Meet Hope Michelson — the pride of Yankee Ridge Elementary, Urbana High School and, since 2014, the UI College of ACES, where she was promoted in the summer of 2025 to the rank of full professor.
The daughter of a former Urbana High librarian and a retired UI English professor who headed up the Campus Honors Program, Michelson earned her bachelor’s degree in English literature and history from Georgetown, her master’s in agricultural economics from the UI’s flagship campus and her Ph.D. in applied economics from Cornell.
Following a two-year post-doc fellowship at the Columbia University Earth Institute, she found herself missing “being surrounded by agriculture — both physically and intellectually,” so she jumped at the chance to head back home.
“My sister was sitting next to me when I was working on this and she and I reminisced about attending the Vet Med Open House when we were little and seeing the inside of the fistulated cow,” Michelson says. “Core memory for kids from C-U.”
The professor in the Department of Agricultural & Consumer Economics took Editor Jeff D’Alessio for a virtual tour of some of her most memorable places and spaces on and around the UI campus.
The library main stacks. I love the levels, the half-floors, the decks, the tiny grad-student workstations. It’s just magic down there. The feeling of getting absurdly lost when I’m looking for a book, of moving the shelves in some corner where I feel completely alone, of the sheer bounty of texts that we have available.
Every time I go, I start with one or two call numbers written down and I come out with 10 or more books that were clustered near the one I was looking for. It is just magnificent.
I grew up going to Krannert performances with my parents but also with my school classes.
Sitting in Foellinger Great Hall or walking through the central atrium always feels familiar and comforting. And a piece of pie after at the Intermezzo is brilliant.
I taught a graduate seminar in Lincoln Hall one semester a few years ago.
I loved walking to the Main Quad to teach, seeing the Lincoln statue, passing the Gettysburg Address at the east entrance (and marveling at its economy) each Monday and Wednesday.
There is only one answer to this question. The Morrow Plots. A treasure and a great reminder of our historic agricultural roots and mission.
I find a walk through Krannert Art Museum clarifying and stimulating. I always see something that is beautiful, provocative and teaches me something new.
The curation is fantastic. The senior art shows are great fun. I try and visit whenever I can. A walk through the galleries when I’m stuck or restless helps me think.
I cannot believe the number of incredible international spots to eat we have in the Green Street corridor. I’m currently a big fan of Mid Summer Lounge. The Szechuan-style cold-noodle dish is fantastic. When it gets cold, the windows steam up and it’s so warm and inviting inside.
I sometimes walk over to the stock pavilion and sit in the area surrounding the arena. It’s often quiet and calm but I always imagine the sounds of the cows and the competitions.
But also — if I can have two answers — Allerton Park. It’s wonderful to see how much more main campus is using the old estate grounds. A short drive to such a great place for a wander through the peonies and the meadows and the sculptures. I love the history and the stories of the hauntings and the old Jazz Age parties.
It is a jewel.
