Gies Business News and Stories
Explore the ideas, people, and impact shaping Gies College of Business. From faculty research and student experiences to alumni achievements and donor impact, these stories highlight how our community is advancing business knowledge and creating real-world change.
Sol brings added safety and empowerment to wheelchair operators
Apr 24, 2026
Carter Schott developed Sol, a USB-powered lighting system for wheelchairs that improves visibility and allows users to signal for attention. Supported by the University of Illinois’ entrepreneurial ecosystem, he is refining the product through user feedback and pilot testing while working toward bringing it to market and expanding adaptive technology solutions.
MailWand hopes to revolutionize digital conversation management, starting with rebuilding email for the AI era
Apr 22, 2026
MailWand is an AI-powered email client founded by Gies Business student Runzhao Hu that transforms cluttered inboxes into structured, actionable workflows. Instead of treating emails as messages, it organizes them into prioritized tasks, categorized workflows, and key insights using AI.
PODCAST: Smarter Scheduling for Chronic Care
Apr 21, 2026
A new framework from Gies Business professor Ujjal Mukherjee combines machine learning with scheduling optimization to tackle one of healthcare's toughest problems: the sickest patients are often the least likely to get time with a doctor.
PODCAST: Gies Business Dean Brooke Elliott
Apr 20, 2026
Nearly two years into her tenure as Gies Business Dean, Brooke Elliott shares her vision to dramatically increase the number of students who can benefit from a Gies education, driven by her belief in education’s power to change lives and create lasting impact.
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Edwards, Santogrossi honored with 2025 GBAA awards
Apr 17, 2026
Two Gies College of Business alumni have been honored by the Gies Business Alumni Association for their contributions to business and to the College.
Gies Business grad students earn runner-up honors in major agentic AI hackathon
Apr 16, 2026
In January, two Gies Business MSBA students placed second in the most competitive track at the AgentX-AgentBeats Competition, hosted by the UC Berkeley Center for Responsible, Decentralized Intelligence
McDonald’s Turnaround Architect: Honoring the legacy of Accountancy alum Jim Cantalupo
Apr 15, 2026
Gies Business alumnus Jim Cantalupo came out of retirement to lead McDonald’s through a rapid and decisive turnaround by shifting the company’s focus from expansion to improving quality, operations, and customer experience. Decades after his death, he is leaving behind a lasting legacy that continues to shape McDonald’s strategy and future leaders.
New federal action on Medicare and Medicaid fraud echoes research from Gies Business
Apr 14, 2026
A federal shift in how Medicare and Medicaid fight fraud aligns with research by Gies Business professor Riley League. His work shows the old system is ineffective and that measures like prior authorization can drastically cut fraudulent spending without harming patients.
State honors Larry Gies for transformational leadership and public service
Apr 13, 2026
In addition to being the namesake of Gies College of Business, Larry Gies is the founder and CEO of Madison Industries, one of the largest and most successful privately held companies in the world.
Study helps universities strategize courses on ever-changing topics
Apr 10, 2026
Some areas of knowledge change little over time – but others, like AI and entrepreneurship, evolve so quickly that faculty must redesign them every semester.
How AI chatbots streamline Gies Business student experience
Apr 09, 2026
Gies Business is integrating AI chatbots into courses to provide students with instant, reliable answers to questions, reducing repetitive inquiries and freeing faculty to focus on deeper teaching and mentorship.
How VR is shaping human-centered experiences in the Age of AI
Apr 08, 2026
Students at Gies Business participated in an immersive virtual reality experience about a Syrian refugee camp to help them develop empathy as part of a human-centered design course.