Dr. Karla Ivankovich of Glenview, a graduate of Lincoln Land Community College, was recently honored by the Illinois Community College Trustees Association with the statewide Distinguished Alumni Award. Dr. Ivankovich is president and co-founder of OnePatient Global Health Initiative and is a nationally certified licensed clinical professional counselor.
The statewide Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes the professional, technical and humanitarian accomplishments of individuals who have graduated from Illinois community colleges. She was nominated by LLCC Board Chair Dennis Shackelford, who noted, “As a counselor, advocate, educator, media personality and public speaker, empowering others is Dr. Ivankovich’s calling, one that she lives every day.”
Ivankovich graduated from LLCC with an associate in science degree in 1993. She went on to complete bachelor’s degrees in business administration and psychology, graduate degrees in human development counseling and disability studies, a Ph.D. in psychology, and additional graduate coursework in educational leadership.
“Community college gave me the opportunity to explore diverse interests unknown to me prior to enrollment and opened my eyes to my potential,” says Ivankovich. “It inspired me to lead a life of service in hopes of giving back to others with the same care and consideration given to me, every step of the way.”
Ivankovich has more than 18 years of experience in various treatment settings, and she has published research, presented findings at national conferences and been frequently called upon to provide expert opinion to national media sources and organizations. Her research and publications have focused on body image, biopsychosocial aspects impacting health disparity, marginalized populations, millennial issues, obesity, privilege, self-esteem and stigma. Most recently, Ivankovich published a chapter in the peer-reviewed third edition of “Explorations in Diversity.” In addition, she teaches in the undergraduate psychology program at University of Illinois Springfield and in the graduate counseling psychology program at North Park University. She also hosts a weekly talk show, “Life and Love,” live from iHeart radio at WVON in Chicago, Ill. Her nonprofit organization, OnePatient Global Health Initiative, works to provide resources for accessible health care and improve health outcomes in some of the poorest communities in Chicago and in Haiti.
