Graduate Ready

Kate Burr ’25 found her place at Illinois College through two passions: science and teaching. “Student teaching really opened my eyes,” Burr says. “And the support I got here at IC helped me realize I could take my passion for biology even further.”

Burr’s journey was filled with hands-on experiences that deepened her learning and broadened her world. She traveled on BreakAway trips to Hawaii and Germany and studied abroad in Ecuador through a Fulbright-supported program. These experiences taught her independence and confidence. “Freshman year, I wasn’t sure I could do things on my own,” she reflects. “Now, I’ll go anywhere.”

She also thrived in IC’s close-knit academic environment. In her classes, she tackled the challenge of being the only biology-education double major in her year. The education department, especially professors Jaime Klein, Josiah Kunz, and Suzanne Kell, helped guide her through it.

“IC is a place where people actually care,” she says. “My professors became mentors. They were always there to support me even when the path wasn’t clear.”

Now, with a graduate degree ahead and a future in higher education, Burr is grateful for the foundation IC gave her. “Illinois College gave me the tools to grow. I know who I am and where I’m headed.”