Category: College of Applied Health Sciences

At 10 years, Chez Veterans Center honors its family and friends

May 19, 2025 | Ethan Simmons

After long journeys to Urbana-Champaign, the Chez family joined each other at the campus center bearing their name, beaming with pride. 

The Chez family (from left: Ilyse Chez, Eden Macknin, Julie and Eric Chez) smiles at the 10th anniversary celebration of the center.

Thirteen years ago, Ron Chez—a 1962 University of Illinois graduate and Army veteran turned investor and philanthropist—provided a lead gift to build the Chez Veterans Center. Since then, the campus hub has assisted the transition to higher education and beyond for many hundreds of student Veterans and military-connected students since its opening a decade ago. 

Though Ron couldn’t be there for its 10-year anniversary, his son Eric, daughter-in-law Julie and granddaughters Ilyse and Eden traveled from locations across the country to attend on his behalf, and see the center’s community reflect on its first 10 years.

As they mingled with students and recent graduates who have benefited from the Chez Veterans Center, the family was moved to see Ron’s commitment realized before them. 

“It’s something we’re going to look at with continual pride, the growth and change of direction from where it was 10 years ago,” Eric Chez said. “Seeing that it’s all working and paying off is very rewarding.” 

The Chez Veterans Center has evolved since its doors first opened in 2015. Initially named the Chez Center for Wounded Veterans in Higher Education, the center’s scope has expanded to support new generations of student Veterans who didn’t see combat, as well as students from military families. The name was shortened to the Chez Veterans Center in 2019, after students and staff supported the change. 

With residential services available for student Veterans, combined with research opportunities, scholarships, classes and counseling, the Chez Veterans Center is a first-of-its-kind facility supporting Veterans’ transition to university life. On average, about 600 students have visited the center each semester since its opening. 

“The Chez Veterans Center is more than a building—clearly,” said Cheryl Hanley-Maxwell, dean of the College of Applied Health Sciences, the center’s home college. “It’s a space for healing, discovery, growth and empowerment. Every day it opens doors to Veterans who are reshaping their lives through educational service.”

“We’re honored to have the Chez family members here who carry forward Ron’s vision with compassion and grace,” she said at the center’s 10-year celebration. “I can’t tell you how much your presence means to our community.”

‘What a beautiful place’

In his early days as director of the Chez Veterans Center, Andy Bender was looking for as much thoughtful guidance as he could find. His chats with Ron Chez, including a visit to his home in Florida a couple years ago, helped Bender as he was getting on his feet. 

“Mr. Chez has been willing to listen to me, to guide and to provide advice and support,” Bender said. “To be honest, I don’t think I’ve ever had the experience where somebody is willing to give that kind of time in this way.” 

The 10-year celebration held on May 8 brought together the center’s students, staff and supporters together under one roof. It was the first time the Chez family visited the center together since its groundbreaking ceremony in Urbana, back in fall 2013. 

Cheryl Hanley-Maxwell, dean of the College of Applied Health Sciences.

Hearing stories of how the center has made a difference in students’ lives touched the Chez family, including Ilyse Chez, who works as a middle school counselor in Oregon. 

“What a beautiful place,” she said. “I think I underestimated all the aspects here. I wasn’t aware of how much it’s grown and expanded, and to see the benefits in action has been such a wonderful experience.”  

Back in 2012, Ron Chez pledged $6 million to cover nearly half of the center’s construction costs. The Chez Family Foundation has continued philanthropic work across the country and the Illinois campus, including a scholarship program for students with disabilities.  

“Being a Veteran is a really big part of his identity, and to begin to do something like this and create such a meaningful and profound impact like this is really special to him,” said Ron’s granddaughter Eden Macknin. “He feels a great deal of pride and gratitude to be able to provide for people who haven’t been taken care of as they should.” 

One graduating senior who stuck around for the festivities was Sam Bautista, a four-year Air Force Veteran who’s obtaining his degree in Community Health at Illinois. Bautista is keenly aware of how the Chez Veterans Center played a “crucial role” in his adjustment to college. 

“Veterans transitioning out are told by society that you need to ‘fit in’ to what society is. And that’s true in many aspects, but to have a place where you’re surrounded by Veterans who understand your experience, that’s what Chez provides for all of us here,” Bautista said. “The friends I’ve made here have said it’s one place for Veterans to call home while here at Illinois.” 

Education was always Bautista’s end goal. His next stop is a graduate program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 

“A lot of Veterans are hard on themselves—they need to give themselves credit for what they’ve done but then move onto their next chapter and enjoy it too,” he said. “Veterans are go-getters, we’re trained to be, it’s ingrained in us. When we find that passion again, you can reignite the fire you have in the military.” 

Sam Bautista (right) speaks with Michael and Susan Haney at the Chez Center’s 10th anniversary celebration.

A few key supporters were recognized for making the work of the Chez Veterans Center possible. 

  • Joe Rank, an Illinois alumnus, Vietnam War Veteran and member of the Chez advisory board, was presented the center’s inaugural Guidon Award for his continued partnership with the center. 
  • Susan and Michael Haney, alumni and longtime educators whose Ronald D. Paulsgrove Student Support Fund, named for Susan’s cousin who served in Vietnam, covers the non-academic costs of college for student Veterans. 
  • Naomi Winslow, who decided to honor her late husband Wayne, an Army and Air Force Veteran, by providing a named gift to the Chez Veterans Center. The center’s common area kitchen is now named after the couple. 
  • Tanya Gallagher, previous dean of the College of Applied Health Sciences who championed the Chez Center’s creation while she worked for Illinois. Gallagher was presented with a flag that had flown over the center.

