The Legacy Leader Award recognizes individuals who have served as leaders within the college union profession and have worked throughout to advance campus community building. What makes this award unique is that it is a recognition by fellow ACUI members and colleagues of an individual’s impact on the field through their spirit and character.
By nominating an individual for this award, you agree to fundraise on their behalf. “Champions” will be provided with a toolbox of resources, and a member of the Education and Research Fund Program Team and staff at the ACUI Central Office will be assigned to help you reach your fundraising minimum of $2,500.
2025 Recipient: Deepti Chadee, Texas Christian University
Deepti’s commitment and passion for ACUI is well known. She served the former Region 12 and current Region II. And it was Deepti’s team that led the 2016 Annual Conference in New Orleans. She served as both an at-large member and president on the Board of Trustees, among other roles. Deepti’s dedication to student development and community building has stretched across three campuses. In her current role, Deepti has refocused the efforts of the unions team to include the development of student employees, oversaw a two-year audio-visual upgrade project in the union, and led her staff through the first ever University Union strategic planning process.
One of Deepti’s champions shared the following, “It is the mark of a true leader to meaningfully connect with each and every co-volunteer, participant, and attendee. Deepti’s ability to welcome others, help them feel heard and seen, give them something to work towards, and further themselves within ACUI is legendary. There is no such thing as a stranger when Deepti is in the room; she builds friendships alongside consensus.”
2025 Recipient: Jeremy SCHENK, NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
Jeremy’s volunteer commitments encompass serving in multiple regional and Association-level roles, including co-chair of the Regional Audit Task Force, chairperson of the Strategic Plan Core Team, and more. He’s been a long time supporter of the Education & Research Fund and has served on that team, and he was a member of the Annual Conference Planning Team for the 2010 conference in New York City. Jeremy’s contributions to the field have been similarly significant throughout his time as a campus community builder. He has left his legacy through student engagement and student union roles at four campuses and was inducted into the Illinois State University College of Education Hall of Fame.
Jeremy’s champions shared the following, “Jeremy has an unwavering commitment to social, racial, and environmental justice. He has actively integrated these values into policy and program development, ensuring that the voices of marginalized groups are heard and respected. His advocacy for inclusive practices has not only transformed campus policies but also inspired a culture of respect and understanding among students and staff alike.”
2025 Recipient: Mark Guthier, University of Wisconsin–Madison
Dating back to 1991, Mark has served on the annual conference program team, regional roles, and Board of Trustees, including as president. He chaired the search committee for ACUI’s chief executive officer and exercised his law degree as ACUI’s legal counsel. Mark received the Association’s highest honor in the Butts-Whiting Award in 2017 for his significant contributions to the college union and student activities movement. His professional career has been equally impressive, spanning more than 30 years and long tenures at Indiana University Bloomington and the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Mark’s champions shared the following: “Mark has an exceptional talent for fostering community, and he remembers the details of the lives of those around him—their names, their families, and their unique stories. This attentiveness and personal connection creates an environment where everyone feels valued. Mark celebrates both the big and small moments of joy, strengthening the bonds of community and promoting a culture of kindness, inclusivity, and support.”
