In fall 2025, members of the Illini Union Board (IUB) had the opportunity to meet with former student leader Jeff Winton (GIES ’66, LER ’68). Winton, who most recently served as President and CEO of Radionic Industries, Inc., returned to campus to reconnect with Illini student leaders and reflect on his own journey. Winton served as President of the Illini Union Student Activities (IUSA) in 1966, the organization that later evolved into what is now the IUB.

During the conversation with Leah Katz, Ambreen Sidhu, Payton Cimino, and Nandana Varma, Winton shared that his experience in student leadership was one of the most impactful of his life, noting that he “learned more from that experience than from almost any other thing I have done.” 

His visit served as a powerful reminder of the lasting value and impact of being involved as a student leader at Illinois.