees communications, marketing, public affairs, advocacy, and government relations across the three-university system, building broad understanding, engagement, and support among key stakeholders.

Before joining the U of I System, Nazon served as vice president of marketing and chief marketing officer at The Ohio State University, where she led enterprise-wide marketing and communications for this major land grant, research-intensive institution. She modernized OSU’s marketing organization and guided a comprehensive rebranding effort, advising leaders across the university on strategy and planning.

Previously, she was executive director of marketing at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, where she built an integrated global marketing and communications function for one of the world’s top business schools. Nazon’s earlier career spans more than two decades in marketing leadership roles across major consumer and business brands, including Diageo, Quaker Oats/Pepsi, and Kraft Foods, as well as experience in IT, engineering, sales, and consulting. She holds a bachelor’s degree in computer system engineering from Howard University and an MBA from the University of Chicago.

Jesse H. Ruiz

Chair, University of Illinois Board of Trustees

Jesse Ruiz is a Partner, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer of The Vistria Group, LP, a next generation private investment firm focused on investing in middle market companies and delivering both financial returns and societal impact. Prior to joining Vistria, Jesse was the Deputy Governor for Education in Illinois Governor JB Pritzker’s administration, overseeing the state’s education system from early childhood through higher education, as well as the Illinois Student Assistance Commission and the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. Jesse was also legal counsel to Governor Pritzker’s transition committee.

Before joining the Pritzker administration, Jesse was a partner in the Corporate & Securities Group of Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP (n/k/a Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP). For 22 years at the firm, Jesse focused his practice on middle-market mergers and acquisitions and commercial transactions. Throughout his legal career, Jesse has also dedicated time to public service. He served as President of the Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners, Commissioner on the Public Building Commission, Vice President of the Chicago Board of Education, Interim CEO of Chicago Public Schools, Chairman of the Illinois State Board of Education, Commissioner on the U.S. Department of Education Equity and Excellence Commission, Commissioner on the Illinois Supreme Court Character and Fitness Committee, and Commissioner on the Chicago Public Schools Desegregation Monitoring Commission. Jesse received his JD from the University of Chicago Law School, where he served as an editor of the University of Chicago Law School Roundtable, received the Ann Watson Barber Outstanding Service Award, and studied under then-professors Barack Obama and Elena Kagan. He is currently a Lecturer in Law at the University of Chicago Law School, teaching a course in Negotiations. He received his Bachelor of Arts in economics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Juan Salgado

Chancellor, City Colleges of Chicago

Chancellor Juan Salgado has focused his career on improving education and economic opportunities for residents in low-income communities. As Chancellor of City Colleges of Chicago, he oversees Chicago's community college system, serving more than 73,000 students across seven colleges, more than three-quarters of whom are Black or Latine students.

Under his leadership, City Colleges of Chicago has achieved a post-pandemic enrollment recovery surpassing state and national averages, increased four-year student outcomes to the highest on record, launched an unprecedented systems-level partnership with the Chicago Public Schools, serves as a go to workforce partner across the region and state, has expanded relationships with four-year universities, seen exponential growth of a nationally-recognized engineering program, eliminated a legacy structural deficit, and re-energized fundraising contributing to historic investments in student supports, among other accomplishments.

From 2001 to 2017, he served as CEO of Instituto del Progreso Latino, where he worked to empower residents of Chicago’s Southwest Side through education, citizenship, and skill-building programs that led to sustainable employment and economic stability.

Chancellor Salgado is a community college graduate himself, earning an associate degree from Moraine Valley Community College, prior to earning a Bachelor’s degree from Illinois Wesleyan University, and a Master’s degree in Urban Planning from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, with honorary degrees from DePaul University and University of Illinois at Chicago. Chancellor Salgado has been nationally recognized for his work, including as a 2015 MacArthur Fellow. Among his civic commitments, he serves as board chair of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, a board member of the Obama Foundation and a Class C Director for the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.

Ruth V. Watkins

President of Postsecondary Education, Strada Education Foundation

Ruth V. Watkins is Strada’s president of postsecondary education, where she leads Strada Education Foundation’s collaboration with postsecondary education institutions and nonprofit organizations to help advance an ecosystem that provides more equitable pathways to prosperity for more people.

Before joining Strada in 2021, Watkins built a strong reputation for supporting student success as the 16th president of the University of Utah. In that role, she increased degree completion rates and research funding, established innovative student funding models, and built strong partnerships with community stakeholders. Uniting the campus as “One U,” Watkins and her team drove innovation in research, education, and operational efficiency, and addressed major societal challenges, including in mental health and interpersonal violence.

B. Joseph White

President Emeritus, University of Illinois System; Dean Emeritus, University of Michigan

B. Joseph (Joe) White is president emeritus and professor emeritus of the University of Illinois and dean emeritus and professor emeritus of the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan, where he also served as interim president. 

Joe is the author of The Nature of Leadership (2007) and Boards That Excel (2014).  He has practiced and taught, as well as written, spoken and advised on leadership and management, corporate governance, higher education, and human capital development.

Joe is an advisor to TCCI, a global manufacturing company headquartered in Decatur IL and its owners, the Demirjian family.  He is a director of Cozad Asset Management in Champaign. He is a director of the 1897 Limited Partnership and chair of the investment committee of Apogee Resources LLC, investment entities controlled by the Gordon family of Grand Rapids MI.  He is a member of the advisory board of Eenhoorn LLC, a real estate company headquartered in Grand Rapids MI. 

Joe was a director and family advisor for 35 years of Gordon Food Service, one of America’s largest private companies.  He was a trustee of Equity Residential, an S&P 500 company chaired by Sam Zell, and of Kelly Services, the founding firm of the staffing industry, both for more than 20 years.  He was a senior executive of Cummins Inc. and served as interim head of Fred Alger Management Inc. after the firm’s offices in the World Trade Center were destroyed on 9/11. 

Joe earned his bachelor's degree at the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service, an MBA at Harvard University, and a doctorate in business administration at the University of Michigan.

Donald J. Wink

Professor of Chemistry, University of Illinois Chicago

Donald J. Wink is LAS Distinguished Professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Illinois Chicago and is associated faculty in the Learning Sciences. His research is in the areas of curriculum, professional development, and research in chemistry education and preservice / in-service K-12 settings. He and his colleagues also have had several grants associated with scholarship, fellowship, and traineeship support at the undergraduate and graduate level. These build on his original training as an organometallic chemist, including current collaborative work in crystallography. This work has been supported by funding from the NSF, NIH, foundations, the State of Illinois, and Chicago Public Schools.

He is author or co-author on more than 50 publications in education and learning sciences and 80 in molecular work. He received the University Scholar Award from the University of Illinois and the George C. Pimentel Award in Chemical Education from the American Chemical Society (ACS). He is a Fellow of the ACS, where he has served as a member on the Society Committee on Education, the Committee on Chemistry and Public Affairs and as an associate on the Committee on Budget and Finance.

He is a member of the UIC Senate Executive Committee (SEC), the University of Illinois' University Senates Conference, and the Executive Committee of the Discovery Partners Institute.