‘It feels like going home’

For Maria C. Carrillo, returning to campus for the 2023 LAS Alumni Awards feels like going home.

The 1991 psychology graduate is the chief science officer at the Alzheimer’s Association. Under her leadership, the association has invested $167 million in more than 500 research projects that prioritize increasing understanding of Alzheimer’s disease. Carrillo oversees the organization’s research initiatives and led the association to become the largest nonprofit funder of Alzheimer’s and dementia research globally.

In her role, Carrillo oversees the Alzheimer Association International Conference, which is the world’s largest conference for groundbreaking dementia-related research. She is also responsible for the World Wide Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative aimed at advancing research on early detection of the disease.

“She is always driving innovation and implementing new ideas to increase funding and research for this complex disease,” wrote nominator Wendy Heller, head of the Department of Psychology. It’s for these qualities and more that she will receive the 2023 LAS Alumni Achievement Award.

“During her time at UIUC and beyond, she embodies these values, as well as those of a liberal arts and sciences education more broadly,” wrote Heller. “Although her professional achievements speak for themselves, perhaps equally or more impressive are the creative ways in which (Carrillo) has harnessed her gifts to elevate the field of Alzheimer’s awareness and research across the globe.”

As an undergraduate at Illinois, Carrillo co-founded the Alpha Psi Lambda co-ed fraternity at La Casa Cultural Latina, where she met her husband. Alpha Psi Lambda was the first co-ed Latino fraternity in the nation and the first Latino Greek Lettered Organization established at UIUC, Heller wrote. She was a Hill Award winner and credits her tenure within the Illinois student government for serving as the foundation for her leadership style.

“Running for student office was such a fun time,” she said. "During those years, I honed my skills in leadership, communication, and negotiation that I still use today.”

When Carrillo entered Illinois as an undergraduate, she was considering a different career within mental health; however, she allowed her college experiences to impact her trajectory. Ultimately, it was the Beckman Institute that changed her path. She was working in her first lab conducting hands-on research with former psychology professor Michael Gabriel and psychology professor Neal Cohen.

“At that time, neuroscience didn’t exist as a major,” she said. “My experience at Beckman Institute was transformative. It was a fantastic opportunity to work in an interdisciplinary lab that considered perspectives from across the sciences. It felt like the cutting edge of science, solidified my commitment to my degree, and facilitated opportunities for my interest in neuroscience.”

Her interests ultimately led to her studying aging and memory deficits at Northwestern University and Rush University, where she focused her research in brain imaging and Alzheimer’s risk factors.

“I had amazing mentors who piqued my interest in neuroscience, which ultimately led me to the Alzheimer’s Association,” Carrillo said of her career. “The U of I provided such an enriching environment. You can make the most or little of it, and there is opportunity for anyone to reach their full potential. It’s an honor to receive this award. My career trajectory started at Illinois. Beyond an honor, it feels like going home. Illinois is a place that has always been with me.”