Oct. 30, 2025 | Vince Lara-Cinisomo Did digital gestures from destination marketing organizations resonate with Black travelers? In the summer of 2020, when streets across the U.S. filled with protests for racial and social justice, something unusual happened in the world of tourism. Destination marketing organizations—better known as DMOs—suddenly became vocal online allies. Their Instagram […]
Author: Ethan Charles Simmons
Tattoos as anchors of transformative travel
Oct. 27, 2025 | Vince Lara-Cinisomo A new RST study examines how tattoos from memorable trips continue to ‘speak’ over time At the intersection of body art and travel lies a fascinating phenomenon: tattoos serving as anchors of transformative experiences. A new study from Recreation, Sport and Tourism faculty members Toni Liechty and Joelle Soulard, […]
Teaching the next ‘champions for change’ in sport
Oct. 24, 2025 | Ethan Simmons This Recreation, Sport and Tourism course brought together undergrads and local high school student-athletes, to understand how sport can produce positive social change. A new Recreation, Sport and Tourism course—Inclusive Champions for Change through Sport, or IC-ChangeS for short—is challenging Illinois students to understand how sports can provide a […]
U. of I. trial will test if exercise can improve protein efficiency for older adults with type 2 diabetes
Oct. 25, 2025 | Ethan Simmons Can regular exercise reduce the protein needs of adults with type 2 diabetes? For healthy adults, roughly .8 grams of protein per kilogram of bodyweight per day is enough to maintain muscle mass and support daily function. But for adults with type 2 diabetes, an estimated 1 in 10 […]
Understanding the trauma coping of Ukrainian refugees
Oct. 21, 2025 | Ethan Simmons ‘This was by far the most difficult and I think impactful work that I have done’ Sitting face-to-face with Ukrainian refugees who had escaped to Poland after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Recreation, Sport and Tourism Professor Monika Stodolska asked a set of questions many of them hadn’t considered. Namely, […]
Meet Jerri and Lesli, our newest American Sign Language instructors
Oct. 16, 2025 | Ethan Simmons New Speech and Hearing Science instructors Lesli Williams and Jerri Seremeth are both “native signers”—they grew up learning American Sign Language as their first language and primary mode of communication. They joined the Department of Speech and Hearing Science this fall, and teach classes remotely. Which classes are you […]
Health study involves adults with Down syndrome ‘every step of the way’
Oct. 15, 2025 | Ethan Simmons NIH-funded study will develop community resources to support well-being of adults with Down syndrome The transition to adulthood can be a challenging phase for people with Down syndrome, as resources built to support them in their youth and in school begin to dry up. Marie Moore Channell, associate professor […]
AHS Faculty Q&A: Mariana Mendes Bahia on swallowing disorders and her research agenda
Oct. 14, 2025 | Ethan Simmons Speech and Hearing Science Assistant Professor Mariana Mendes Bahia, Ph.D. and CCC-SLP, is an expert on swallowing physiology, respiratory-swallowing coordination, and therapeutic strategies to alleviate swallowing disorders, called dysphagia. She joined the College of Applied Health Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in fall of 2024, and leads […]
WCIA: Otavio Leão explains the Illini Kindergarten Cohort
Oct. 10, 2025 | AHS Staff New research invites Champaign-Urbana families to help track children’s physical activity Health and Kinesiology Assistant Professor Otavio Leão appeared on WCIA 3 News segment “Community Spotlight” to explain a new research project recruiting young participants this fall. Illini Kindergarten Cohort is a study seeking to estimate the physical activity, […]
Exercise is Medicine On Campus month kicks off at Illinois
Oct. 09, 2025 | AHS Staff Join activities hosted by Health and Kinesiology faculty and students Exercise is Medicine on Campus (EIM-OC) is an annual initiative that calls upon colleges and universities to promote physical activity as a core component of health and wellness. More than 200 campuses in the United States have registered for […]