Women’s History Month is drawing to a close soon, and it seems appropriate to dedicate an article to women alumni of the University of Illinois Springfield who have shattered glass ceilings locally, nationally and globally. The individuals highlighted in this article represent only a fraction of women alumni but are in roles that often are difficult for women to work within.
American political commentator Dana Perino obtained her master’s degree in public affairs reporting from the UIS, going on to serve as the White House Deputy Press Secretary under George W Bush from 2005-2007. Perino would additionally serve during George W Bush’s second term as the 26th White House Press Secretary from 2007-2009. Under former President Barack Obama, Perino was nominated to serve on the Broadcasting Board of Governors and has authored several books. Perino currently hosts Perino on Politics on FOX News Radio, focusing on the 2024 Presidential Election.
Alumni Priyanka Deo Jain now works as the Assistant Director of Media Strategy at the University of Illinois Springfield, where she received her bachelor’s in political science and Sociology in 2010. Her accomplishments are numerous, spearheading public relations, government affairs and communications as the Chief Operating Officer at The Times of India Group, located in New Delhi, India. Deo Jain received the Devrishi Narad Journalism Award, the highest journalism honor in India, in 2022 and still lends her voice and talents to major media outlets throughout India.
United States Representative of Illinois Cheri Bustos has served in that role from 2013-2023, as a member of the Democratic party. Cheri Bustos was the first woman elected to Congress from the 17th Congressional District. Bustos holds a master’s degree in journalism from the UIS and was the first Democrat to represent a large portion of the Peoria area. Bustos was nominated by House Speaker Nany Pelosi to co-chair the House Democratic Steering Committee, following Bustos having served as the 2020 Chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
The first female Police Officer of the Year in the Peoria Police Department, Elizabeth Blair holds a bachelor’s degree in social justice professions and a master’s degree in criminal justice instruction from our campus. Blair was vice president of the Student Senate in 1995, when Sangamon State University was in the process of transitioning to become University of Illinois Springfield. Blair served on the Peoria Police Department in various roles, though her last one was as a patrol officer. She also taught at the University of Illinois Springfield Peoria Campus part-time.
The women represented here are only a fraction of individuals who graduated from the University of Illinois Springfield campus and have gone on to accomplish great things in various career fields. If you’re interested in having your success story shared as an alumni of the University of Illinois Springfield campus, or its former identity as Sangamon State University, please reach out to Danielle Webster at [email protected].
