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 […]
Author: Vince Lara-Cinisomo
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 […]
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 […]
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, […]
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 […]