By signing the first Morrill Act of 1862, which provided public land for support of colleges and universities, President Lincoln opened the door for all people in search of higher education. As part of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign's observance of this educational milestone and the bicentennial of Lincoln's birth, this panel discussion will address our 16th president’s vision for education, how that vision is reflected today in Illinois’ educational system, and how that vision can affect the future of education.

The panelists for this important discussion are former Gov. Jim Edgar (below left), co-chair of Advance Illinois and IGPA Distinguished Fellow; Judy Erwin (center), executive director of the Illinois Board of Higher Education; and noted Lincoln scholar O. Vernon Burton (right), Burroughs Professor of Southern History and Culture at Coastal Carolina University. The moderator for the discussion will be Mary Kalantzis (far right), dean of the College of Education at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Lincoln's Illinois Today is made possible thanks to generous support from the Office of the Chancellor and the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Public Engagement.