GALESBURG — Matt Kendall, associate professor of mortuary science at Carl Sandburg College, was recently installed as the 2021-22 president of the Illinois Funeral Directors Association’s Board of Directors.
Kendall, who has more than 13 years of service with the IFDA, was installed as the organization’s 132nd president during its annual meeting this summer in Springfield.
Kendall, who is about to begin his 18th year of teaching at Sandburg, has previously served on the association’s Board of Directors in multiple capacities, including as vice president, secretary treasurer and Region 2 director. He also has been part of the IFDA’s Licensure and Education Committee; Legislative Committee; Education Committee; Advocate Committee; and Marketing, Membership and Technology Committee.
"It is a great honor for me to be able to serve the funeral service community as president of the Illinois Funeral Directors Association, one of the oldest funeral associations in the United States,” Kendall said. “IFDA enables practitioners to have a voice in the shaping of funeral service in Illinois, ensuring that we have a strong profession for future funeral directors to enter. I am proud to be part of that tradition, not only as the current president of IFDA, but also as a professor of mortuary science at Carl Sandburg College."
Founded in 1881, the Illinois Funeral Directors Association advocates for the advancement of the funeral service industry and the success of its members. The IFDA has more than 315 funeral homes and 1,300 funeral director/embalmer members throughout the state.
Carl Sandburg College’s mortuary science program is a two-year Associate in Applied Science degree that also has an accelerated program option. It is one of only three mortuary science programs available at public institutions in Illinois, and students receive instruction in all phases of the industry through a curriculum based upon American Board of Funeral Service Education guidelines. To learn more about Sandburg’s mortuary science program, contact the Carl Sandburg College Welcome Center at 309.345.3500 or welcomecenter@sandburg.edu.