Blakeman wins spot on 'Forty Under 40' list

[image1-right:resize-180w]GSLIS alumna Katie Blakeman (MS ’11) has been named one of the prestigious “Forty Under 40” award winners announced annually by Central Illinois Business Magazine.

The “Forty Under 40” awards honor young professionals “based on achievement, experience, innovation, leadership and community involvement,” according to an announcement in t­he News-Gazette. Honorees are selected annually by an independent panel of judges.

The 2013 recipients will be recognized at a ceremony and luncheon on October 3 at the Hilton Garden Inn, and individual profiles will be included in the October-November issue of Central Illinois Business Magazine.

Blakeman, who was born and raised in Champaign County, currently serves as Champaign County Circuit Clerk, having been elected in November 2012. She has held leadership positions with the Junior League of Champaign-Urbana and served on the Urban League’s board of directors from 2005 to 2007. She currently serves on the University YWCA’s Race Against Racism committee and on the technology committee for the Illinois Association of Court Clerks. In addition to her GSLIS degree, Blakeman holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Augustana College.

Updated on
Backto the news archive

Related News

Garnes receives Coretta Scott King-Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement

Carolyn L. Garnes (MSLIS '72) has received the 2025 Coretta Scott King-Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement from the American Library Association (ALA). The annual award, named in honor of award-winning children's book author Virginia Hamilton, is presented in odd years "to a practitioner for substantial contributions through active engagement with youth using award-winning African American literature for children and/or young adults, via implementation of reading and reading-related activities/programs."

Carolyn L. Garnes

Wang wins grand prize at Research Live!

Informatics PhD student Olivia Wang won the Grand Prize at the 2025 Research Live! competition, which was held on April 8 in the Campus Instructional Facility Atrium. At the event, which is hosted by the Graduate College, thirteen finalists presented their graduate research in three minutes or less to a general audience. Wang received $500 as the Grand Prize winner.

Olivia Wang

iSchool at Illinois ranked number one

The iSchool at Illinois has retained its top spot in U.S. News & World Report's 2025 ranking of graduate schools offering a master's degree in library and information studies. The iSchool has held the number one ranking for nearly three decades.

iSchool Building