Larine Cowan

Larine Cowan came to the University of Illinois in the 1980s. She was an Assistant Chancellor as well as the director of the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Access (ODEA.) In these positions, Larine contributed building programs and fostering research to promote diversity and equity programs in the workplace. She received her Ph.D. from the U of I in Educational Policy, Organization, and Leadership while working in ODEA. Larine was influential in the community as well as the university. In her honor, ODEA bestows the Larine Y. Cowan award to four individuals each year, in four different categories: Advocacy for LGBTQ Affairs, Excellence in Access and Accommodations, Leadership in Diversity, and Teaching and Mentoring in Diversity.