May 21, 2025 Hello RST Friends and Alumni, Welcome to the spring 2025 edition of the RST newsletter! We are excited to share some of the latest research breakthroughs from our faculty, outstanding student achievements and the ongoing contributions of our incredible alumni. This year, we are especially proud to showcase how our students and […]
Author: Sydney Flowers
Remembering pioneering scholar Jack Kelly
May 21, 2025 | Laura Payne, Mike Raycraft, Kim Shinew and Monika Stodolska Jack Kelly, a professor in the Department of Leisure Studies at Illinois for many years, died on Feb. 10, 2025, at the age of 94. Faculty members of the Department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism collaborated to write this remembrance of Kelly. […]
2025 Sapora Symposium: Honoring a century of legacy at Huff Hall
May 21, 2025 | Vince Lara-Cinisomo George Huff was the theme, but Grimace stole the show The theme of the 2025 Sapora Symposium was visionary leadership, coinciding with the 100th anniversary of Huff Hall and paying tribute to the legacy of George Huff. Only one thing could potentially overshadow that, and it is purple and lovable: Grimace. […]
The role of racial segregation and park availability in physical activity
May 22, 2025 | Vince Lara-Cinisomo RST researchers set out to explore how racial residential segregation impacts leisure-time physical activity prevalence and how park availability influences this relationship In cities across the United States, physical activity is often promoted as a cornerstone of public health, yet disparities in access and engagement persist. Despite the well-documented […]
HK spring 2025 department head message
May 21, 2025 Hello, Health and Kinesiology family, Welcome to the spring 2025 edition of our newsletter! This marks our first spring semester under our new department name, officially changed last August. We have exciting updates to share and plenty to celebrate. Inside, you’ll learn about the importance of specialized faculty, how digital-voice assistants support […]
SHS researchers bridge research and real life
May 20, 2025 | Vince Lara-Cinisomo The work at the College of Applied Health Sciences doesn’t stay in the lab—it transforms lives. Faculty such as Meaghan McKenna and Laura Mattie exemplify the college’s commitment to bridging research with community impact. Whether developing interventions for literacy in schools or building relationships with families of children with disabilities, they show how […]
Fogerty-led research team tackles hearing health disparities with innovative at-home assessment
May 20, 2025 | Adelyn Mui Research for a gap in treatment for hearing in noisy environments has been active for decades Approximately 37.5 million adults in the United States experience hearing loss. A team from the University of Illinois is working to alleviate barriers in accessibility and affordability to hearing health care. Dan Fogerty, an […]
The science of sound: Understanding how the brain helps us hear in noise
May 20, 2025 | Vince Lara-Cinisomo A new study aims to deepen our understanding of how the brain influences our ability to distinguish speech amid background noise For millions of people worldwide, hearing loss is not simply a matter of volume but clarity—especially in noisy environments. Struggling to distinguish a single voice in a crowded […]
Message from Department Head Pamela Hadley
May 20, 2025 | Dear Students, Faculty, Alumni and Friends of the Department of Speech and Hearing Science, As we step into the energy of spring 2025, I’m excited to share the latest updates from our department. It’s been a remarkable year, and we have so much to celebrate! Our commitment to advancing the field […]
New SHS faculty member advancing communication for individuals with disabilities
May 20, 2025 | Adelyn Mui AAC refers to a range of methods that people use to communicate, other than spoken language By ADELYN MUI Savanna Brittlebank has dedicated her academic career to improving communication for individuals with complex needs. As a new faculty member in the Department of Speech and Hearing Science in the College of Applied […]