Decatur, IL – The 2024-25 academic year at Richland Community College is complete, and the College is proud to announce their Faculty of the Year and Alumnus of the Year. They also named the faculty who received the title of Professor Emeritus.
Professor Faith Brenner has been named the 2025 Faculty of the Year. Brenner has been teaching Computer Science and Information Technology (IT) at Richland for the last 25 years. She is consistently committed to academic excellence – mentoring and encouraging students to explore real-world applications of technology. Her innovative practices in the classroom and passion for helping students succeed make her an exemplary professor.
In addition, Terrence “TAT” Taylor is the 2025 Alumnus of the Year. TAT works all over central Illinois; some of his titles include Resident DJ for the Fighting Illini, radio personality at HOT105.5 WCZQ-FM, President & CEO of TAT Global Enterprises, and Essential Skills Instructor at Richland Community College. While staying heavily engaged in the community, TAT has been going back to college over the past few years. He just received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois Springfield after earning his associates at Richland. In the fall, he will start classes to earn his Master of Business Administration at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Along with those individual awards, Richland also honored the following faculty members with the distinguished title of Professor Emeritus, recognizing their exemplary service and dedication throughout their careers:
- Professor Marcella Cremer – Mathematics
- Professor James Jones – Mathematics
- Professor Dr. Evyonne Hawkins – Education and African American Studies
- Professor Gil Rocha – Art
- Professor Deb Yaden – English