UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
In August, I was honored to be named the James Avery Endowed Chair in the College of Fine and Applied Arts. This prestigious appointment is a profound privilege, and I am deeply committed to stewarding this role. James Avery’s generous gift pays tribute to the esteemed former faculty member James Ross Shipley (1910-1990), who played a pivotal role in mentoring Avery during his time in the industrial design program at Illinois. Notably, Shipley retired as the Director of the Department of Art—now known as Art & Design—in 1977. I am grateful for the legacy of mentorship and excellence that this position represents.