President of University of Illinois Alumni Association dies of cancer

James Hoeck

The CU community and Illini family come to the Alice Campbell Alumni Center to watch the fountain kick off the homecoming week as Jen Dillavou, the president of the University of Illinois Alumni Association gives a speech during a rainy day on Oct. 2, 2021.

By Ella Narag, News Editor

This weekend, Jennifer Dillavou, the president of the University’s Alumni Association, has died after a “tenacious fight against cancer.”

The announcement came to the University via a Massmail sent out by Chancellor Jones on Monday. Jones noted he wrote the email “to honor Jen’s professional service and achievement as a member of our university leadership team and as the president of one of the largest alumni associations in country.”

Dillavou was a member of the Class of 1982 and graduated from the College of Education. She first joined the UIAA as its president in 2017 and was the first woman to hold the position. 

She also held various leadership positions at Indiana University, Georgia State University, Carnegie Mellon University and Ohio University. 

There will be a celebration of her life on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. in the Foellinger Great Hall at Krannert Center. 

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Chancellor Jones closed the statement with “Please join me in offering Tom, Max and Jake our condolences as a university family today.”

 

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