The Department of Sociology is pleased to present the winners of the 2026 Outstanding Alumni Awards.
Each year, the department solicits nominations for graduates of our program who have made a significant impact on their field. Up to three awards (BA, MA, and PhD) are presented each year. This year's awardees will be honored in a digital ceremony on May 8, 2026.
Congratulations to this year's winners!
Nikel A. Bailey (BA '07)
The University of Illinois Department of Sociology is proud to recognize Nikel Bailey, BA ’07, with the Outstanding Alumni Award. Nikel has built a distinguished career in public service and global community development marked by a sustained commitment to equity, institutional leadership, and support for vulnerable communities. Across leadership roles with the Peace Corps, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the U.S. Department of State, and international nonprofit organizations, she has advanced work in housing stability, disaster recovery, public health, workforce equity, and women’s economic empowerment. She has also built substantial professional experience across Africa, including work in Rwanda, Ethiopia, and, most recently, as Director of Programming and Training for the Peace Corps in The Gambia, where she led national initiatives addressing food insecurity, climate resilience, youth development, and digital inclusion. Nikel’s career reflects the broad public value of sociological training and the power of applying sociological insight to real-world challenges at local, national, and global scales. We are proud to honor Nikel Bailey as an outstanding alumna.
Dr. Loren Henderson (PhD '14)
The University of Illinois Department of Sociology is proud to recognize Dr. Loren Henderson, PhD ’14, with the Outstanding Alumni Award. Dr. Henderson has built a distinguished career as a scholar, educator, and academic leader whose work bridges sociology and public policy. She currently serves as Director of the School of Public Policy at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and holds the rank of Full Professor. Her scholarship has made important contributions to the study of race, inequality, health disparities, organizations, and public policy, including books such as Diversity in Organizations: A Critical Examination and Race, Ethnicity, and the COVID-19 Pandemic, along with numerous articles in leading journals. Beyond her research, Henderson has demonstrated sustained commitment to leadership, mentorship, and professional service, including her role as an Executive Officer of the Association of Black Sociologists since 2021. Her career reflects the broad reach of sociological training and the importance of scholarship in service of the public good. We are proud to honor Dr. Loren Henderson as an outstanding alumna.