Lynda Irvin
“I’ve always felt strongly about giving people a helping hand. In my career, I saw first-hand how smart students just needed access to opportunities. It’s something I believe in wholeheartedly, providing opportunity to all. Illinois State is a wonderful institution that upholds this same democratic ideal. My hope is that the scholarship will create leaders who want to pay it forward by advocating for others.” -Lynda Irvin
Lynda Irvin comments on her decision to commit a $500,000 planned gift to the Irvin Family Scholarship Fund in the College of Education’s Department of Educational Administration and Foundation. The scholarship benefits doctoral candidates going into P-12 systems who are committed to social justice. Irvin held many jobs during her career, including teacher, principal, and superintendent, but it is the decade she spent working for Illinois State’s partnership with the Gates Foundation that she calls “the best 10 years of my life.” This affinity for Illinois State, coupled with a desire to promote equity within the field of education, made giving to Illinois State an easy decision.
