Stacy Brill (B.A. '08 Communication, Media and Theatre) has been chosen as a 2008-09 Diversifying Higher Education Faculty in Illinois (DFI) Fellow. She has been awarded $20,000 for the 2008-09 academic year, which she will use to continue her education by pursuing a master's degree in communication, media and theatre at NEIU.

As an undergraduate at NEIU, Brill was part of the McNair Scholars Program, which selects 12 students each year and works closely with them to ensure their successful completion of the baccalaureate degree and application and admission to graduate school. Brill also worked as associate producer of NEIU's "Vantage Point" radio show, which aired weekly on WTMX-FM 101.9 "The Mix" in Chicago.

The DFI award is funded by appropriations from the State of Illinois. The program's goal is to increase the number of underrepresented faculty and staff in Illinois institutions of higher education and higher education governing boards. According to the DFI program, a diverse faculty and student enrollment enhances the education of all students and better prepares students to work and live in an increasingly diverse world.

Upon graduation, DFI award recipients are expected to actively seek and accept teaching or non-teaching full-time appointments at Illinois post-secondary educational institutions for the same amount of time as their education was funded.