Illinois State recently received a $1 million gift commitment from Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (ADM) that will advance the University’s new College of Engineering.
The transformational gift will establish scholarships, support registered student organizations that promote diversity and belonging, and provide funding for faculty and undergraduate research. ADM has also committed funding for laboratory equipment, technology, and software.
“We are incredibly grateful for ADM’s generosity, which will provide critical support to our students, faculty, and innovative research,” said Illinois State University President Aondover Tarhule. “This investment not only strengthens our College of Engineering but also helps enhance our commitment to providing access to high-quality education. Through ADM’s partnership, we will continue shaping and preparing the workforce of tomorrow.”
ADM’s commitment will establish the Archer-Daniels-Midland Company College of Engineering Scholars Fund. The scholarship aims to recruit undergraduates from central and eastern counties of Illinois who demonstrate a commitment to equity, access, and inclusion.
ADM also seeks to recruit and retain high-caliber faculty through the Archer-Daniels-Midland Company College of Engineering Faculty Fellowship Fund, which will provide financial resources for two faculty annually for research, data, conferences, and equipment.
“We are immensely grateful for ADM’s belief in the University’s ability to develop talent and generate industry-advancing research,” said College of Engineering Dean Thomas Keyser. “We look forward to a long-term partnership with ADM and appreciate the knowledge sharing and opportunities this investment will provide for our students and the communities we serve.”
“At ADM, we believe in the transformative power of education and the critical role engineering plays in driving progress across multiple industries,” said ADM Senior Vice President of Global Operations Dermot O’Grady. “We are thrilled to provide this gift to the Illinois State University College of Engineering and to support a program that will shape the next wave of innovative thinkers and empower future generations of engineering excellence.”
The Illinois Board of Higher Education approved Illinois State’s proposal for the College of Engineering in 2022. The University has since hired key administrative and faculty roles and purchased property to serve as the college’s future home. The College of Engineering will welcome its first students in the fall of 2025.
To learn more, visit Illinois State University College of Engineering. For information about ways to advance engineering studies at Illinois State University, contact Joni Staley, director of corporate and foundation philanthropy, at (309) 438-7735 or jstale2@IllinoisState.edu.
