Recreation, Sport & Tourism

I am interested in becoming a professor in leisure studies/recreation management. My current research interest is to investigate the social benefits gained through participation in Esports and other gaming clubs, with the eventual goal of helping recreation-service providers develop community-oriented Esports programs that foster social connectedness and reduce loneliness among teens and young adults. I am currently working under the direction of Dr. Kim Shinew in developing my Master’s Thesis on this topic, where I will be surveying members of the Illinois Esports Group on campus.