Main Luellen Laurenti Scholarship Dorothy E. Lee Scholarship Dorothy E. Lee Grant Women's and Gender Studies Achievement Award Susan T. Kern Special Opportunity Scholarship FundPEO Grant for Women Returning to College Anne M. Semlak Memorial Scholarship
The Susan T. Kern Special Opportunity Scholarship Fund was created in 2005 by Susan T. Kern. The purpose of this scholarship is to provide financial support to Illinois State University women students in support of one-time special academic or co-curricular opportunities. The scholarship was created by an $11,800 gift from Susan T. Kern to the Illinois State University Foundation.
Susan T. Kern enjoyed a distinguished career at Illinois State University retiring in 2005 as vice-president for university advancement and executive director of the Illinois State University Foundation. As such, she successfully managed the University’s $88 million comprehensive campaign and five operating units including Development, Alumni Services, Media Relations, University Marketing and Communications, and Events.
Prior to becoming vice-president, Dr. Kern served as the first female to hold both the University’s Executive Officer and Assistant to the President positions. During this time she managed a wide variety of operating units including intercollegiate athletics, internal auditing, community college relations, wellness program, community relations and federal relations including lobbying in Washington, D.C. She began her career in 1974 at Illinois State University as an assistant professor in home economics and rose to the rank of associate professor. She was a member of the Graduate Faculty, a distinguished researcher and patent holder.
Dr. Kern earned her bachelors’ degree from Indiana University and her master’s and doctorate degrees from Purdue University. She was also a Harvard Fellow at the prestigious Institute for Educational Management. Her husband, Stephen, earned his MBA degree from Illinois State University.
Throughout her academic and administrative career, Dr. Kern exhibited a special interest in issues that affected the academic opportunities for women. She held numerous elected and appointed offices on community-wide boards, often being the first or only female member during her tenure. Dr. Kern was state chairperson of the American Council on Education’s National Identification Program for Women and a member of the national executive committee for more than 10 years. She served as mentor to numerous women at the University and in the community.
Each candidate for the Susan T. Kern Special Opportunity Scholarship must meet the following requirements:
Undergraduate Students:
Graduate Students
At such time as the Susan T. Kern Special Opportunity Scholarship Fund is established, responsibilities for the selection of scholarship recipients and distribution of scholarship awards will be assigned to the Vice-President of Student Affairs at Illinois State University.
Eleven Susan T. Kern Special Opportunity Scholarships will be awarded, as the need arises. Each award will be for a minimum $1000.
The donor would like to meet with each recipient following her use of the funds to learn how the scholarship enhanced her education.
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