Editor’s note: To learn more about the Chez Veterans Center, visit chezveteranscenter.ahs.illinois.edu

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From Mayo Clinic to Urbana-Champaign

May 22, 2025 | Anna Flanagan

In addition to their professional experience, Gabrielle Dillon and Jack Senefeld share research interests

Gabrielle Dillon, left, and Jack Senefeld share common backgrounds and research interests (Photo by Ethan Simmons)

When Gabrielle Dillon joined the Department of Health and Kinesiology in the College of Applied Health Sciences last fall, she was greeted by a familiar face. She and Jack Senefeld, who had joined HK in fall 2023, had briefly overlapped in professional positions at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. 

Senefeld, who’d completed his Ph.D. at Marquette University, ended his five-year stint with Mayo in 2023 as a member of the College of Medicine faculty and an associate consultant in the Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine and the Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering. Dillon joined the Human Integrative Physiology Lab in Mayo’s Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine as a postdoctoral fellow in 2022 after completing her Ph.D. at The Pennsylvania State University. They were in different labs in the same department, but the labs collaborated closely.

Senefeld was happy to join the faculty at Illinois because of its outstanding reputation as a research university. 

“There are a lot of great tools here to be a successful scientist, and both the university and the College of Applied Health Sciences are highly regarded,” he said. 

When another faculty position opened just a year after his arrival, Senefeld forwarded the announcement to “big names and rising stars” in the field, among them his Mayo colleague Dillon.

“I knew both her Ph.D. mentor and her postdoctoral mentor, and her academic credentials are impeccable,” he said. “So we felt really fortunate when we saw her application in the pile.” 

In addition to their professional experience, Dillon and Senefeld share research interests. They were members of a working group at Mayo that examined sex differences and physiology, and each makes a point of addressing women’s health in their work.

Dillon’s research focuses on vascular and cardiovascular physiology.

“I’m currently examining vascular testing across a woman’s lifespan and looking at whether physical activity can combat adverse cardiovascular aging and adverse menopause effects,” she said. She hopes not only to advance knowledge related to women’s cardiovascular health, but also to identify effective physical activity-based interventions to improve cardiovascular health. A secondary line of research examines the relationship between birth control and cardiovascular health in women.

Senefeld’s research seeks to understand and to mitigate the detrimental effects of metabolic disease and aging. 

I think we’re both very fortunate to have landed jobs here, and we’re very pleased to be here.

Jack Senefeld

HK assistant professor

“My research focuses primarily on advancing understanding of non-pharmacological interventions—particularly exercise—for aging and metabolic disease,” he said. “I’m investigating how people with prediabetes perform during exercise, specifically how their skeletal muscle performs.”

Through his research, Senefeld hopes to shed light on why people have difficulty complying with exercise guidelines that are known to slow down the progression of diabetes, particularly in older adults. His research will examine how muscles combat fatigue in that population in hopes of increasing their ability to exercise, and he intends to investigate sex differences in muscle performance.

Senefeld and Dillon agree that Illinois is a great place to do human subjects research. 

“The standard barriers to human subjects research have really been eliminated here,” Senefeld said. “We have health centers in the area, wonderful laboratory resources for science and multiple units on campus that can analyze samples. And from a practical standpoint, we have parking right outside the building.”

Dillon adds that the departmental culture fosters a supportive research environment. 

 “Everyone is excited, motivated and eager to collaborate,” she said. “As a new faculty member, I have found everyone to be extremely helpful. We also have a great dean and department head, both of whom are very encouraging.”

Dillon and Senefeld are equally passionate about their teaching. They’ve attended workshops through the Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning on campus as well as faculty seminars developed by Amy Woods, associate dean for faculty affairs in AHS, and have applied what they’ve learned to co-developing undergraduate and graduate classes. They also are working with the AHS Office of Online Education and Learning Design to develop more effective ways of reaching digitally oriented students.

The heavy demands on young tenure-track scholars have not dampened their enthusiasm for service to their profession. Senefeld co-directs the Lifetime Fitness Program, an exercise program that offers older individuals in the Urbana-Champaign community exercise classes taught by undergraduate and graduate students in health and kinesiology. Dillon is active in the American Physiological Society, of which both she and Senefeld are members. She has developed webinars and career panels for APS, as well as serving on its awards committee. Both are also members of the American College of Sports Medicine, in which Senefeld was recently named a fellow.

The future is bright for Dillon and Senefeld, who are looking forward to long and productive careers at Illinois. As Senefeld put it, “I think we’re both very fortunate to have landed jobs here, and we’re very pleased to be here.”

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Study shows smart home technology to be beneficial for aging in place

May 22, 2025 | Jonathan King

Mobility disabilities, defined as a “serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs,” affect approximately 21 percent of adults 65 years of age and older

Saul Morse credits assistive technology for helping save his wife’s life (Photo provided)

Saul Morse believes his wife might not have survived a recent health episode without assistive technology.

“Had it not been for our voice-activated digital home assistant, we would not have been able to get my wife the urgent care she needed when she was having a stroke,” said Morse, a College of Applied Health Sciences alumnus and wheelchair user who has post-polio syndrome and is among the growing population of older adults who are aging in place with mobility disabilities. 

At the time of his wife’s stroke, Morse—the 2023 Harold Scharper Award recipient—was a participant in a study led by Health and Kinesiology Professor Wendy Rogers, whose research team equipped Morse with the smart home devices that became life-saving tools for him and his wife. Rogers’ study is but one pillar of her storied research career, during which she has worked closely with older adults aging in place to understand their unique challenges and accelerate innovations to improve their quality of life. 

