4/16/2026 Kate Worster
A generous gift from DeAnna Ballard (BSEE '89) and her husband Gregg Steinhauser has established the first named lecture series within the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering in The Grainger College of Engineering. The Ballard Seminars in Emerging Technology will focus on 11 technical research areas that reflect the department's tremendous breadth and depth.
Written by Kate Worster
A generous gift from two lifelong learners has established the first named lecture series within the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering in The Grainger College of Engineering.
The Ballard Seminars in Emerging Technology will focus on the 11 technical research areas that reflect the tremendous breadth and depth of the electrical and computer engineering department.
DeAnna Ballard (BSEE ’89) came to the University of Illinois unsure what studies to pursue. She landed in the department of Electrical and Computer Engineering with electives in nuclear engineering. During her time at U. of I., she was active in her sorority and held 43 leadership roles across numerous student organizations. She has proudly maintained those undergraduate relationships throughout the years and feels deeply connected to her alma mater.
Ballard says U. of I. set her down a path of lifelong learning. “Giving back matters to me because my time at Illinois taught me how to think, learn, and solve problems, connected me to lifelong relationships and service through dozens of organizations, and showed me that knowledge grows in value only when it’s shared generously and collaboratively.”
Ballard and her spouse, Gregg Steinhauser, have traveled extensively and lived around the world. One of their constants is taking classes and being involved in charitable activities. Their global experiences emphasized the importance of education, and Ballard had her heart set on funding a lecture series at Illinois.
Jennifer Truman Bernhard, Donald Biggar Willett Professor in Engineering and department head of Electrical and Computer Engineering, recognized the tremendous value of a technical series featuring speakers from other universities and envisioned the framework. “The lecture series needed Jen’s vision and leadership,” said Ballard.
“We are so grateful to DeAnna and Gregg for their generosity,” said Bernhard. “This unique opportunity allows the department to invite ground-breaking, early-career academic innovators for focused talks featuring each of our 11 technical research areas. The ability to expand the audience beyond campus through livestreaming and a repository of recordings allows us to engage with our alumni, and facilitate new and exciting discussions that will include the global Illinois ECE community.”
Steinhauser hopes the series will offer alumni an opportunity to stay current in their fields. “The knowledge base for technology is changing at an accelerated pace,” said Steinhauser. “If we bring in the people who are immersed in cutting-edge research, we expose our audience to new insights, bridge gaps, and encourage the cross-pollination of ideas.”
The first presentations of the Ballard Seminars in Emerging Technology will be scheduled for Fall 2026. Visit https://go.ece.illinois.edu/ballard-seminars for more information.