Professor of Equity and Policy Pamela (Iyabo) Twyman Hoff has been named the James J. Stukel Presidential Professor at the University of Illinois Springfield. The endowed professorship will provide Hoff with significant financial support to conduct research and other academic-related activities.
鈥淚 am incredibly honored to receive the Stukel endowment,鈥� Hoff said. 鈥淭he recognition of my work and the work to come is a tribute to the countless Black women in higher education and beyond whose transformative educational contributions have been invisiblized or undervalued. This award empowers me to continue working in that tradition of excellence, forging and innovating furtive pathways that benefit us all in ways that compel us to be who we say we are.鈥�
As part of the professorship, Hoff plans to embark on two research projects. The first is a longitudinal study that delves into the experiences of Black women in a program that harnesses their unique pedagogical approaches to champion equity. The study aims to deepen the academic community鈥檚 understanding of equity-centered pedagogy and provide a model for fostering inclusive practices. The second project involves the preservation and dissemination of African American wisdom as a means of fostering critical thinking and social awareness.
These projects aim to provide valuable resources for UIS and the wider community, promoting a deeper appreciation of African American contributions to intellectual thought and fostering a new generation of socially aware and critically engaged citizens. They also support UIS鈥� commitment to promoting equity and inclusion.
鈥淗off is the personification of grace, excellence and wisdom,鈥� said DuJuan Smith, director of student affairs at the University of Chicago and one of Hoff鈥檚 former doctoral students from Illinois State University. 鈥淚 affectionately call her Queen Scholar because of her intellect, refinement and heart-centered approach to everything she does. She is committed to uplifting humanity, specializing in Black and Brown people, and role models what it means to be authentic as a scholar, researcher and educator. With a foundation of being a community leader, she is masterful at creating bridges between the academy and the surrounding communities. She is a gift in human form, and I am proud to have her as a permanent member of my tribe family!鈥�
Hoff joined UIS in 2024 specializing in educational sociology and anthropology and emphasizing transformative education. Before her tenure at UIS, Hoff taught at Illinois State University, receiving numerous accolades, including the prestigious David Strand Achievement Award. Hoff earned her doctorate in educational studies from the University of Cincinnati.
The honors the 15th president of 天美传媒 System, who served from 1995 to 2005.