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 […]
Tag: Recreation Sport and Tourism
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 […]
How ORPR is shaping the future of parks and recreation
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 […]
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 […]
News Bureau: Nature videography replicates the mental health benefits of outdoor activities
April 15, 2026 | Sharita Forrest A study on nature-based videography took this Recreation, Sport and Tourism doctoral student to parks and forest preserves in Florida New research led by a scholar at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign suggests that watching and creating videography of scenic locations cultivates nature-based mindfulness — conveying the same cognitive […]
The intern who turned an ejection into a career lesson
April 10, 2026 | Ethan Simmons One embarrassing moment produced viral fame and lifelong lessons for this Recreation, Sport and Tourism alum. At their best, college internships are valuable learning experiences. Derek Dye didn’t expect his to involve getting tossed out of a baseball game. That was the viral story for this University of Illinois […]
RST: A history of Black American runners at the Boston Marathon
Feb. 26, 2026 | Ethan Simmons A new essay from a Recreation, Sport and Tourism professor shows these runners “shaping their own destinies” on a premier stage of the sport. The Boston Marathon’s first known Black finishers. The first Black American to run the marathon in the Olympics. A charismatic road race organizer who ran […]