Civil Service, AP Staff Awards presented at The Founding Celebration 2026

Illinois State University recognized exemplary service from Civil Service and Administrative Professional staff during the Founding Celebration on February 19, 2026.

Civil Service Distinguished Service Awards

The Civil Service Distinguished Service Award acknowledges outstanding contributions by Civil Service staff. It is the highest non-faculty award presented to Civil Service staff members by the University.

Jen Bethmann M.S. '17, Web and Interactive Communications/Technology Solutions
Jen Bethmann (M.S. '17) serves as the web accessibility coordinator on the Web and Interactive Communications team within Technology Solutions.

She began her career at Illinois State in 2015 as a graduate assistant with Student Access and Accommodation Services, and in 2017 stepped into her current role, where she has become a campus resource for advancing campus-wide awareness of usability and digital accessibility best practices. In her position, Bethmann reviews digital technologies for accessibility barriers and provides advocacy, guidance, and training to teams across campus. She is committed to the belief that technology and digital content should be designed for everyone, regardless of circumstance or ability, and she works to equip others with the skills and knowledge needed to create inclusive digital experiences.

Bethmann is certified as a Trusted Tester through the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Accessible Systems and Technology and holds Adobe's PDF Accessibility Train-the-Trainer certification. She leads trainings and presentations both on campus and at national conferences. Bethmann currently serves as co-chair of Illinois State's Digital Accessibility Committee and as chair for the 2026 Digital Collegium Accessibility Summit.

Outside of her professional work, Bethmann enjoys traveling and spending time with family and friends. She is very active in the local theatre community, contributing behind the scenes as a props builder and set designer for organizations such as Community Players Theatre, Town of Normal's Summer Theatre Program, and Heartland Theatre Company. She also teaches continuing education courses in creative arts at Heartland Community College.

Porter served on the 2022-2023 EDI Self-Assessment Team and was part of the team that earned the 2023 Student Affairs STAR Award for Team Excellence in Assessment. She has served on the Civil Service Council since 2020, including terms as secretary (2020-2023), treasurer (2023-2025), and Civil Service chair (2025-2026), and she chaired Civil Service Scholarships (2022-2025). From October 2021 through February 2025, she served on the Student Affairs Inclusion Change Team.

She continues to support shared governance through the A/P-Civil Service Merger Committee and civic participation through the Center for Civic Engagement Voter Engagement Coalition (both 2022-present). In the community, she serves as director of Membership for the League of Women Voters and as a Hands All Around Quilt Guild board member, webmaster, and social media curator.

Administrative/Professional Distinguished Service Awards

The A/P Distinguished Service Award acknowledges outstanding contributions by A/P staff. It is the highest non-faculty award presented to A/P staff members by the University.

Dr. Dan Elkins, Office of the Provost
Dr. Dan Elkins currently serves as associate vice president for Academic Fiscal Management at Illinois State University. Elkins plays a critical role in supporting the academic mission of the institution through collaborative leadership and resource management. He oversees budgets exceeding $200 million, translates complex financial data into clear, strategic recommendations, and stewards key funding initiatives that strengthen Illinois State University. His work reflects a service-centered philosophy-ensuring that financial decisions elevate teaching, research, and student learning.

Throughout more than two decades at Illinois State University, Elkins has demonstrated a dedication to service, shared governance, and university improvement. He has chaired and contributed to numerous committees-including the Academic Fiscal Management Advisory Council, the Academic Facilities Advisory Council, and chaired or served on several senior leadership search committees, including vice-presidents, deans, and chairperson search committees. In addition, Dr. Elkins has extensive university service, including the Academic Senate, Foundations of Excellence initiative, the First Year Experience Committee, and the University Assessment Advisory Council. His leadership has helped shape strategies that support student transition, retention, assessment practices, and long-term enrollment management. His service is characterized by collaboration, transparency, and a strong commitment to advancing institutional priorities.

Prior to his role as associate vice president for Academic Fiscal Management, he served as director of the School of Kinesiology and Recreation, where he worked collaboratively to strengthen academic programming, expand community partnerships, enhance donor engagement, and support curricular innovation with a focus on student, faculty, and staff success. He has also served the wider academic and professional community through editorial board work, professional association leadership, professional advisory councils, and mentorship of graduate students.