Mobility disabilities, defined as a “serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs,” affect approximately 21 percent of adults 65 years of age and older, and this population of older adults only continues to increase, according to a paper from Rogers and her colleagues published in the Gerontechnology journal. Despite the challenges of mobility impairments, a majority of older adults choose to age in place to maintain autonomy and connection to their community. More than 75 percent of Americans 50 years of age and older choose this path.

With the rise in the availability of smart home technology, Rogers identified the potential role of this technology to provide a significant boon to the growing population of older adults with mobility disabilities. Rogers initiated an investigation into smart home technology for older adults in 2019, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic’s stay-at-home orders only further highlighted the critical role that smart home technology can play to boost independence and reduce isolation for many older adults aging in place.  

“It is important to offer older adults with long-term mobility disabilities suitable strategies to maintain and postpone significant declines in functional independence,” said Rogers, who, along with Kim Graber, is one of two Shahid and Ann Carlson Khan Professors of Applied Health Sciences.

In this strategic research project, Rogers’ preliminary study, funded in part by the Illinois Department of Aging, investigated ways of reducing feelings of isolation and loneliness and increasing support for older adults. Since then, Rogers has developed a robust portfolio documenting her lab’s study of the role of smart home technology for older adults aging in place. 

In January 2020, Rogers and her team published the first paper of this study detailing perceptions of digital assistant devices by early technology adopting older adults. From there, they introduced a group of older adults to two different Amazon digital home assistants, the Echo Show and Echo Speaker, to investigate how older adults interact with those devices and what activities the devices supported. A 2023 paper reported Rogers’ study of specific technology-training needs shared by older adults who do not have experience with such devices. 

Those findings informed the next stage of Rogers’ multi-year research project funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research: the creation of a technology suite to equip and empower older adults with all the tools necessary to overcome the obstacles to technology adoption and proper usage. To that end, Rogers’ team developed the Digital Assistance in a Box, or DAB, for the study’s 24 participants, who used the at-home technologies for five weeks.

The DAB included an Amazon Echo Show 8, Philips Hue Smart Lightbulb, an Amazon Smart Plug and a custom-designed instructional manual. 

It is important to offer older adults with long-term mobility disabilities suitable strategies to maintain and postpone significant declines in functional independence.

Wendy Rogers

HK Professor

“I never intended to use this kind of technology, because I was concerned about what would be recorded on the manufacturer’s servers,” Morse said. “But as a participant in the study, we installed a digital voice assistant and smart bulbs and plugs in my office and in our living room and bedroom. Being in a wheelchair, I saw the utility of these technologies right away. What most impressed me, though, were the custom user manuals—even a technophobe could use and appreciate them.”

Rogers’ most recent papers from this project are “Supporting older adults with mobility disabilities through voice-activated digital assistants and smart home technologies” (2024) and “Multifaceted perspectives about digital home assistants and privacy from older adults with mobility disabilities” (2025), both published in the Gerontechnology journal. This latest paper reports findings from an optional follow-up 10-week study conducted for previous study participants. 

Where previous studies looked at the viability of smart home technology for older adults, considering the range of activities they can support and how they might remedy loneliness, Rogers’ latest investigation zeroed in on a deeper exploration of older adults’ attitudes specifically regarding DHAs. Rogers’ team identified a few primary threats that might prevent older adults from adopting DHAs. In addition to the common barrier of learning to use a new technology, only a few older adults reported a lack of trust for manufacturers and a concern for their privacy. 

Overall, study participants reported using DHAs for a wide variety of everyday activities and shared that the benefits of DHAs outweigh the risks. Participants reported using DHAs for leisure, hobby, entertainment, and health monitoring and maintenance endeavors. In fact, the results emphasize that DHAs specifically are particularly useful for older adults with mobility disabilities because of the voice-activated nature of such technologies. 

“There’s a misperception that older adults don’t want to use technology,” Rogers said. “I’m an advocate for providing them with the support they need to use technology innovations. The benefits of reduced loneliness and isolation are a significant incentive. This latest study suggests that with increased education and training about privacy risks and protective strategies, older adults can experience the benefits of this assistant technology.”

In addition to this study, Rogers is working on multiple projects to benefit older adults aging in place. In partnership with researchers at TechSAge, she is investigating solutions for older adults with long-term vision or hearing impairments. Laura Rice, an associate professor in HK, and director of TechSAge, is leading a project to develop a fall-detection device for those in wheelchairs. At the McKechnie Family LIFE Home, Rogers is working with Girish Krishan, associate professor Industrial & Enterprise Systems Engineering, and Ian Rice, associate professor in HK, to develop a fall-prevention robotic shower. And there’s also a project with Katie Driggs-Campbell in Electrical and Computer Engineering to develop a wayfinding robot for adults with vision disabilities. 

“We are studying the actual needs for aging in place for older adults and then coming back to our lab to work with engineers on how we can implement creative solutions that will improve the quality of life for older adults who are aging in place,” Rogers said. “Our study of DHAs, specifically, is a premier example of what makes Applied Health Sciences a special place, as we are doing the systematic interdisciplinary research necessary to produce responsive and supportive innovations to support people in our community.” 

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Wolff brings hands-on approach to musculoskeletal anatomy course

May 22, 2025 | Vince Lara-Cinisomo

Many students majoring in HK want to pursue careers in occupational therapy, physical therapy and athletic training

Whitney Wolff was asked to develop a musculoskeletal anatomy course (Photo by Ethan Simmons)

Whitney Wolff had just completed a semester as an assistant professor at tiny Lakeland University in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, when the opportunity to work at an R1 university arose.

Wolff, who earned her Ph.D. from the University of Michigan in 2022, taught at Lakeland—student population approximately 2,500—that fall before applying to the Department of Health and Kinesiology in the College of Applied Health Sciences. As part of this process, the department asked her to develop a musculoskeletal anatomy course.

