New Gifts from Alumni Will Ignite Student Success
A Bequest to Enable Future Social Work Education Heading link
Michael A. Tyllas, PhD ’91, made a bequest to the college in conjunction with his spouse, Thomas E. Jones. Michael’s career has entailed extensive program management including overseeing work in federal government procurement, and in health care, facilities, information, and general management, as well as policy analysis. He recently shared these experiences with our current PhD students at the annual Doctoral Student and PhD Alumni Reception.
Reflecting on why he and Thomas made this decision, he said, “While our eventual careers followed very different paths, Tom’s in package design, brand marketing and management, and mine as a career federal civil servant, both he and I were privileged to learn in a setting with a culturally, socially, and economically diverse student body and faculty. Even as students, UIC’s special position as an excellent public learning institution in Chicago’s rich urban setting well-positioned us to explore many career opportunities. My PhD in Social Work from Jane Addams College of Social Work equipped me with the skills to analyze data, policies and organizations; to direct multi-disciplinary administrative and clinical programs including those in the areas of healthcare and social welfare. Our estate gift is an expression of our gratitude for all that UIC helped us attain personally and professionally. It’s our hope that it will enable future students to experience the benefits of a first-class education at UIC.”
An Endowed Fund for Students in School Social Work Heading link
Randy A. Fisher, MSW ’73, has established an endowed scholarship fund to support students in the School Social Work Specialization. “I want to strengthen the school social work program at Jane Addams by helping a student with the high costs of graduate education today,” says Randy.
Randy served 31 years as a school social worker for Mannheim School District #83 in Franklin Park, Il. He is the 2017 recipient of the Jane Addams Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award for his outstanding success and national and international distinction in the field of school social work. Randy began his volunteer leadership in 1976 in the Illinois Association of School Social Work (IASSW). Over the years, he held leadership positions and was the recipient of numerous awards from IASSW, and other organizations including the Midwest School Social Work Council and the School Social Work Association of America.