Ali Riaz, Distinguished Professor in the Department of Politics and Government at Illinois State University, has been installed as the inaugural recipient of the Thomas E. Eimermann Professorship. The ceremony to induct Riaz took place on Thursday, April 25, 2019.
Riaz joined the faculty in the Department of Politics and Government in 2002 as an Assistant Professor and has held many roles in the University including Distinguished Professor, University Professor, and department chair.
“Ali is an exemplary choice for this endowment,” said Professor and Department Chair in the Department of Politics and Government T Y Wang. “His outstanding scholarship and dedication to ISU in addition to his impressive studies on seminaries in Bangladesh have served as strong evidence as to why he is deserving of this professorship.”
The professorship was created through funds donated by David Crumbaugh, an ISU political science graduate of 1973. The gift honors his former Illinois State Politics and Government Professor Thomas Eimermann. In addition to teaching law-related classes for 38 years, Eimermann also served as ISU’s first pre-law advisor, founded and directed the mock trial program, and was chair of the Political Science Department from 1992 to 1998.
“David has certainly been one of the most outstanding students I have had the pleasure of working with, not only as a student but as a positive influence to the campus all of these years after graduation. Coming back as an alum to give speeches and provide advice to our pre-law students as well as contributing to the pre-law center has been an incredible gift to the University. I am honored to have a professorship recognized in my name and am excited to see how the funds will benefit the Department of Politics and Government,” said Eimermann.
The inaugural Thomas E. Eimermann professorship was awarded to Riaz for the years 2018 to 2020. During the professorship induction, Riaz expressed an immense amount of gratitude, “I am truly honored today to be named with the first professorship awarded in the College of Arts and Sciences. It is a humbling experience for me to have the opportunity to be associated with the name of Dr. Eimermann who has served as a role model for me,” stated Riaz. “I have also had the pleasure to work closely with David Crumbaugh. His commitment to ISU has remained a constant inspiration during my career. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for establishing this professorship.”
In honor of all involved for this professorship, Crumbaugh, Eimermann, and Riaz were each awarded an engraved medallion to commemorate the inaugural ceremony. The medallions were personally created by Randy Reid, associate professor in the College of Fine Arts.
The fund will be used to help support future research, hire research graduate assistants, and help retain the best and brightest faculty in the Department of Politics and Government.
Professorships like this provide the tools needed to foster faculty excellence. The Thomas E. Eimermann Professorship contributes to faculty scholarship, one of the three pillars of Redbirds Rising: The Campaign for Illinois State. To see how you can join the over 50,000 campaign donors and make a difference like David Crumbaugh, please visit RedbirdsRising.IllinoisState.edu
