WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield Center for Lincoln Studies, in partnership with Juneteenth Inc., the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum and the UIS Institute for Race, Gender, Sexuality and Social Justice, will host a conversation with Nikole Hannah-Jones, host and executive producer of the Hulu docuseries The 1619 Project, as part of its Juneteenth Lecture Series.

WHEN: 6:30 p.m. Monday, June 15

UIS Establishes Biostatistics and Epidemiology Society

The University of Illinois Springfield Visual Arts Program is proud to present “Up to Eleven,” an exhibition featuring artworks by senior visual arts majors at UIS. This exhibition represents the culmination of years of artistic development, bringing together an ambitious and interdisciplinary body of work that pushes creative limits and celebrates the transition into professional practice. The exhibit will open on April 20 and runs through May 7. A reception will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

The April 7 Chancellor’s Thinkers Series event featuring former Congresswoman Cheri Callahan Bustos has been postponed and rescheduled for Tuesday, September 15, 2026.

WHAT: University of Illinois Springfield Chancellor Janet L. Gooch will host a conversation with former Congresswoman and UIS alum Cheri Callahan Bustos as part of her Chancellor’s Thinkers Series event titled “A Call to Think: Authentic Leadership.”

WHEN: 5:30 to 7:15 p.m. April 7 (reception to follow)

The University of Illinois Springfield Theatre Program will present six performances of “Circle Mirror Transformation” by Annie Baker.

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield invites the public to a virtual lunch-hour webinar, “Before the Ballots are Cast: Previewing Key 2026 Primary Races.” A panel of experts will discuss some of the most notable primary contests unfolding across the United States this spring and summer. The conversation will explore the candidates, issues and political forces shaping these races, with time for audience questions about what is at stake before the ballots are cast.

WHEN: Noon Feb. 24

The University of Illinois Springfield’s popular Star Parties will be held from 8 to 10 p.m. on Feb. 27 and March 27, weather permitting, at the UIS Campus Observatory on the roof of Brookens Library.

Star Parties are hosted by John Martin, UIS associate professor of astronomy and physics. During the events, the observatory’s telescopes will be used to view a variety of celestial objects, including the moon, the planet Jupiter, the Orion Nebula and star clusters.

The University of Illinois Springfield Visual Arts Gallery is pleased to announce “Belly,” a solo exhibition by artist Rita Grendze. The exhibition opens March 2 and runs through April 9. A public reception will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on March 5 at the UIS Visual Arts Gallery. Admission is free and all are welcome to attend.

The University of Illinois Springfield will host five Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) Speaker Series events during the spring 2026 semester. The series presents events that promote and adhere to the value of engaged citizenship, cultural awareness and respect for diversity.

ECCE Speaker Series events, which are free and open to the public, include:

Businesses and organizations are encouraged to register for the Career Connections Expo at the University of Illinois Springfield. The Expo will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 20 at The Recreation and Athletic Center (TRAC) on the UIS campus.

In addition to the Expo, registered employers are invited to participate in a pre-Expo networking event called the C2C (College to Career) Exchange, which will give them the opportunity to connect with faculty and staff before the Expo begins.