“Our HK faculty identified a need for a musculoskeletal anatomy course so the students could strengthen their understanding in an applied setting,” said Wolff, now a teaching assistant professor in Health and Kinesiology. 

Many students majoring in HK want to pursue careers in occupational therapy, physical therapy and athletic training, and those fields dovetail with Wolff’s experience.

“I was on the pre-physical therapy track for the first three years of my undergraduate degree. I went to a university that required a semester-long, 40-hour a week internship and an extensive practicum experience, both of which I spent in a physical therapy setting,” she said. “I had a lot of experience observing and shadowing physical therapists, and it just wasn’t for me. However, I was able to draw on those experiences while designing this course.”

Wolff’s academic journey began with a B.S. in Exercise Science and a Master of Education in Kinesiology from Bowling Green State University, followed by a Ph.D. in Movement Science from the University of Michigan.

When she saw a faculty position open at Illinois, she jumped at the chance.

“It was primarily Illinois’ strong kinesiology program and the opportunity to be a part of a department that values both research and teaching. I was also excited by the high caliber of students that I’d be able to teach and mentor,” she said as to why she chose to come to Illinois.

Wolff believes her knowledge of the field as well as her methods are beneficial to students.

“I really challenge my students to develop a set of practical skills that will benefit them in graduate school and beyond. This is why I emphasize hands-on experience and less of ‘Can I memorize this information and then ace an exam’?”

“My approach to this course has been shaped by my experiences as well as knowing that these students want to be successful in very challenging careers.”

Wolff wanted the course to be more experiential learning and not just “listening to me talk about anatomy.”

Since kinesiology-related careers often involve working with other people, it’s an important experience for the students so that they discover whether this is a good fit for them

Whitney Wolff

Teaching Assistant Professor, Health and Kinesiology

“I designed musculoskeletal anatomy to be a lab-based course where 90 percent of the students’ time in class is spent completing hands-on activities. They’re working through the process themselves, and I can really see them grow and improve rapidly. It has been a really fun class to develop.”

Wolff informed the course design by talking with friends and colleagues who went through our nation’s leading physical therapy programs, asking about how they prepare for patient-clinician interactions and what anatomy courses are like in those programs.

“In typical undergraduate anatomy courses, (students) learn to identify the muscles on an image or on a plasticized model, whereas you look at us, we’re covered in skin and subcutaneous fat. Kinesiologists need to be able to identify muscles and bony landmarks on a living, breathing person that moves and changes position.”

As much “hands-on” learning as there is, Wolff is more “hands-off,” allowing students to explore and practice without fear of making mistakes. 

And if students aren’t comfortable with being touched or touching others, Wolff will accommodate in class but did acknowledge that that could be a sign a student is in the wrong major.

“Since kinesiology-related careers often involve working with other people, it’s an important experience for the students so that they discover whether this is a good fit for them,” she said.

In addition to teaching, Wolff’s research focuses on the biomechanical presentation of idiopathic chronic neck pain in males and females. Her ultimate research goal is to design and implement workplace interventions aimed at preventing and treating idiopathic chronic neck pain. 

Wolff said part of that research will involve how to manipulate seated posture without the need for an expensive ergonomic chair.

“(Neck pain) is often linked with static work postures such as sitting at a computer, so (an intervention) could be movement-based or could include adjustments to shoulder, head and neck posture. If we can identify the seated posture that decreases musculoskeletal strain of the neck and shoulder while being comfortable enough that an individual can maintain the posture, that could potentially decrease the likelihood of developing idiopathic chronic neck pain,” she said.

Editor’s note:

To reach Vince Lara-Cinisomo, email vinlara@illinois.edu.
 

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Can a special diet promote children’s focus?

May 22, 2025 | Ethan Simmons

HK researchers found that the school children who more closely adhered to a special diet showed better control over their attention

A diet rich in fiber and antioxidants shows promise for children’s mental abilities, according to Shelby Keye’s research (Photo by Ethan Simmons)

A diet rich in fiber and antioxidants, low in fat and full of colorful berries and vegetables has shown a strong connection to slowed cognitive decline in older adults. This same Mediterranean-influenced diet shows promise for children’s mental abilities, too. 

A recent study led by University of Illinois Health and Kinesiology Assistant Professor Shelby Keye compared elementary school kids’ food intake to this specific diet pattern—fittingly called the MIND diet—and measured how those kids performed on a task designed to challenge their attention span. 

Keye and a team of researchers, including Health and Kinesiology Associate Professor Naiman Khan and Illinois Nutritional Sciences Ph.D. candidate Tori Holthaus, found that the school children who more closely adhered to this special diet showed better control over their attention. 

“When we see something in older adults, we’re like, ‘I wonder if we’re going to see that same thing with kids?’” Keye said. “That was the question: will the MIND diet be related to children’s cognitive skills?’”

The MIND diet is short for Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay. It’s a combination of the popular Mediterranean diet—which prioritizes beans, leafy vegetables, berries, seafood and olive oil—and the DASH diet, originally built to combat hypertension. 

Researchers at Rush University in Chicago combined elements of these two diets and found certain components were related to better cognitive health in older adults. 

To investigate whether the MIND diet had positive effects for kids’ brain health, the research team decided to study a pressing skill for any school-age child: paying attention. 

In early life, the human brain is developing all of its cognitive skills simultaneously. But in certain phases of development, specific skills are growing faster and are more sensitive to a person’s changes in health, Keye said. 

