Two-time EIU grad & Director of EIU’s TRIO Student Support Services Program a 20+ year advocate for student success
CHARLESTON, IL (04/08/2026) Eastern Illinois University’s Maggie Burkhead has been named to the 2026 Illinois TRIO Achievers Class for Distinguished Service by the Illinois TRIO Association.
“This is a fantastic honor for Maggie and a testament to EIU’s commitment to success without limits,” said EIU President Jay Gatrell. “Her work on behalf of underrepresented students illustrates how EIU inspires achievement through opportunity and speaks to the heart and purpose she demonstrates to her students every day.”
Burkhead has worked with four of the eight TRIO programs. A two-time graduate of Eastern Illinois University, she brought her professional talents to EIU in 2005 and currently serves as the Director of the TRIO Student Support Services Program at her alma mater, where she has dedicated more than 20 years to supporting and advocating for student success.
She advises the TRIO Ambassadors, Couture Models, and Tri-Alpha, the national honor society for First-Generation College Students. In February 2017, recognizing the needs of individuals facing personal challenges, Burkhead founded V.I.P, a support group designed to encourage and empower.
Burkhead’s commitment to service and mentorship has earned her recognitions, including the NAACP Collegiate Sojourner Truth Award, the Black Graduate Student Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award, the TRIO Ambassadors’ Commitment to Students Award, and the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Image Award in both 2019 and 2025, recognition as an Illinois TRIO Past-President in 2017, and Eastern Illinois University’s Presidential Distinguished Service Award in 2025. She serves on the Board of Directors of Illinois TRIO, as Vice President of United Way of Coles County, and is a member of the ministry team at Kingdom Driven Church. She is the proud mother of one son and grandmother of two.
Burkhead will be recognized for her efforts at the 52nd Illinois TRIO Professionals Conference in Bloomington, Illinois April 9. During the three-day event, TRIO professionals from across Illinois will come together to celebrate TRIO’s Statewide work and share insight and updates on practical strategies for enhancing TRIO’s presence in Illinois institutions, agencies, and communities. This year’s theme for the event is “The Illinois TRIO Experience: Forward Together.” She joins two other TRIO Achievers receiving recognition at this year’s event, including Trailblazer Award recipient Dr. Atiera Coleman, Chief Equity Officer for the State of Illinois, and Rising Professional Award recipient James Alford, College of Business cohort advisor at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC).
EIU prepares students to accomplish their life goals through a combination of quality academics, personal relationships, and both on-campus and online learning opportunities. For more information about Eastern Illinois University, including its broad array of academic and career readiness programs, or any of EIU’s other community-based services and opportunities, visit eiu.edu or call EIU’s public information office at (217) 581-7400.
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Eastern Illinois University empowers students to achieve their goals through high quality academics, meaningful personal connections, and flexible learning options on campus and online. To learn more about EIU, including its wide range of academic programs, career preparation opportunities, and community engagement, visit eiu.edu or contact the EIU Public Information Office at 217-581-7400.