Trainor receives the Karen Wold Level the Learning Field Award

Kevin Trainor
Kevin Trainor, Senior Lecturer

Senior Lecturer Kevin Trainor has been selected by the Division of Disability Resources and Educational Services (DRES) to receive the 2024 Karen Wold Level the Learning Field Award. This award honors exemplary members of faculty and staff for advocating and/or implementing instructional strategies, technologies, and disability-related accommodations that afford students with disabilities equal access to academic resources and curricula. Trainor will receive the award at the DRES Awards Program on April 19.

"He [Trainor] makes it known that his primary concern in his class is the success of his students. After speaking with him about my letter of accommodation, he said 'unequivocally, if there is anything that I can do to help or support you, please let me know,'" the nominator wrote. "Kevin should be considered for this award because he is proactive in inclusion. He works diligently to aid all abilities in his class. He does not judge and is an amazing representative of the university."

Trainor teaches courses in programming, data science, systems analysis, web development, database design, and project management. His approach in designing and conducting these courses gives students an equal opportunity to succeed. For his courses, he incorporates video lectures, hands-on tutorials, weekly practice assignments, online lab sessions, help desk support, and software tools typically found in the workplace. Students play lecture videos before class and spend classroom time on group work and discussions. His courses culminate in a final project, in which students apply the skills that they have learned to solve a practical problem.

"Many technical courses are NOT designed for easy learning," explained Trainor. "The design that I use makes these topics easier to learn. This benefits all students—some students with DRES accommodations might benefit more than most."

Trainor regularly appears on the List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent issued by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus each semester. He holds a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification from the Project Management Institute, an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, and a BA in philosophy from Rutgers University.

Updated on
Backto the news archive

Related News

Student says ‘thank you’ with a helicopter ride

Last month, Michael Ferrer showed his appreciation for one of his MSIM instructors in a unique way—by inviting him for an insider’s look at his work as a reservist in the Illinois Army National Guard. For the ILARNG BOSS Lift, which took place on June 18 at Camp Atterbury, Indiana, Ferrer selected Michael Wonderlich, iSchool adjunct lecturer and senior associate director of business intelligence and enterprise architecture for Administrative Information Technology Services (AITS) at the University of Illinois.

Michael Wonderlich and Michael Ferrer hold a U of I flag in front of a military helicopter

Project helps librarians use data storytelling to advocate for public libraries

A toolkit for public librarians can help them use data to communicate the value of their services and justify their funding needs. The Data Storytelling for Librarians Toolkit helps librarians present data in story form using narrative strategies. It was developed by University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign information sciences professors.

Kate McDowell

Chan to deliver keynote at SIGCIS 2024

Associate Professor Anita Say Chan will deliver the keynote at the 15th annual conference of the SHOT (Society for the History of Technology) Special Interest Group for Computing, Information, and Society (SIGCIS), which will be held on July 14 in Viña del Mar, Chile. SIGCIS is the leading international group for historians with an interest in the history of information technology and its applications. The theme for SIGCIS 2024 is "System Update: Patches, Tactics, Responses."

Anita Say Chan

Mattson receives ISTE Making It Happen Award

Adjunct Lecturer Kristen Mattson has received the 2024 International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Making It Happen Award. The award honors educators and leaders who demonstrate outstanding commitment, leadership, courage, and persistence in improving digital learning opportunities for students.

Kristen Mattson

NISO publishes Recommended Practice on retracted science

The National Information Standards Organization (NISO) has announced the publication of the Communication of Retractions, Removals, and Expressions of Concern (CREC) Recommended Practice (NISO RP-45-2024), which is the product of a working group made up of cross-industry stakeholders, including Associate Professor Jodi Schneider. 

Jodi Schneider