A celebration of 75 years of Roosevelt University
1996–Present
With the support of Alfred A. Robin, Roosevelt University opened its Schaumburg Campus in 1996 and became the first comprehensive university in the region. Students are close to leading company headquarters like Abbott Laboratories, Motorola and others in the busy business corridor. The campus is also a certified arboretum.
History Professor and Social Activist
MA History, ’63, Professor 1966–2006
Betty Balanoff taught history to Roosevelt students for 25 years, leading the way in teaching African American history, Native American history and women’s history.
Her lasting legacy is the Labor Oral History Project, a collection of over 60 interviews with union members in the Roosevelt archives. Balanoff conducted the interviews from 1970 to 1985.
Actress in Film, Theatre and Television
BFA Musical Theatre, ’98
Merle Dandridge is the star of Oprah Winfrey Network’s Greenleaf. She began her acting career with leading roles on Broadway in Spamalot, Rent, Aida, Tarzan and Jesus Christ Superstar.
Dandridge received Roosevelt’s first Distinguished Artist Award. “There is a precious and sweet satisfaction in hearing ‘job well done’ from the University that first invested in my potential, then backed it up by giving me a tool box full of gifts to ensure my success,” she said.
1992–Present
Founded with a gift from Joseph Jacobs, the Center for New Deal Studies supports the study of the University’s namesakes. Since 1992, the center has examined the legacy of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, hosting events and programs for the community. It’s also home to 1,500 pieces of FDR memorabilia.
The annual Franklin & Eleanor Roosevelt Distinguished Lecture has welcomed a U.S. surgeon general, a former president of Brazil and multiple ambassadors.
Roosevelt’s Oldest Graduate
BGS History, ’96
At age 91, Myrtle Shannon is Roosevelt’s oldest graduate. Shannon’s grandfather had been enslaved; after the Civil War, he followed Union soldiers to Iowa, earned his education and returned to Mississippi to become a teacher.
“He always taught us: Get as much education as you can,” she recalled. “He said that nobody could beat you out of anything, or take away things that belong to you. He said: Get as much education as you can.”
1998–Present
Roosevelt honors students work closely with faculty mentors on research projects and in seminars. The program, founded by professor emeritus Sam Rosenberg, is an opportunity for students to create their own curriculum and prepare for graduate school.
Students can also take an interdisciplinary seminar at the Newberry Library, conducting research in its collection of some 1.6 million books.