Illinois Hosts TALS Conference
AHS E-News Spring 2020
Dr. Andrew Kerins of the Recreation Administration Program at Eastern Illinois University presents research conducted with RST professor Dr. Toni Liechty (in background)
More than 200 scholars, students, administrators, and professionals in the leisure field traveled to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign from nine countries for the 2020 conference of The Academy of Leisure Sciences (TALS). The conference featured panel presentations that focused on both research within the field and pedagogical issues related to leisure studies in higher education. The conference got underway on February 11 and ran through February 14.
"TALS is the biggest conference in the field of leisure for researchers and educators," said Dr. Monika Stodolska, who chaired the TALS 2020 Committee. "It was an honor to bring the conference to Illinois." Joining Dr. Stodolska on the program committee were RST faculty members Dr. Liza Berdychevsky, Dr. Toni Liechty, Dr. Kim Shinew, and Dr. Bill Stewart, and graduate student Leslie Camarillo. Instructional faculty members Don Hardin and Robyn Deterding also assisted with conference planning.
The conference opened with the JJ Bannon Keynote Lecture. Named for Dr. Joe Bannon, who served as head of what was then the Department of Leisure Studies at Illinois, the lecture focused on leisure and social justice.
During the conference, three RST professors were honored for their contributions to the profession. Dr. Carla Santos, head of the Department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism, was inducted as a Fellow of The Academy of Leisure Sciences. Dr. Monika Stodolska received a Distinguished Researcher Award, and Dr. Kimberly Shinew received the TALS Distinguished Colleague Award.
The Academy of Leisure Sciences was founded in 1980 by former presidents of the Society of Park and Recreation Educators, including Dr. Allen Sapora, who played a pivotal role in establishing RST at Illinois and who served as head of the department.
CILRA Also Holds Conference at Illinois
Prior to The Academy of Leisure Sciences conference, the China-International Leisure Research Association (CILRA) held its annual conference at Illinois.
In addition to institutions from across the United States, CILRA attracted scholars from a number of universities in China, Taiwan, Canada, and Argentina.