“Attention and inhibition around that elementary age is a particularly sensitive skill to health behaviors,” Keye said. “It may be because you have started school. And now, you’re in this environment where you have to inhibit, you have to prevent yourself from turning around and talking to your friend or even inhibit yourself from listening to internal thoughts.” 

Their study marks the first time the MIND diet has been analyzed in a population this young. The diet’s connection to attention control opens the gates for more specific, involved research into the diet’s potential effects.

“With us finding this relationship with the MIND diet, that means that those foods that are important for older adults could be just as important for children,” Keye said. 

To answer their question, the research team collected a week’s worth of dietary records for 129 local children, ages 7 to 11 years old. Parents of the child participants were tasked with recording everything their kid ate or drank for seven days, in close consultation with their children. 

The children’s diets were scored on their proximity to the MIND diet pattern versus the most recent Healthy Eating Index, a set of dietary guidelines developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The two diets are similar but emphasize different food groups: The MIND diet encourages more berries and olive oil, for example. 

Before gathering their diet records, the researchers collected the children’s demographic and anthropometric data—height, weight, age and the like. And each participant completed a cognitive test designed to challenge their focus, called the Eriksen-Flanker task. 

The task asks participants to look at a series of rapidly flashing arrows pointing in different directions on a computer screen, and mark which direction the arrow in the center of the image was pointing. (For kids, the arrows are replaced with pictures of fish.) 

The children who ate foods closer to the MIND diet scored more accurately on the attention task. The positive relationship did not show significant differences based on the children’s overall caloric intake, sex or household income. 

No significant relationship was found with the kids’ scores on the Healthy Eating Index guidelines. 

The children who ate foods closer to the MIND diet scored more accurately on the attention task.

“This is one study, and it’s one of the first,” Keye said. “But because we found a relationship, there is most likely something there.” 

As for why the diet had a relationship to attention control, Keye said a few possibilities are worth further research. 

Many of the dark green vegetables and berries present in the MIND diet are rich in antioxidants, which have an anti-inflammatory effect that helps with brain development and function, she said. 

Weight could also play a role. A separate study found that children who followed the MIND diet had a lower weight status on average—a higher weight status can relate to greater levels of inflammation and poorer cognitive performance. 

Also, physical activity and diet quality tend to go together in people, Keye said. It could be that the kids who ate more MIND diet foods focused better because of a healthier, more active lifestyle.  

Is the evidence enough to start changing children’s diets? More research is needed into the potential cause-and-effect, but if the benefits interest you, “I would not stray away,” Keye said. 

“I always try to just keep it simple while doing this type of work. Sometimes I find that people will read about this and say, ‘I’ve got to change all these things about my life,’” Keye said. “I study behavior change a little bit, and I find that it’s easier to start simple and do one thing.”

If the MIND diet’s potential benefits seem compelling, try adding in some berries and smoothies into your meal plan, or cooking with olive oil instead of butter for a week, Keye suggested. 

For now, the results from this study present a few next steps. Future studies can run diet interventions, where researchers control participants’ food intake to fit the MIND diet and observe any effects. Researchers could also make the same analysis of diet and attention control in an even younger group of child participants, or with a wider range of socioeconomic status. 

“We’re just excited to be doing the work and excited to have some interesting results,” Keye said. “And hopefully, one day, we can get a good intervention.”

To contact Shelby Keye, email skeye2@illinois.edu 

The paper, “MIND Diet Pattern Is Associated with Attentional Control in School-Aged Children,” was published in the Journal of Cognitive Enhancement in January 2025. It is available online.

DOI: 10.1007/s41465-025-00318-4

Editor’s note:

To reach Ethan Simmons, email ecsimmon@illinois.edu.
 

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A passion for teaching

May 22, 2025 | Anna Flanagan

Responsibility for teaching many courses offered by the department is also borne by another group of highly qualified individuals known as specialized faculty

Kristen DiFilippo was one of five Illinois faculty awarded for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching this year (Photo by Ethan Simmons)

Like the University of Illinois and the College of Applied Health Sciences, the Department of Health and Kinesiology pursues a three-pronged mission of leadership in research, teaching and service. It is the primary responsibility of tenure-track faculty to advance the research mission by successfully securing grants to support their work and by publishing extensively in the leading journals in their areas of expertise. 

Tenure-track faculty also teach, of course, but responsibility for teaching many courses offered by the department is also borne by another group of highly qualified individuals known as specialized faculty. More than 75% of the department’s specialized faculty hold doctoral degrees in such fields as kinesiology, community health, nutritional science, sociology and education.

“These are individuals who really enjoy teaching, who enjoy interacting with students and helping them along their educational journey,” said Health and Kinesiology Department Head Kim Graber. “They’re passionate about teaching and having an impact on the lives of undergraduate and graduate students.”

“Passion” is the word both Kristen DiFilippo and Kristin Carlson use when talking about teaching. Both hold positions as teaching assistant professors. Carlson was in a tenure-track position at another university when she realized she wasn’t as interested in doing research as she was in working with students. The teaching position at Illinois better aligned with her personal goals, she said, and she seized the opportunity to join the teaching faculty. That the decision was a good one is evidenced by Carlson receiving the 2023 Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Award: Specialized Faculty from the College of Applied Health Sciences.

“The university is known for its research—and it attracts a lot of students—but they are deeply concerned about the education they are receiving here,” she said. “We are able to provide a high-quality educational experience to our students, and we develop relationships with them as we see them time and again in the various classes we teach.” 

DiFilippo, who was one of five Illinois faculty awarded for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching this year,  shares Carlson’s enthusiasm for her primary role.

“My first love is the classroom, and teaching is valued here,” she said. “Specialized faculty play a significant role in the teaching mission and making sure that there is quality education being provided for our students. We are excited to be in the classroom.”

