Chicago, IL (January 23, 2025)—The University of Illinois Chicago and Morningstar, Inc. today announced two newly established funds, the Morningstar Design Scholarship Fund and Morningstar Design Faculty Scholar Fund. The combined $1 million commitment from Chicago-based philanthropists Joe and Rika Mansueto and Morningstar will fund both undergraduate scholarships in the School of Design at UIC College of Architecture, Design, and the Arts and create the Morningstar Design Faculty Scholar, a named faculty position bridging academia and the design profession.
Over the next decade, this forward-looking collaboration will empower talented design students at UIC College of Architecture, Design, and the Arts, continuing a long-standing alliance between the university and the global financial services leader.
Empowering future designers
The Morningstar Design Scholarship Fund will provide need- and merit-based scholarships to undergraduate design students, helping UIC College of Architecture, Design, and the Arts attract and retain exceptional talent.
The Morningstar Design Faculty Scholar will be a full-time, joint position shared between the college and Morningstar. This unique role is inspired by Philip Burton, distinguished professor, founding chair of the UIC Graphic Design program and Morningstar Design Fellow, and his pioneering work integrating the rigor of academia with the creativity of professional practice. The scholar will bring expertise in typography, information design and data visualization, fostering innovation across both institutions.
“Morningstar has always had a belief that design is a powerful enabler for innovation and access,” said Joe Mansueto, founder and executive chairman of Morningstar. “This collaboration with UIC College of Architecture, Design, and the Arts continues our commitment to fostering creative talent while deepening the intersection of design and data.”
Advancing a legacy of innovation
UIC and Morningstar’s relationship dates to 1992, when Burton began consulting for Morningstar. Together, Burton and Morningstar revolutionized financial data visualization through the power of design.
This collaboration grew for decades under the leadership of Morningstar Chief Design Officer David W. Williams and founding UIC School of Design Director Marcia Lausen. Today, Morningstar is the largest employer of UIC School of Design graduates. In 2020, the collaboration launched a Visiting Scholar Program, which brought a digital media design expert to UIC and Morningstar for two years to advance emerging practices. Beyond design, UIC engineering students have benefitted from Morningstar internships through Break Through Tech Chicago, fostering equity and innovation in technology.
“We are invested in the next generation of designers,” Williams said. “This fund not only strengthens our longstanding collaboration with UIC but also reaffirms Morningstar’s ambitions to keep pushing the boundaries of design excellence.”
Dean of UIC’s College of Architecture, Design, and the Arts Rebecca Rugg added, “This gift reflects the extraordinary impact of a public university collaboration with an industry leader. It’s a model for advancing education, design and professional practice.”
Newly appointed School of Design Director Anne H. Berry agreed, saying, “The Morningstar Design Fund opens doors for our students and faculty while amplifying the transformative power of design.”
About the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC)
UIC is Chicago’s only public research university and one of the most diverse institutions in the United States. With over 33,000 students, UIC’s mission is to provide the broadest access to the highest levels of educational, research and clinical excellence.
About the College of Architecture, Design, and the Arts
As the home of the arts and design at UIC, the College of Architecture, Design, and the Arts is one of the most dynamic learning and research environments in the United States in these fields. Across its 70-year history, the college has evolved to become a leader among academic programs in architecture, art, art history, design, museum studies, music and theatre. It leverages its location in Chicago, a global destination for the arts and design, through in-situ learning, practice and relationships with significant cultural institutions including the Art Institute of Chicago, Steppenwolf Theatre, the Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts and the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago. The college offers 16 undergraduate degree programs and nine graduate degree programs, including a master’s degree in architecture, that provide specialized disciplinary education in the arts and design within the broader context of liberal arts courses UIC offers.
About Morningstar, Inc.
Morningstar, Inc. is a leading provider of independent investment insights in North America, Europe, Australia and Asia. The company offers an extensive line of products and solutions that serve a wide range of market participants, including individual and institutional investors in public and private capital markets, financial advisors and wealth managers, asset managers, retirement plan providers and sponsors and issuers of fixed-income securities. Morningstar provides data and research insights on a wide range of investment offerings, including managed investment products, publicly listed companies, private capital markets, debt securities and real-time global market data. Morningstar also offers investment management services through its investment advisory subsidiaries, with approximately $328 billion in AUMA as of Sept. 30, 2024. The company operates through wholly owned subsidiaries in 32 countries. For more information, visit www.morningstar.com.
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Morningstar, Inc.
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