Bioengineering Welcomes Ben Libman

The department of bioengineering is pleased to welcome Ben Libman as our new Marketing and Communications Coordinator, a UIUC graduate with a degree in advertising.  Professor Mark Anastasio says “Ben’s expertise in communications, along with his deep connection to and passion for the University of Illinois, make him the perfect fit for this position. We're thrilled to have him join our department and look forward to his contributions.” 

Interviewed by Stuart Robbins

Q: Tell us about yourself growing up.

A: I grew up on a family farm in the northwest corner of Illinois, close to the Wisconsin border. We had cows, chickens, horses, tractors, combines, soybeans, and of course, corn as far as the eye could see. Every summer I would go down to Urbana to visit my cousins. They showed me all around the university, from the historic and beautiful buildings to more contemporary establishments like Fat Sandwich. Between the strong agricultural connection and abundance of greasy foodstuffs, UIUC took on an almost mythical lore in my head. When it came time for college applications I had only one I wanted, and I accepted my offer to UIUC as an advertising major.

Q: What about your experiences as a student made you want to come back as staff?

A: My senior year at UIUC I discovered a student-run organization called Community Oriented Device Accommodations, or CODA for short. It was run by a group of engineering students who used university resources to create accommodation devices for people with disabilities. Luckily, they were looking for a marketing person and took me in. There I found purpose. I forged connections with local community groups, scheduled radio interviews, and helped secure new members for the future. 

Q:  What was it about the CODA work that had such a personal impact?

A: The whole experience was a light bulb moment for me. CODA was a crash course in how the knowledge and resources of the university can be leveraged to make a tangible difference in people's lives. It was also a new vision of what a career in advertising could be; not soulless, not corporate, but something truly in service of the greater good. CODA felt more real and meaningful than anything I'd done. When I was offered the position in bioengineering, I knew this role was the logical next step in what I wanted to do with my career. I know what amazing things happen at the university and I want the world to know too!

Q: Where are some other places you’ve been at in your career?

A: I spent some time at a hearing and vision nonprofit in Rockford. That was an interesting experience because I did a lot of their web work, so designing for disability was a priority. It really helped shape my perspective. I had a social media focused role at a canoe outfitter in my hometown, which was a ton of fun and gave me some hands-on training in how to go viral. During college I also worked at a summer camp, which I loved. The kids there have a way of teaching anybody patience!

 Q: I know this is your first week or two, which can be somewhat overwhelming.  Is there something that you’ve noticed in the department that fuels the excitement you just described?

A: Already I'm getting an up-close-and-personal look at all the incredible research UIUC Bioengineering does. Just browsing the site to familiarize myself with the department and already I'm learning about cutting-edge programming, innovations in medical research, novel medical applications of AI, neural engineering, and so much more. I’m honored to be part of it.

Q: Here's our traditional “outside of work” question:  What do you most enjoy doing when you’re not at work? (Favorite hobbies and interests, etc.)

A: Growing up on a farm, I spent most of my childhood outdoors, so I like to be outside as much as possible. I enjoy bicycling- the Champaign-Urbana area has some awesome biking if you know where to look. I'm also into weightlifting and was almost as excited to be back at the campus rec center as I was to start at bioengineering! It is an incredible facility. A few of my other interests include history, football, writing, boxing, and barbecue.