Recreation, Sport, and Tourism | Page 11 | College of Applied Health Sciences

Alumni Spotlight—Sarah Beth Reno

Dec. 17, 2021 | Vince Lara-Cinisomo

Alumni of the College of Applied Health Sciences have myriad career options thanks to the tremendous diversity of programs. We periodically will put the spotlight on an alum to find out what they’re doing now, what experiences they had and what AHS means to them. This week, we talk to Sarah Beth Reno, an RST alum who is now Vice President of Guest Operations at Carnival Cruise Line.

Q: Why did you pick AHS?

A: I started my freshman year at U of I as a journalism major. But when I found out there was a major specifically for recreation, I immediately applied to transfer over. Growing up in a small town in Illinois, I always watched “The Love Boat” growing up. My dream was to leave small town and cold weather and work on a cruise ship. I really wanted my career to be fun. And I figured this was the path to get there.

Q: Why did you pick RST?

A: At the time, it was called Leisure Studies, so it took some courage to tell my friends and family this was my choice. And, when I went to visit someone at the college to talk about career opportunities, she informed me that “only magicians and comedians” work on ships. According to her, my career focus should be with the Chicago Park District. I’m sure she thought I was crazy when I asked her what that was (remember, I was from a VERY small town). Despite my lack of understanding, they let me in. I forged ahead, with the hope that a door would open for me somehow.

Q: Which professors had the most impact on you?

A: I had one professor that I will remember forever, and I lost track of him over the years (I know that’s a crazy thing to say in 2021). His name was Michael Phelan, and he made me and my fellow students feel we could do anything. We sat in his office for hours before and after class and talked about everything in life. He always told me that taking opportunities naturally leads to other opportunities. So, even if the job was not perfect—open the door and walk through it. That door will get you to another room (with another door or window) that may just be the opening to the perfect career. It was great advice. He also encouraged me to take an internship with the National Recreation and Park Association for a broader perspective. He was an amazing teacher, husband and father, and I will always remember his kindness and inspiration.

Q: What course did you most enjoy?

A: I’m too old to remember specific courses, but I enjoy all my courses because my professors were so much fun. Everyone was demanding but accessible, which I really valued. I always felt I found my home at AHS. I was no longer “lost” at a big university. This was a place I felt I could be myself and be appreciated for what I contributed.

Q: Did you enter AHS knowing your career path, or did AHS help you decide?

A: I was able to secure a job within the cruise industry through AHS. A recent graduate, Sally Evans, worked at Norwegian Cruise Line. She returned to interview students to work as youth staff onboard during high-season holidays. I secured a job as a teen coordinator onboard during my college breaks and continued within the industry ever since.

Q: Did your AHS experience lead to your current job?

A: The program Sally set up for us was an inspiration for me as my career progressed. When I arrived at Carnival Cruise Line’s Entertainment department, I worked with my team to set up an internship program for recreation students across the country. It was a big success, and many of the students secured full-time jobs within the entertainment department after graduation. I actually returned a few years ago to speak to AHS students about this opportunity. The students were so impressive and far more well-rounded than I ever was at that age. They knew what they wanted and were going for it.

Q: What does AHS mean to you?

A: Looking back to my college career, there were two, distinct benefits to being part of AHS:

1. The camaraderie everyone had with each other. The atmosphere was like working on board a cruise ship. Everyone was so different, but we all had the same “zest” for life. We all supported each other 100 percent—whether it be for a personal reason or to help with a class project. We were in it together.

2. The staff’s focus on true learning and improving yourself for a better future. I recall taking business and marketing classes where students were so competitive and hyper-focused on their grade-point average—people would calculate their grades at the end of each test. I was always perplexed by these hard-driving business majors, who thought I was crazy for majoring in Leisure Studies. In AHS, it truly was about the love of learning, doing your best and developing skills to forge your path in life. The professors taught us so much more than just the facts. I’m so grateful for their guidance.

Editor’s note:

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

Tags: alumni, Alumni Spotlight

Alumni Spotlight—Steve Staples

Dec. 10, 2021 | Vince Lara-Cinisomo

Alumni of the College of Applied Health Sciences have myriad career options thanks to the tremendous diversity of programs. We periodically will put the spotlight on an alum to find out what they’re doing now, what experiences they had and what AHS means to them. This week, we talk to Steve Staples, an RST alum who is now Executive Director of International Development at Princeton University.

Q: Why did you pick AHS?

