Alumni Spotlight

 

Dani Creasey, BS '19 SOC

It is my sincere pleasure to be contributing-even in a small way-to a program that means that the absolute world to me. In addition to my BS in Sociology, I also minored in Anthropology and Women’s and Gender Studies during my time at Illinois State.

My time in this program cemented my passion for service, which has been the guiding principle as I strive to remember not just the ‘what’ of my work, but the ‘who’ as well. Upon graduating, I moved to Milwaukee where I completed a term of service with AmeriCorps supporting first generation and low-income students. Then it was off to navigating my professional life in the very strange, difficult time of COVID shutdowns. I ultimately ended up taking a position at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the registrar’s office which afforded me the benefit of tuition support while I pursued my graduate degree.

I’m proud to say that I am graduated in May 2024 with my Master of Science in Education Psychology-Learning Analytics (quite the mouthful, right?). I also completed a certificate in Disability Inclusion and Accessible Design at the University of Michigan. For my final semester, I consulted with the Madison Metropolitan School District to examine data trends in behavior incidents with the hope of assisting in the procurement of funding and supports for marginalized students. This work is focused primarily on the disproportionate number of punitive actions against Black students with disabilities and the ways in which this reflects similar trends in the Madison community.

The combination of my studies at Illinois State, UW-Madison, and the University of Michigan led to me accepting a position at the University of Wisconsin-Madison as an instructional designer. In this role I support students and faculty by revising and developing instructional materials and curriculum to improve learning outcomes and ensure course accessibility for all populations of students. It is my experience with the passionate faculty in the department of Sociology and Anthropology at Illinois State that incited my own fire for education and access, and I can truly say I would not have the drive or interest in my current field without them as role models.

Being an older sister and someone who works with undergraduates, I feel obligated to drop unsolicited advice, so here it comes! Shy or unsure students, never be afraid to reach out and use the excellent resources around you-even if you’re scared. You belong here and there are people all around you who want nothing more than for you to succeed. It is also the most natural thing in the world to be unsure, and the opportunity to explore your interests is one of the absolute best things about studying the social sciences. Things change and so will you-embrace it.

There is no way I would be where I am today without the generous, unwavering support of my professors. To shout out a few (this is in no way a comprehensive list!) Maria Schmeeckle (retired), Richard Sullivan, Thomas Burr, and Susan Sprecher. These people and this program will always hold a special place in my heart. It is because of them that I care so deeply about mentorship-if you’d like a friendly face or processing space, feel free to reach out to the department and be in touch 😊

Read past  Alumni Spotlights.