Some of their responsibilities straddle the line between teaching and service. Carlson, for example, oversees the department’s physical education teacher licensure program. She also serves as an assistant department head with a focus on curriculum. DiFilippo guides students in the Interdisciplinary Health Sciences degree program through their required internship experiences as a teacher of the 400-level internship course. She also is the lead teacher for the Interdisciplinary Health Sciences’ annual study abroad experience in Greece. 

These are individuals who really enjoy teaching, who enjoy interacting with students and helping them along their educational journey.

Kim Graber

HK Department head

While the lion’s share of their responsibilities relate to teaching, DiFilippo, Carlson and other members of the teaching faculty also are expected to contribute to the department’s research mission. DiFilippo applies her background in nutritional science to investigations of chronic disease prevention and management through the use of nutrition education and behavior change. She is a principal investigator on a seven-figure grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture that supports OneOp, a collaboration with the Department of Defense and Cooperative Extension that provides continuing education opportunities to health care providers who work with military-connected individuals. Carlson, a member of the Pedagogical Kinesiology Lab, focuses her research on incorporating academics into K-12 physical education and enhancing the fitness activities used in physical education classes. 

Although they are not eligible for tenure, DiFilippo and Carlson can apply for promotions similar to tenure-track faculty, from teaching assistant professor to teaching associate professor to teaching professor. Unlike tenure-track faculty, who must apply for tenure after five years or lose their positions, members of the teaching faculty may choose not to submit paperwork for promotion indefinitely, as long as their annual contracts are renewed. 

Graber said the teaching faculty are highly valued by the department and across campus.

“They step up in so many ways that enable the tenure-track faculty to focus on their research,” she said. “We wouldn’t be able to offer as many undergraduate and graduate classes as we do with the high quality that we are known for without our professionals who are devoted to teaching. They are a godsend.” 

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2025 RST department head message

May 21, 2025

RST Department Head Carla Santos at the department’s 2025 awards ceremony (Photo by Bradley Leeb)

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 faculty are leading the way in shaping the future of recreation, sport and tourism. From groundbreaking research to impactful community engagement, RST is at the forefront of addressing critical issues and advancing knowledge in our field.

In this issue, you’ll find stories on how racial segregation and park availability impacts physical activity, how misinformation can alter voters’ minds on green spaces, and the growing global impact of RST initiatives. As we reflect on the past year, I’m deeply thankful for the leadership and support from both our faculty and alumni. Together, we’re bridging the gap between academia and industry to drive meaningful change in communities near and far.

Thank you for being a vital part of our journey. Here’s to a brighter, healthier and more inclusive future!


Warm regards,
Carla Santos
Department Head

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Remembering pioneering scholar Jack Kelly

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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.

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 (University archives)

Professor Emeritus Jack Kelly was a trailblazer in the field of Leisure Studies and was instrumental in establishing the field of Leisure Studies. Kelly anticipated many societal issues and trends in the 1970s and early 1980s that advanced knowledge of healthy aging, the study of work and leisure, socialization and leisure and family leisure. 

“We as a field owe Jack a great deal,” said retired RST faculty member Kim Shinew, who joined Kelly at the University of Illinois in 1993.  “He catapulted us forward by making our research more relevant, and he increased our visibility to others outside the field.” Dr. Kelly’s research laid the theoretical foundations of the field through seminal works such as Leisure; Sociology of Leisure; Freedom to Be: A New Sociology of Leisure; and Leisure Identities and Interactions.

Kelly was one of the first leisure scholars to recognize that research advances were not keeping pace with societal trends and issues. He pushed the field to address the sociological and psychological aspects of leisure, which offered important advancements in leisure research and contributed to the development of professional best practices. A dynamic teacher, Kelly emphasized the connections between research and professional practice. 

“I was fortunate to be a student in Dr. Kelly’s final LEIS 501 course in the early 1990s,” said RST faculty member Michael Raycraft. “He made it clear that an appreciation of leisure theory was critical for practitioners as it guided informed decisions and was the basis for effective RST programming. That was heavy stuff for a kid fresh out of business school. I am grateful to have learned from one of the best!”

Kelly’s pioneering research and dynamic teaching are stellar accomplishments in their own rite, but even more impressive since higher education was his second career. 

Kelly grew up in Chicago and studied philosophy at Monmouth College and then earned an M.A. in Theology from Yale University to pursue a career as a congregational minister. Newly married to his beloved wife Ruth, the couple moved to rural Montana where Kelly served in two parishes that were so far apart, he flew his Cessna airplane back and forth between church services. In the 1960s, he decided to change careers and earned both master’s and doctoral degrees in sociology from the University of Oregon. 

Kelly spent most of his career at Illinois as a professor in the Department of Leisure Studies and the Institute for Human Development. He was also the Director of the Gerontology and Aging Studies program. “He enjoyed mentoring young faculty and encouraging them to conduct creative and meaningful research,” Shinew said. “Over coffee on campus or dinner at his home, Jack stressed the importance of research to advance the field.”  

Faculty member Monika Stodolska remembers meeting Kelly when she joined the faculty in 1999. “He mentored me in the first course I taught at UIUC. Jack taught Theories and Concepts of Leisure for a long time, and I began teaching the course when he retired from our faculty. I still use some of the classic texts that Jack put on the reading list. His legacy lives on.” 

After retiring, Kelly remained active doing research, teaching and publishing journal articles and books. He returned to Illinois in 2001 for one semester to teach a graduate course on Sociology of Leisure and connect with faculty and students. 

Faculty member Laura Payne recalled her first meeting with Dr. Kelly when she joined the department in 2001. 

