2025 Dean’s Merit Scholar Cailin Gabrielle Benitez

Cailin Gabrielle Benitez
Tim Lemberger
2025 Dean's Merit Scholar Cailin Benitez says her two favorite places on campus are at the College of Education in the student Commons, and the second floor of University Hall, where she is pictured.

Cailin Gabrielle Benitez
MEd Urban Higher Education

Perseverance is one of the qualities that qualifies Cailin Gabrielle Benitez as one of this year’s Dean’s Merit Award winners.

Before coming to UIC, Benitez enrolled at another university to earn her bachelor’s degree. She always struggled in school, and when she was 19 and in college, she was diagnosed with dyslexia. Once she realized she had a learning disability, she was better equipped to address learning challenges.

While pursuing a degree to become an elementary school teacher, she was in a car accident. Her car was pulled under a semi-truck and she struggled both emotionally and physically. She decided to drop out of college as she struggled with her health.

With support from her parents, she decided to continue to reach her goal, and she applied to UIC. While initially she was not accepted, she appealed, explaining her situation, and was accepted into the College of Education.

She credits several faculty and staff at the college with helping her get her degree in Human Development and Learning. After graduating, she worked as a homeless youth case manager for two years in the non-profit sector, combating youth homelsessness.

She returned to UIC and enrolled in the Urban Higher Education program.

Benitez says she derives inspiration from the Urban Higher Education program coordinator, Associate Professor Courtney Luedke. “She started (teaching in) the program the same day I (began as a student),” says Benitez. “She is a Latina woman who has worked really hard to get where she is at.”

“Within the classroom environment, Cailin critically engaged her peers by posing questions to others and regularly participating in large and small group discussions. Cailin’s contributions were rooted in equity and justice for marginalized students in higher education environments,” said Luedke.

Benitez has been extremely active in college, serving as president for two years of the Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc., as well as starting the Urban Higher Education Club. She is also part of the 13-member ensemble started by her parents, Chicago Latin Groove (www.chicagolatingroove.com), as a singer.

She has the words “you were born to make an impact” tattooed on her arm as a reminder that she intends to make her mark on the world.

“It took a lot of hoping, wishing, dreaming, fighting to get here,” says Benitez.