A: I wanted to pursue a career in sports management and AHS (then known as Leisure Studies) was just starting to offer a M.S. in Sport degree at the time (early 1990s).

Q: Which professors had the most impact on you?

A: Bill McKinney had the most impact on me, academically and professionally. The vast majority of students in the program at that time were planning to pursue careers in parks and recreation. As the chair of the department at that time, Bill made sure that the handful of us interested in sports management, were not overlooked. While working on my master’s degree, I became interested in pursuing a Ph.D., as well. Bill was very supportive and became a terrific advocate and friend throughout the process. I feel very fortunate that I had the opportunity to thank Bill in person in Arizona before he passed away earlier this year.

Q: What course did you most enjoy?

A: I can’t remember the specific course, but I recall really enjoying Dr. (Joseph) Bannon’s class. He emphasized the importance of theoretical concepts in practical settings. His insight had a significant impact on my career and he was an excellent role model.

Q: Did you enter AHS knowing your career path, or did AHS help you decide?

A: I did enter AHS knowing that I wanted a career in sports. What I didn’t know is how much I would like working in athletic administration. After volunteering at (Division of Intercollegiate Athletics), I became a graduate assistant for the athletic department and spent 12 years of my career working in intercollegiate athletics.

Q: Did your AHS experience lead to your current job?

A: I feel that my experience as a master’s and especially a Ph.D. student prepared me well for my current role at Princeton. Writing a thesis and dissertation helped improve my writing skills and critical thinking. Being able to write articulately helps me every day in my job as a major gifts fundraiser.

Q: What was your favorite on-campus experience?

A: My favorite on-campus experiences were Illinois athletic events. Whether it was football at Memorial Stadium, basketball at the Assembly Hall or volleyball in Huff Hall, I attended a lot of games during my three years on campus and I loved every minute of it.

Q: What does AHS mean to you?

A: It means a great deal to me. It was a transformative experience for me. I help to support the study tour that Dr. (Michael) Raycraft leads each year because in my mind, it is the perfect blend of academic and experiential learning. I had a similar experience through my academic training and work at DIA. To understand the theoretical and practical sides of any industry is incredibly important. I am a proud alum of RST, AHS and the university as a whole!

Editor’s note:

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

Alumni Spotlight—Edward Harvey

Nov. 22, 2021 | Vince Lara-Cinisomo

Alumni of the College of Applied Health Sciences have myriad career options thanks to the tremendous diversity of programs. We periodically will put the spotlight on an alum to find out what they’re doing now, what experiences they had and what AHS means to them. This week, we talk to Edward W. Harvey, who used his RST experience as a springboard to working for 38 years in park district leadership.

Q: Why did you pick RST?

A: I actually entered the University in the College of Commerce (now Gies College of Business). I had been working for the Urbana Park District on a seasonal and part-time basis, doing park maintenance and working in sports and recreation programs. I really enjoyed the work but didn’t realize it was a career. When Robin Hall started at the Urbana Park District, he had a profound influence on me taking another look at my career plans. He arranged for me to talk to Chuck Pezoldt, who was on the faculty at that time. Chuck’s genuine enthusiasm for and boots-on-the-ground experience in the parks and recreation profession proved too persuasive to resist, and I transferred into the then-Department of Recreation and Park Administration.

Q: Which professors had the most impact on you?

A: As mentioned, Chuck Pezoldt’s background in Illinois Parks and Recreation on a local level fit right in with what I was interested in doing when I graduated. Jim Brademas was the Director of (Office of Recreation and Park Resources) ORPR at that time. He also had a wealth of practicable experience as a parks and recreation administrator and also as a consultant. Bob Espeseth didn’t come to the university until I was in graduate school but his background in Wisconsin State Parks and other park systems was very valuable to my education. Bob and I have continued a great relationship for nearly fifty years.

Q: What course did you most enjoy?

A: Chuck Pezoldt taught the undergraduate course in parks and recreation administration, which I found extremely interesting as well as directly related to my background. He gave a quiz on the Illinois Park District Code every class. Great way to learn the code!

Q: Did you enter AHS knowing your career path, or did AHS help you decide?

A: I had already tried two years in the College of Business taking accounting, economics and finance courses. I liked it a learned a lot but part of what I learned was that I probably didn’t want to do it for a profession. Once I learned that parks and recreation was a career choice, it sounded perfect for me.

Q: Did your AHS experience lead to your current job?