“Jack was so welcoming and tried to connect with me,” Payne said. “We got together and discussed our shared interests in trends and issues, especially about health and aging, and I learned a lot from our thought-provoking conversations.”

A prolific writer, Kelly authored 11 books, many of which were considered seminal, including the classic conceptual and theoretical texts already mentioned, and widely read books such as Leisure, Activity and Aging, Recreation Business, and Recreation Trends and Markets in the 21st Century, whom he co-authored with Dr. Rodney Warnick, a faculty member at the University of Massachusetts.  

Kelly had a wide range of leisure interests. He enjoyed the arts, tennis, singing, reading, flying and the outdoors. After he retired, he and Ruth spent time at their homes on Beaver Island, Michigan and on Jekyll Island, Georgia where they enjoyed bicycling, tennis and other outdoor pursuits. 

“Jack’s life exemplified his knowledge of the importance of leisure throughout the lifespan. He practiced what he preached,” Shinew said.  

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2025 Sapora Symposium: Honoring a century of legacy at Huff Hall

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May 21, 2025 | Vince Lara-Cinisomo

George Huff was the theme, but Grimace stole the show

Lovable McDonald’s character Grimace made a surprise appearance at the 2025 Sapora Symposium (Photo by Ethan Simmons)

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 iconic McDonald’s character—who’s ostensibly a tastebud—made his appearance during one of the final Sapora panels on March 28 at the Armory. Grimace’s appearance coincided with a panel on viral marketing. Grimace became a good luck charm for the New York Mets after throwing out the first pitch at a game in June 2024, leading to a winning streak and a purple seat dedicated to him at Citi Field. 

But beside the big, purple spectacle, this year’s symposium carried greater significance as it coincided with the Huff centennial, a cornerstone of Illini academics and a testament to the university’s rich sports heritage. The event celebrated not only a century of excellence in sports and recreation but also paid tribute to the enduring legacy of George Huff, the visionary coach and administrator who transformed athletics at Illinois and beyond.

The Sapora Symposium was created and developed by the alumni advisory board of the Department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism in honor of the Department’s founder, Dr. Allen Sapora. Sapora was a cornerstone to the education and careers of many of our alumni. In recent years, the department has hosted the likes of the Stanley Cup, Governor J.B. Pritzker, Theo Epstein, and celebrated the lives of Illini legends Lou Henson, Red Grange and Theresa Grentz.

“Sapora is one of the signature components of the RST undergraduate experience,” said Clinical Associate Professor Mike Raycraft, who created the course. “It is always exciting to recruit high profile guests and inspire students to consider classroom knowledge in the context of industry leaders and influencers.”

The spring 2025 series was presented by The Specialized Marketing Group Inc., a global sports, promotional and experiential marketing company.

“Not only is this an incredible opportunity for students to learn from and connect with some of the most influential, successful people in Recreation, Sports and Tourism, it gives those of us who are already in the industry the opportunity to speak directly to the youth that will shape the future of our business,” said TSMGI founder and CEO Jordan S. Bressler. “We are thrilled to be a part of something that allows students the unique opportunity to gain invaluable knowledge and perspective as they determine what route they may wish to take.”

This year’s symposium is particularly noteworthy as it honored George Huff, a legendary figure whose influence continues to resonate within the Illinois community. As the university’s athletic director from 1901-36, Huff played a pivotal role in shaping modern college athletics. His foresight led to the construction of Memorial Stadium and the establishment of key athletic programs that set a precedent for institutions nationwide. Under his leadership, Illinois became a powerhouse in collegiate sports and his innovations in athletic administration laid the foundation for modern sports management practices.

Huff Hall has stood as a beacon of athletic excellence for a century. Originally constructed in 1925 as the Men’s New Gym, the facility was later renamed in honor of Huff to recognize his contributions to the university’s athletic legacy. Over the decades, Huff Hall has hosted countless historic moments, from a speech by First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt during World War II to championship basketball games to landmark wrestling matches to dance marathons, embodying the spirit of competition and community that Huff championed throughout his career.

The 2025 Sapora Symposium kicked off with an evening with RST alums Dee Brown and James Augustine at the Hubbard Inn, included a weekly Zoom webinar speaker series, continued with an all-day professional development event on campus and concluded with a site visit examining opportunities and impacts related to the WNBA’s Chicago Sky, Wintrust Sports Complex at the Village of Bedford Park, and MLB’s Chicago White Sox in April. In addition, it also included a pickleball fundraising event to benefit the Cunningham Children’s Home.

Raycraft and his work on the course sparked TSMGI’s involvement.

Grimace interacting with his fans (Photo by Ethan Simmons)

“The platform that Mike has created creates so much opportunity for amazing conversations and discussions,” said Carly Eilian, vice president of public relations and communications at TSMGI, based in Deerfield, Illinois. “We love being a part of something that allows students the unique opportunity to gain invaluable knowledge and perspective as they determine what route they may wish to take.”

Eilian said the symposium gives students the opportunity to learn from some of the most influential people in the recreation, sport and tourism industries, and that it allows people in the industry a direct pipeline to the next generation.

“We hope to continue the momentum of the symposium making it a must-attend event for our industry and prospective industry members,” she said.

Beyond the academic and professional development opportunities, the symposium also served as a celebration of the Illinois spirit. Alumni, faculty and students came together to honor Huff Hall’s centennial, reflecting on its storied past and looking ahead to its future role in fostering athletic and academic excellence. As the University of Illinois celebrates the 100th anniversary of Huff Hall, the 2025 Sapora Symposium stands as a fitting tribute to a man whose impact on collegiate athletics and sports management remains unparalleled.

