JAN lITTLE: PUTTING LIVES BACK TOGETHER
EQUIPPING STUDENTS TO SERVE
One day, as Jan Little was counseling an inmate in the substance abuse program at the Jacksonville Correctional Center, the inmate asked why Jan was qualified to help him. Jan answered that his entire life’s work had “focused on helping people put their lives back together.”
Now, through an endowed scholarship for students in UIS’ criminal justice program, Jan will be equipping other people to gain the skills he has used in his own career.
DEDICATED PROFESSORS
Jan was born in Jacksonville, Illinois, and grew up there. He earned his bachelor’s in criminal justice from the University of Illinois Springfield, where he was especially impressed with the professional dedication of UIS professors. In particular, he named criminal justice professors Barbara Hayler and Beverly Rivera: “They demonstrated and encouraged excellence in the people they taught.”
Jan used his education to work with developmentally disabled children and their parents, developmentally disabled adults, mentally ill adults, physically disabled adults, and substance abusing prisoners. He has been employed primarily by the State of Illinois, serving in Departments of Mental Health in Champaign and Decatur, and in the Department of Human Services in Jacksonville. He has also directed a group home and served as a certified substance abuse counselor, for private companies here in central Illinois.
A HIGH RESPECT FOR EDUCATION
Along with his wife Janet and his mother Joyce (both now deceased), Jan has always valued higher education. He is hoping his scholarship at UIS will “encourage people to stay focused on bettering themselves through education.” He hopes especially that students will be inspired by the Criminal Justice professors who inspired him, and in that way be better able to help improve society.
CHANGING LIVES
As he was growing up, Jan often heard his grandmother Bertha ask, “How’s your generosity today?”
The UIS students who receive the Jan L. Little Criminal Justice Scholarship will know the answer: Jan Little’s generosity is strong and will be changing the lives of students at UIS for many years to come.