EIU Faculty Senate

EIU Luis Clay Mendez Distinguished Service Award

One of the most prestigious honors available to EIU faculty, the Mendez Award was established in commemoration of the contributions of Foreign Languages department faculty member Luis Clay Mendez following his sudden passing in 2003. The award is presented each fall to the EIU faculty member or department chair who best exemplifies dedication and achievement in service to the university, their profession, and the community at large (local, state, national, international).

2025 Luis Clay Mendez Distinguished Service Award 

Dr. Linda Simpson has dedicated more than three decades to Eastern Illinois University, beginning as an adjunct instructor in the 1990s and joining the faculty in 1997. Throughout her tenure, she has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to teaching, innovation, service, and student success.

A trailblazer in online teaching and learning, Dr. Simpson taught EIU’s first online course and played an instrumental role in shaping the university’s early digital learning environment. She helped establish the Center for Academic Technology Services (CATS), provided one-on-one mentorship to faculty transitioning online, and has served as a Quality Matters reviewer, a role that involves critically evaluating online courses to ensure they meet rigorous standards for design, accessibility, and learner engagement. She was one of the first faculty to earn a Quality Online Course designation for her general education course, Personal and Family Financial Literacy .Her expertise in instructional technology has been recognized through multiple grants and university honors, as well as invitations to present at local, state, national, and international conferences. She has also consulted with higher education institutions across the country to enhance their online learning capacity.

Dr. Simpson is widely recognized for her leadership in financial literacy education. She founded and continues to coordinate the Financial Literacy Minor and established the Literacy in Financial Education (LIFE) Center after securing a highly competitive grant to strengthen financial education for EIU students. Her work has expanded far beyond campus, creating impactful financial literacy initiatives for parents, youth, and older adults. Her book, Mindful and Intentional Money Management, further extends her mission to empower individuals and families with practical money management skills. Her curriculum development has reached global communities, including the creation of the Finance for Her program that has educated more than 700 women in rural India.

Her service to the university spans every level of leadership. Dr. Simpson has chaired and served on major search committees, supported departmental accreditation efforts, advised student organizations, and held significant roles across department, college, and university committees. As department chair and assistant chair, she strengthened academic programs, supported faculty development, and promoted student engagement. She has also served in elected leadership roles on bodies such as the Council on Graduate Studies and the Intercollegiate Athletic Board.
Dr. Simpson’s professional service includes extensive work with state and national associations, textbook and journal review, conference leadership, and advocacy for financial education at the state level. Her dedication to supporting older adults through technology is reflected in her past presidency of the Senior Independent Living Collaborative, where she developed innovative resources to help seniors safely age in place.

Equally committed to her community, Dr. Simpson has served on multiple nonprofit boards, supported domestic violence initiatives, volunteered with youth programs, and contributed significantly to ministries at Kansas Christian Church. Her service has strengthened local organizations such as CASA, the Coalition for People in Need, and community outreach programs that support vulnerable children and families.

Across her career, Dr. Simpson has exemplified unwavering dedication to students, colleagues, the university, and the broader community. Her work has transformed financial education, advanced online learning, expanded community impact, and strengthened the mission of Eastern Illinois University.

Past Recipients of the Luis Clay Mendez Distinguished Service Award

2024 - Dr. Steven Daniels (Physics)

2023 - Dr. Angela Yoder (Counseling and Higher Education)

2022 - Dr. Diane Burns (Geology/Geography)

2021 - Dr. Paul Switzer (Biological Sciences)

2020 - Dr. Sheila Simons (Public Health)

2019 - Dr. Danelle Larson (Music)

2018 - Dr. Melissa Ames (English)

2017 - Dr. Heidi Larson (Counseling and Student Development)

2016 - Dr. Grant Sterling (Philosophy)

2015 - Dr. Linda Ghent (Economics)

2014 - Dr. Rebecca Throneburg (Communication Disorders and Sciences)

2013 - Dr. Andrew Methven (Biological Sciences)

2012 - Dr. William Addison (Psychology)

2011 - Dr. Kathlene Shank (Special Education)

2010 - Dr. Charles G. Eberly (Counseling and Student Development)

2009 - Dr. Les Hyder (Journalism)

2008 - Dr. Vincent Gutowski (Geology/Geography)

2007 - Dr. Charles Delman (Mathematics and Computer Science)

2006 - Dr. Debra Reid (History)

2005 - Dr. Patricia McCallister (Family and Consumer Sciences)

2004 - Dr. David Carpenter (English)