Irna Phillips, a 1923 UIUC graduate, was the first alumna to receive the Alumni Achievement Award. Known as the “mother of the soap opera,” she created the hit shows *As the World Turns* and *The Guiding Light* and helped develop several other popular soap operas.

Louise Dunbar earned her PhD in History in 1920 and joined the History faculty that same year, during a time when few women held such positions. She had a significant influence on campus, particularly in the History Department, and retired in 1962 after more than 40 years of teaching.

Louise Woodroofe attended U of I from 1913-1917 and returned in 1920 as an instructor in freehand drawing. She became a full Professor of Art in 1948 and was voted "Most Supportive Faculty Member" in 1978. Woodroofe influenced the Assembly Hall design and left a lasting legacy through the Louise M. Woodroofe Prize.

Maria Leonard became Dean of Women at UIUC in 1923, serving until 1945. She founded Alpha Lambda Delta in 1924 to recognize academic excellence among freshman women. A strong advocate for female students, Leonard played a key role in advancing opportunities for women on campus.

Pauline Chiang enrolled in the College of Commerce in 1922 as the first female Chinese student at the University. She was active in campus organizations, including the Woman’s Club, where she advocated for Native American welfare and spoke on the issue multiple times.

Fanny Cook Gates earned a PhD in Physics in 1909, showing that radioactivity isn't destroyed by heat or chemical reactions. In 1916, she became an Associate Professor and Dean of Women at the University of Illinois, organizing the first women's residence halls.

Violet DeLille Jayne was on the Council of Administration & the 1st Dean of Women at the University of Illinois. She played a vital role in the Daily Illini & the Woman's League. She helped create the 1st Women’s basketball team before any men’s basketball team was created.

Virginia Bartow earned her Master’s in 1921 and Ph.D. in 1923 in Chemistry. She began teaching at UIUC in 1925, became an Assistant Professor in 1939, and an Associate Professor in 1955. In 1976, she received honorary membership in Sigma Delta Epsilon for women in science.

Eleanor Frances Seiler earned her B.A. in 1913 and M.A. in 1914 from the University of Denver. In 1916, she obtained her second M.A. in physics from the University of Illinois. In 1922, she became the first woman to earn a PhD in physics at UIUC with a thesis on photoelectric cells. 

The Alma Mater Statue, built in 1916, is a beloved symbol on campus. Lorado Taft and Rolan Conklin envisioned it as a tribute to academic women and a foster mother figure for all students throughout history.