By Lois Gray

Jhoon “Jake” Chung (BA ’96) shared inspiration and insights at the December 2018 College of Education Commencement Ceremony. Altogether, 83 students completed the Teacher Education Program in fall 2018.

“Now more than ever, we need teachers like you in the classroom, ready to make a positive difference in the lives of our students,” Chung says.

He also shared his own journey, from “class troublemaker” to a successful student and educational leader. Chung completed a Ph.D. and was recently named the new superintendent of Salt Creek School District 48 in Villa Park, Illinois, beginning July 1.

“While I tended to get into a lot of trouble growing up, the one common denominator was terrific teachers that took a special interest in me, and these individuals shaped my life.”

Chung also was selected as the new chair of the College of Education Advisory Board at the November 2018 meeting, taking the torch from outgoing chair, Chuck Peters.

Read more from the 2018-2019 Alumni Magazine.