Beth Gies Named to University of Illinois Foundation Board of Directors
April 18, 2023 01:15 AM
The University of Illinois Foundation (UIF) is pleased to announce the election of Beth Georgia Gies to its Board of Directors. Gies was confirmed by a vote at the March 2023 meeting of the UIF Board of Directors. Her election brings the number of governing directors to a total of 24.
“Beth is a tireless advocate for education and throughout her career has worked hard to help create learning environments that help students. That—plus her passion for the University of Illinois—make her a natural fit for the Foundation’s board.” said Saul Morse, chair of the Membership and Governance Committee for the UIF Board. “We are very much looking forward to her partnership and deeply appreciate her willingness to help advance the U of I.”
Beth and her husband Larry have been philanthropic leaders at the University of Illinois Urbana‑Champaign (UIUC), naming the Gies College of Business with a transformative $150 million gift in 2017. Beth and Larry are passionate investors and supporters of the University of Illinois. They frequently visit the UIUC campus and are able to witness first‑hand the impact that philanthropic gifts and alumni involvement make to the lives of faculty, staff, and students.
Gies earned her bachelor’s degree from UIUC (ACES ’89) and earned a master’s degree in teaching from National Lewis University. Gies, who began tutoring youth while in college, worked as an elementary school teacher in Ohio and Illinois. She serves as the president of the Gies Foundation and is on the board for several organizations including the Chicago Jesuit Academy, where she also volunteers as a classroom tutor.
The University of Illinois Foundation Board of Directors is the governing body responsible for supporting the Foundation’s mission. The Board consists of a regular membership of 18 to 24 elected governing directors, chosen by the Foundation’s nationwide membership.
