May 18, 2026 | Vince Lara-Cinisomo Administrative aide quietly sustained departmental success through dedication At the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where academic reputations are built on research breakthroughs and classroom innovation, much of the daily work that keeps departments moving forward happens quietly. In the Department of Speech and Hearing Science, that steady presence for […]
Month: May 2026
Rural Health Initiative will bring department’s speech and hearing health expertise to rural Illinois
May 18, 2026 | Ethan Simmons Donor-funded telehealth initiative aims to expand rural health care access With a boost from donors, researchers and clinical faculty in the Department of Speech and Hearing Science are collaborating to introduce a new speech and hearing healthcare option for residents in rural areas of northern Illinois. Partnering with the […]
Spring 2026: Message from SHS Department Head Georgia Malandraki
May 18, 2026 | Georgia Malandraki Dear colleagues, alumni, students and friends, It has been a meaningful and energizing start to my return to campus, and I’m grateful for the warm welcome I’ve received from this community. In my first 100 days, I’ve had the opportunity to reconnect with many of you, listen carefully to […]
Shared values and bold vision: Why Jaime Bauer Malandraki Chose Illinois’ Department of Speech and Hearing Science
May 18, 2026 | Vince Lara-Cinisomo Shared values inspire innovative speech-hearing education and research When Jaime Bauer Malandraki began considering the next chapter of her career, she wasn’t simply looking for a new job. She was searching for an academic home, an institution whose values aligned with her own and where she could build innovative […]
Alessio Norrito joins RST as a postdoctoral researcher
April 30, 2026 | Vince Lara-Cinisomo Norrito is preparing students to see sport not just as an industry, but as a powerful force for social good. The Department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is pleased to welcome Alessio Norrito as a postdoctoral research associate. Norrito brings with him an […]
What two RST students gleaned from internships abroad
May 15, 2026 | Ethan Simmons These Recreation, Sport and Tourism undergraduates landed summer internships abroad. Here’s what they learned Every year, students studying Recreation, Sport and Tourism at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign venture across the United States for professional internships. Some even find work outside of the country. The College of Applied Health […]
Spring 2026: Message from RST Department Head Carla Santos
May 13, 2026 | Carla Santos Our alumni play a vital role in sustaining the strength of our community Hello alumni and friends of the Department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism, As the spring semester comes to an end, I am pleased to share the latest edition of the Recreation, Sport and Tourism newsletter with […]
An online RST master’s degree affirmed Haupert’s career in the arts
May 16, 2026 | Ethan Simmons A “theater kid through and through,” Haupert (RST ‘21) helps realize the artistic dreams of her community as Palatine Park District’s first-ever cultural arts manager. From an early age, Laney Haupert dreamed of working in the theater—not acting on stage, but managing her favorite productions behind the scenes. But […]
In RST event management course, preparation is the main event
May 15, 2026 | Ethan Simmons In this capstone course, recreation, sport and tourism undergrads plan events from start to finish. The class has created several community highlights Tournaments for pickleball, spike ball and wheelchair basketball, a “yappy” hour at a local brewery with dogs invited, a fairy tale ball at a local library: Each […]
Prepared for the unexpected: How Bedford Park and RST built a living laboratory for safety
May 15, 2026 | Vince Lara-Cinisomo A sponsored partnership serves as an experiential learning opportunity for Recreation, Sport and Tourism students On any given weekend, the parking lots around the Wintrust Sports Complex fill with minivans and team buses, their passengers streaming through the doors with duffel bags and folding chairs in tow. Inside, basketballs […]