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 […]
Tag: Moving Forward
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, […]
Remembering Ron Dodd, a leader in public parks and recreation
Oct. 27, 2025 | Laura Payne RST alumni fondly remember a leader in the field Ron Dodd, former director of the Joliet Park District and an RST alumnus, passed away on July 31, 2025, at the age of 84. Dodd was a leader and educator in public parks and recreation and the embodiment of a […]
Remembering Dr. Laurence Chalip, a giant in sport policy and management
Oct. 27, 2025 | Laura Payne RST alumni fondly remember a former department head Dr. Laurence Chalip, former head of the Department of Recreation Sport and Tourism and a Brightbill/Sapora professor, died on Sept. 5, 2025, at the age of 74. Chalip was a global leader and visionary in the field of sport policy and […]
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, […]
Illinois researcher earns NIH subaward to advance cochlear implant technology
Oct. 27, 2025 | Vince Lara-Cinisomo New grant advances cochlear implant noise reduction Justin Aronoff, an associate professor in the Department of Speech and Hearing Science in the College of Applied Health Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, has received a subaward on a Phase I Small Business Innovation Research grant from the National […]
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 […]
A legacy of fitness: The influence of T.K. Cureton on Illinois’ health and wellness revolution
Oct. 01, 2025 | Vince Lara-Cinisomo “It’s never too late to begin getting into shape but it does take daily, sometimes painful, perseverance. After all, you can’t expect in a week’s time to make over a body that took years to wreck.” – Thomas K. Cureton, Jr. In the College of Applied Health Sciences at […]
Celebrating 100 Years of Huff Hall: A Legacy of Tradition and Excellence
Oct. 01, 2025 | Vince Lara-Cinisomo For a century, Huff Hall has stood as a cornerstone of Illinois athletics—hosting generations of Fighting Illini athletes and fans—as well as academics, functioning as the home base for the College of Applied Health Sciences. As we celebrate the 100th anniversary of this historic venue, we reflect on its […]