AHS dean named Notable Latino Leader
Carlos J. Crespo, AHS dean and professor of kinesiology and nutrition, was named one of Crain's Chicago Business’ 2024 Notable Latino Leaders.
Each year, the business publication recognizes Chicago individuals who manage, mentor, innovate and give back in their industries and communities. Crespo was one of six honorees from UIC.
“It’s nice to be recognized — it’s good for our college to be highlighted in this capacity — but it’s a responsibility and an honor to be a Latino leader within UIC, a Hispanic-Serving Institution.”
Crespo was honored for his academic achievements and for diversifying the biomedical workforce. He has secured more than $50 million in research funding throughout his career, putting him in the top 1% of National Institutes of Health-funded principal investigators from 2017 to 2022. He is also a fellow of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities' Leadership Academy, La Academia de Liderazgo.
“I’m fully aware of the contributions I can make just by showing up. It’s important for young students, junior faculty and others to see themselves in higher positions. You cannot be what you cannot see.”
Crespo was also recognized for establishing the Enhancing Cross-disciplinary Innovation and Training Opportunities program (EXITO): an undergraduate research training program for students from underserved or historically marginalized communities. The program offers early-career students three years of specialized study, mentorship and hands-on research experience.
More than 600 students were trained through the program at Portland State University, where Crespo previously served as a public health professor and administrator until 2022. Crespo launched EXITO for AHS in summer 2024, and the first cohort of 9 students has begun their training.
Carlos quote Heading link
We keep trying to solve the same problems with the same people, and we end up with the same results. We need new ideas, new people from new backgrounds, to look at problems — especially health — and come up with new outcomes.