Message from the department head

Oct. 27, 2025 | Carla Santos Dear RST Friends and Alumni, As the fall semester unfolds, I am delighted to share the newest edition of our Recreation, Sport and Tourism newsletter. This issue reflects the breadth of scholarship, creativity and connection that define our department. Among the stories you’ll read are the work of Charis […]

2025 RST department head message

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 […]

Message from the RST Department Head

Oct. 22, 2024 | Carla Santos Greetings, Friends and Alumni of the Department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism, Welcome to the fall 2024 edition of the RST newsletter. I am pleased to share highlights of the latest research from our faculty, remarkable student achievements, and the continued involvement of our distinguished alumni. We are proud […]

Message from Department Head Carla Santos

Oct. 22, 2022 | Carla Santos Dear Alumni and Friends, Welcome to the fall issue of RST E-News! We have had a whirlwind start to academic year 2022-23, enrolling 296 student majors and adding four new professors to our tenure-track and specialized faculties. In this issue, we’ll introduce you to Assistant Professor Nicholas Pitas, Associate […]

RST Student Startup Built to Help Venues Stay Booked

Jan. 10, 2024 | Ethan Simmons What’s driven the startup’s early success is a “customer-centric approach,” which solved a direct problem vendors were facing.  Atop the usual final exams and projects, University of Illinois senior Sean Chang has been charting a different path for his final year in the Recreation, Sport and Tourism program—by building […]

Former RST department head Joe Bannon dies at 89

April 02, 2021 | Peter Bannon It is with great sadness that we report the passing of our dear friend, mentor, leader, and colleague, Dr. Joe Bannon. Joe was the bedrock of our field. Joe’s legacy of devotion to students and the Department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism at the University of Illinois lives on. […]

RST student Javier Maldonado talks about how COVID changed his summer

July 28, 2020 | Vince Lara-Cinisomo Students in the Department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism in the College of Applied Health Sciences at the University of Illinois have had to adjust their internships because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Periodically, we will speak with them about how those changes have affected their summer plans and potentially […]

RST Senior Brendan Ross discusses his alternate internship in wake of COVID-19

July 01, 2020 | Vince Lara-Cinisomo Students in the Department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism in the College of Applied Health Sciences at the University of Illinois have had to adjust their internships because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Periodically, we will speak with them about how those changes have affected their summer plans and potentially […]

RST student Matt Maguire talks about alternative internship

June 22, 2020 | Vince Lara-Cinisomo Students in the Department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism in the College of Applied Health Sciences at the University of Illinois have had to adjust their internships because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Periodically, we will speak with them about how those changes have affected their summer plans and potentially […]

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