We would like your continued support for funding of the DFI fellowship program. Any funding cuts to the DFI program will have an immense impact on not only the lives of its current recipients, but on the institutions which current fellows attend, the institutions at which current fellows would like to obtain faculty and staff positions in the future, and the state of Illinois as a whole. DFI is a sole or major source of income for many fellows. This means that without DFI, many fellows may be left without the support needed to continue their graduate education. This lack of support would undoubtedly lead to a less diverse graduate study body at many institutions of higher education in the state of Illinois.Thus, DFI is not only contributing to the personal development of individual fellows, it is not only diversifying the graduate programs of current fellows, it is not only diversifying the ranks of faculty and staff at higher education institutions in Illinois, but it is assisting in the development of current fellows and of their future students and advisees, who will go on to play a significant role in the state of Illinois in so many different fields and facets of our state. DFI is truly contributing to the betterment of Illinois. We are asking that you continue to support this important program.