As a testament to that, RST has established the Huff Society Fund. Gifts to the Huff Society Fund empower students in the Recreation, Sport, and Tourism program by supporting scholarships, hands-on learning opportunities, and event costs. Your generosity helps make transformative experiences—such as guest speaker events, experiential trips, and transportation—accessible to all students. 

Donations to the Huff Society Fund will also allow the department to recognize, recruit and retain top students while preparing them to become future leaders in the field. Donors to the Huff Society Fund join a passionate community of supporters dedicated to shaping the next generation of RST professionals.

Editor’s note:

To reach Vince Lara-Cinisomo, email vinlara@illinois.edu.
 

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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

Mariela Fernandez and Miki Sato uncovered complex dynamics that challenge the assumption that having more parks automatically leads to increased physical activity (Stock image)

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 benefits of leisure-time physical activity, many communities remain physically inactive. This issue is particularly pronounced in racially segregated areas, where systemic inequalities shape health outcomes. 

A recent study by RST faculty members Mariela Fernandez and Miki Sato set out to explore how racial residential segregation impacts leisure-time physical activity—or LTPA—prevalence and how park availability influences this relationship. By focusing on Chicago—a city marked by stark racial divides—researchers uncovered complex dynamics that challenge the assumption that having more parks automatically leads to increased physical activity in all communities.

Fernandez said although Chicago has many parks, many older, larger ones were built downtown in a time where space wasn’t as constrained as it is today. These older, larger parks are located in neighborhoods near middle-income white populations and also serve tourists.

“(The Chicago) Park District didn’t meet the demand. In some cases, African Americans and Latinos did have access to park spaces, but they didn’t have the recreational amenities that were most appropriate for them,” said Fernandez. “Some (racial) groups might have more small children, but those parks might not have playgrounds, so those (parks) weren’t as relevant.”

The study aimed to answer some fundamental questions: 

  • Is racial residential segregation associated with LTPA prevalence?
  • How is the availability of public parks associated with LTPA prevalence?
  • Does it affect the relationship between racial residential segregation and LTPA prevalence?

Fernandez and Sato sought to determine whether increasing park availability could serve as an effective strategy for encouraging physical activity in segregated communities.

The Role of Racial Segregation in Physical Activity

The findings of the study revealed that racial residential segregation is indeed associated with lower levels of LTPA. Specifically, Black/African American and Hispanic/Latino isolation correlated negatively with LTPA prevalence. This suggests that communities with higher concentrations of these racial groups—often shaped by historical and systemic segregation policies—experience lower levels of leisure-time physical activity.

The reasons behind this trend are multifaceted, Fernandez said. Segregated neighborhoods frequently face socioeconomic disadvantages, including higher poverty rates, reduced access to recreational facilities and increased safety concerns. Additionally, cultural and structural barriers—such as limited time for exercise due to work and family responsibilities—further contribute to disparities in physical activity levels.

(The Chicago) Park District didn’t meet the demand. In some cases, African Americans and Latinos did have access to park spaces, but they didn’t have the recreational amenities that were most appropriate for them.”

Mariela Fernandez

Associate Professor, RST

But sometimes the green space doesn’t include amenities that some groups want or focus on amenities that park officials believe residents want.

Of people she surveyed, Fernandez said they did want soccer fields, but they also wanted playgrounds and restrooms. 

“When the city was working with the community, they couldn’t really get away from ‘Oh, you want soccer fields.’ There’s still a lot of stereotypes, I feel, that need to be undone.”

The Influence of Park Availability

The study also examined how park availability interacts with these racial disparities in physical activity. Unsurprisingly, greater access to public parks was generally associated with higher LTPA prevalence. Parks offer crucial spaces for exercise, community engagement and outdoor recreation, making them valuable assets for promoting public health. However, the study’s findings challenge the notion that simply increasing the number of parks in segregated communities is a one-size-fits-all solution.

“When some of these places were created, the highways went into neighborhoods of color or they went around them,” Fernandez said. “If you live between the highways, you’re not going to go outside and do physical activity because it’s unsafe to cross streets. And you also have the issue of pollution. Air pollution, sound pollution.”

Another finding from the study is the negative influence effect of park availability on the relationship between Hispanic isolation and LTPA prevalence. The findings indicate that while increasing park availability can enhance LTPA prevalence in communities, the benefits are diminished in areas with high levels of Hispanic or Latino isolation.

Implications for Public Health Policy

Fernandez and Sato’s findings hold significant implications for policymakers and urban planners seeking to promote physical activity in racially segregated communities.

Beyond Infrastructure: While increasing park availability is a positive step, it is not a standalone solution. Investments must also address safety concerns, programming and community engagement to ensure that parks are truly accessible and welcoming spaces.

Culturally Relevant Programs: To effectively encourage LTPA, public health initiatives should incorporate culturally relevant exercise programs that resonate with the target communities. 

Addressing Structural Inequities: Efforts to reduce racial residential segregation and the socioeconomic disparities that accompany it should be a long-term priority. Economic investment in historically marginalized neighborhoods can help create environments where physical activity is more feasible and appealing.

Community Involvement: Residents must have a voice in the development and implementation of public health initiatives. By incorporating local perspectives, planners can better understand and address the specific barriers to physical activity that different communities face.

“Miki and I will definitely have to do some outreach to folks in urban planning, public health officials and park officials,” Fernandez said.

The overall goal, Fernandez and Sato say, is improving physical health and health outcomes, but simply building more parks will not be enough to close the gap, the researchers say. 

“Just because the space is there doesn’t necessarily mean everybody can utilize it,” Fernandez said. 

Editor’s note:

To reach Vince Lara-Cinisomo, email vinlara@illinois.edu.
 

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