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 […]
Category: College of Applied Health Sciences
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
News Bureau: How social media promotion and ease of access increase risks of adolescent inhalant misuse
May 2, 2026 | Diana Yates, News Bureau Two new studies co-authored by Health and Kinesiology Assistant Professor Rachel Hoopsick offer insights into the spread of nitrous oxide misuse among adolescents. What Hoopsick found in two studies: Millions of Americans were exposed to content about recreational nitrous oxide use from just 30 social media videos […]
University Updates: Laura Rice on preventing falls for wheelchair users
April 29, 2026 | Amanda Brennan, WCIA News The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports falls are the leading cause of injury for adults 65 and older. People in wheelchairs are at an even higher risk. That’s a primary focus for Health and Kinesiology Associate Professor Laura Rice and her research at the University of […]
Roots and reach: Malandraki named Khan Professor in Applied Health Sciences
April 30, 2026 | Vince Lara-Cinisomo SHS Department head thanks her parents and mentors for helping reach a career milestone The investiture of Georgia Malandraki as the Shahid and Ann Carlson Khan Professor of Applied Health Sciences was, in many ways, a story about roots and the far-reaching branches they sustain. Held at Huff Hall, the ceremony brought together […]
Support swells for iPALS summer enrichment program
April 27, 2026 | Ethan Simmons This summertime enrichment program for local youth run by Health and Kinesiology at Illinois is back in Champaign A group of Illinois physical education alumni are supporting one of the College of Applied Health Sciences’ longest-running youth programs as it returns to Champaign. Three graduates of the former Department […]