Current and Past Shin Award Honorees
2024 Shin Award Honoree

Dr. Betsy Goulet, a three-time alumna at UIS, was selected as the 2024 Dr. Tai R. Shin and Mrs. You H. Shin Humanitarian Award. Dr. Goulet is a clinical assistant professor emerita at the University of Illinois Springfield. She retired from the School of Public Management & Policy last year. The ripple effects of Dr. Goulet’s work and its real-world applications have had a monumental impact on improving the lives of others in many significant ways. Dr. Goulet's work has significantly advanced child protection and welfare, creating impactful programs like the Child Advocacy Studies certification and the Child Protection Training Academy. Her efforts have led to the expansion of simulation training for professionals, improving their ability to safeguard at-risk children. Through her leadership and dedication, Dr. Goulet has also inspired future advancements in child advocacy and protection, demonstrating the profound impact one individual can have on the world.
Dr. Goulet has chosen the Alliance for Experiential Problem-Based Learning at UIS to receive the $50,000 gift that is provided as part of her award. Dr. Goulet received the award from President Killeen and Dr. Tai Shin at a special ceremony on March 3 at UIS.
Press release
https://news.uillinois.edu/view/7815/1197131469
2023 Shin Award Honoree

President Killeen (wearing a shawl of wisdom presented by Singh), Dr. BB Singh, and Dr. Tai Shin at the inaugural Shin Humanitarian Award ceremony. September 12th, 2023. (Photo Beth Parrott)
From a small farming village in India where he used kerosene lamps to study at night, BB Singh went on to truly make the world a better place for millions of people.
After graduating from Uttar Pradesh Agricultural University in Pantnagar (now GB Pant University) - a university the U of I helped found – he would receive a Master’s and PHD in soybean genetics and breeding from UIUC, Hos subsequent work improved the food security of millions of people in India, Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Dr. Singh was nominated by UIUC Professor Adam Davis. Davis noted “Singh is credited with improving the diets, incomes, and lives of hundreds of millions of small farmers and food insecure consumers in many of the poorest regions of the world. Singh has dedicated his 47-year career to breeding improved varieties of high protein pulses while also developing integrated crop management practices improv(ing) the lives of millions and enhanced food security, family nutrition and income generation for millions of farmers and their families.” His dedication to food security and assistance to farmers has been globally honored and recognized and he is a fitting recipient of the first Shin Humanitarian Award. Dr. Singh presented the award’s $50,000 and donated his own honorarium to UIUC’s department of Crop Sciences.
Dr. Singh received the award from President Killeen and Dr. Tai Shin at a special ceremony on September 12th.
Press release
First Shin Humanitarian Award recipient honored for work 'the world is proud of' | U of I System (uillinois.edu)