May 15, 2026 | Laura Payne The Office of Recreation and Park Resources is making tangible impacts for communities and nonprofits On any given day, a graduate student at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign might be found leading a focus group in a small Illinois town, presenting data to local officials or helping design the […]
Month: May 2026
Full circle: Illinois alumni reunite through friendship and the U.S. Open
May 15, 2026 | Vince Lara-Cinisomo These three RST graduates “always knew” they’d be working together again someday More than a decade after their time together at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, three alumni from the Department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism have found themselves reunited in a place far removed from campus, yet deeply […]
Talking to families about forever chemicals
May 15, 2026 | Ethan Simmons New research is testing effective ways to communicate with families about chemical exposures Among the last things a mother wants to hear is that chemical compounds found nearly everywhere in the modern environment—our clothing, packaging, plastics and drinking water—could have implications for their child’s development in the womb. Sarah […]
From the lab to the concert hall, virtual reality plays a growing role in acoustics studies
May 05, 2026 | Ethan Simmons Virtual reality helps “bridge the gap” between lab environments and the real world At the Speech Accommodation to Acoustics Lab, researchers are trying to solve a common problem for teachers and vocal performers. How can they be heard and understood without straining their voices? Pasquale Bottalico, associate professor of […]
Where does AI fit into the big picture of public health?
May 13, 2026 | Ethan Simmons AI could revolutionize disease prevention—but flawed data risks deepening health inequalities In the view of University of Illinois public health researcher Bruno Nunes, artificial intelligence shapes up as a potent tool to predict and prevent public health problems, such as chronic diseases. But before AI-powered models are deployed in […]
Spring 2026: Message from HK Department Head Kim Graber
May 13, 2026 | Kim Graber Hello faculty, staff, alumni and friends, As we move through another dynamic semester in the Department of Health and Kinesiology, I am continually struck by the breadth and impact of the work happening across our department. This spring, our faculty, students and alumni have advanced important conversations at the […]
AHS Faculty Q&A: Robyn Gobin understands trauma as both professor and clinician
May 13, 2026 | Ethan Simmons Health and Kinesiology Associate Professor Robyn Gobin inhabits many roles—teacher, researcher, psychologist, author—which continue to influence each other. Gobin is a trauma specialist: she works with domestic violence survivors and military Veterans and has published studies about their experiences. Gobin joined the Department of Health and Kinesiology in 2015, […]
Researcher Soyoung Choi pushes Pilates toward evidence-based wellness
May 13, 2026 | Vince Lara-Cinisomo Pilates promises transformations, but science reveals quieter, longer-lasting health benefits. In the age of algorithm-driven fitness trends and curated wellness aesthetics, reformer Pilates has become a cultural phenomenon, celebrated as much for its sleek studios and celebrity endorsements as for its exercise benefits. But beneath the social media sheen, […]
Our 2026 College of Applied Health Sciences award winners
May 08, 2026 | Ethan Simmons At the spring college meeting for the College of Applied Health Sciences, our faculty and staff gathered to celebrate this year’s college award winners, and give send-offs to two faculty leaders who are entering retirement: Speech and Hearing Science Professor and former Department Head Pamela Hadley and AHS Professor […]
Jeff Woods’ retirement closes a chapter in the College of Applied Health Sciences
May 08, 2026 | Vince Lara-Cinisomo Woods leaves a legacy of groundbreaking research and inspired mentorship After a noteworthy tenure spanning more than three decades at the University of Illinois, Jeffrey Woods, Ph.D., the associate dean for research in the College of Applied Health Sciences and a national leader in exercise physiology research, has announced his retirement, marking the end of an […]