Morgan Bowen '17, M.S. '23, Admissions
Morgan Bowen's path through higher education has been shaped by her own experience as a transfer student. She first arrived at Illinois State University as a community college transfer, where she found a welcoming place to grow both personally and academically. She went on to earn her bachelor's degree from the College of Business and later returned to complete her master's in educational administration and foundations.

Her professional journey began much the same way her connection to ISU did: in the Office of Admissions. Starting as a student employee, Bowen discovered early on how meaningful it can be to help someone navigate their next step. She transitioned into a full-time application processor after graduation, learning the required in reviewing student stories. She later moved into a transfer admissions counselor role, spending years meeting students both on campus and across Illinois, understanding the realities of the transfer process from every angle.

Today, Bowen serves as the coordinator of Transfer Recruitment within the Office of Admissions, where she continues to champion clarity, compassion, and access for students exploring their transfer options. She also advises Transfer Redbirds, an RSO dedicated to building community among transfer students-a role that keeps her closely connected to the student experience and allows her to support others who share a journey similar to her own. In addition, she serves as co-chair of the University Transfer Council, bringing together campus partners to evaluate and enhance the transfer student experience.

At the state level, Bowen leads the State University Transfer Day events, coordinating community college transfer visits for all 12 Illinois public universities. She also serves as co-chair of the Transfer Advisory Committee within the Illinois Association for College Admission Counseling, helping foster statewide collaboration and advance conversations around transfer pathways.

Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, building LEGO sets, and visiting botanical gardens with her husband, Chance. Bowen is honored to receive the AP Council Distinguished Service Award and is grateful for the students, colleagues, and mentors who have shaped her journey.

Administrative/Professional Emerging Leader Award

The Emerging Leader Award recognizes A/P staff whose professional performance has shown tremendous promise for and commitment to the University.

CJ Hamilton '15, M.S.W. '18, School of Social Work
CJ Hamilton serves as coordinator of Academic Services for the Master's of Social Work Program at Illinois State University. In his role, he teaches courses at both the undergraduate and graduate levels in practice, field education, research, and human behavior; supervises the recruitment, admission, advising, and degree completion of MSW students; and serves on various committees within the School of Social Work.

Professionally, CJ began as a K-12 school social worker, where he specialized in working with students who had severe emotional or behavioral issues, many of whom had experienced extreme physical and emotional trauma. CJ co-founded Fieldcrest CUSD #16's first Domestic Violence Recovery/Support group for teens and presented at the Illinois Association of School Social Workers on Domestic Violence Education and prevention in 2021. What inspired CJ to pursue a career at Illinois State University was the notion that he could help prepare the next generation of school social workers to serve vulnerable populations.

As a former Division I track and field athlete and collegiate record holder, CJ also coached track and cross country throughout his career, serving as the distance coach for the University High School track and field team, which won the IHSA 2A state championship in 2024. CJ is highly passionate about the impacts of mental health on athletes and has presented at coaching clinics on working with athletes who have eating disorders.

In his spare time, CJ is also part of McLean County's Multi-Cultural Leadership (MCLP) program. Through that program, he has developed a keen understanding of servant leadership and community action. Via MCLP, he is currently working with Women United to support the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. CJ also works on a grant project with Dr. Adena Meyers in the Department of Psychology, where graduate students in both programs provide mental health consultative services to educators at Head Start.

CJ loves teaching, mentoring, and research at Illinois State. While he has not yet decided on an academic program, he plans to pursue his Doctoral education next academic year, with the hope of becoming a faculty member or furthering his career in academic leadership.

Administrative/Professional Esprit de Corps Award

One individual representing A/P is selected for special recognition for work on behalf of the University that has gone above and beyond the call of duty.

Amy Secretan '08, M.S. '10, Honors Program
After completing her bachelor's and master's degrees at Illinois State University, Amy Secretan began her career at Illinois State University in 2010 working in the Registrar's office and teaching for the School of Communication. In 2014, she was invited to join the LEAP Forward project team and served as a student records liaison throughout the implementation of the project. In January 2017, Secretan accepted a position in the Honors Program, where she currently resides today.

In her current role, Secretan primarily serves as an academic advisor. She also coordinates the freshmen Honors admissions process and supervises a portion of the Honors Student Leadership Team. Secretan served on the Administrative/Professional Council for six years, two of which as chair. She also continues to teach for the School of Communication and is also an adjunct faculty member at Heartland Community College.

She completed the Multicultural Leadership Program in 2022 and was a member of the 2023-24 ISU Leadership Certificate Program. Secretan loves being a Redbird!