A: I’m retired now but yes, it did lead to a career of 38 years in three park districts: Urbana, Champaign and Northbrook. In retirement, one of my favorite activities is bicycle riding. I often ride through the local Champaign and Urbana Parks and see how the trees I planted 50 years ago are doing. It’s more than a career when you do it for a lifetime.

Q: What was your favorite on-campus experience?

A: I played in the Marching Illini for three seasons, carrying a sousaphone. I also played tuba in the Concert Band under Mark Hindsley for three years and under Harry Begian for one year. Those experiences provided a lifetime of memories.

Q: What does AHS mean to you?

A: I have always felt the college and department provided me with what I needed to have a successful career. At the time I was in school, I vowed that if I ever had the opportunity, I would try to help future students get the same opportunity. For that reason, my wife and myself have established a scholarship fund for undergraduate Recreation, Sport and Tourism students named for my late parents. It makes me feel good that I have been able to provided a small level of assistance for these future leaders in our profession.

Editor’s note:

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

Tags: alumni, Alumni Spotlight, Edward Harvey

Stodolska, Shinew get grant to combat systemic racism in access to nature

Nov. 15, 2021 | Vince Lara-Cinisomo

Parks and recreation services play critical roles in making neighborhoods and cities livable, the researchers said

*Undergraduate and graduate students Fredy Quevedo, Lateshia Dove, Jared Gleason, and Kristel Ong are actively involved in the study.*

Two researchers from the Department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism in the College of Applied Health Sciences are among the recipients for this first year of Call to Action funding from the Office of the Chancellor.

RST Professors Monika Stodolksa and Kim Shinew received a grant of $93,428 for their project entitled, “Combating Systemic Racism in Access to Nature, Open Spaces, and Parks and Recreation.” Drs. Stodolska and Shinew plan to give a formal evaluation of continuing efforts by the Urbana Park District (UPD) to increase access to nature and recreation opportunities among diverse residents, as well as create a blueprint that can be shared nationwide on how to dismantle systemic racism and increase access to nature and recreation among people of color.

Parks and recreation services play critical roles in making neighborhoods and cities livable, the researchers said, helping to improve mental and psychological health, increase physical activity, decrease obesity and hypertension, and increase community pride. The critical roles of nature and recreation in people’s health and wellbeing have been underscored by the COVID pandemic, Drs. Stodolska and Shinew said.

Data collection is underway and undergraduate and graduate students Fredy Quevedo, Lateshia Dove, Jared Gleason, and Kristel Ong are actively involved in the study.

Drs. Stodolska and Shinew said the study builds on the research project their team conducted in 2016-2017 that evaluated the needs, interests, benefits, and constraints regarding the utilization of Urbana Park Districts’ programs among underserved residents. This area of research is important, they said, due to historical and contemporary systemic racism and exclusionary practices that have caused people of color to have fewer opportunities to access recreation services and natural environments at the community and national levels, making them less likely to obtain the physical and mental health benefits these types of experiences provide.

The previous study, Drs. Stodolska and Shinew said, showed that constraints such as fees, transportation, racial tensions, lack of knowledge of opportunities, safety, and language barriers negatively affected minority residents’ ability to access parks and recreation programs.

Thanks to the results of the researchers’ previous study, the UPD has, over the past four years, implemented a number of steps to improve the provision of their services to underserved residents that included the establishment of the new Outreach and Wellness Division, staff diversity trainings, development of a new action plan, translation services, multi-language signage, restoration of local parks, changes in marketing campaigns, new programs delivered on-site in low-income underserved neighborhoods, targeted outreach efforts, and a new “You Belong Here” campaign.

The UPD also was able to leverage resources from local grants to provide on-site scholarships to reduce the cost of recreation programs for low-income residents, the researchers said. The UPD staff estimated that the new outreach efforts resulted in more than 2,000 “new” users—mostly African American and Latinx children—being able to access play opportunities, recreation programs, and nature in Champaign County.

“Such efforts undertaken by the UPD are pioneering and, thus, have the potential to serve as a model for recreation agencies across the U.S. on how to dismantle obstacles to accessing nature and recreation opportunities that have roots in the historical systems of oppression,” Drs. Stodolska and Shinew said.

Editor’s note:

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

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Tags: Kim Shinew, Monika Stodolska

RST student aspires to future in baseball front office

August 16, 2021 | Vince Lara-Cinisomo

Diego Acosta, a senior in the Department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism in the College of Applied Health Sciences, is aware of the well-worn axiom, “Find something you love to do and you’ll never have to work a day in your life.”

*RST senior Diego Acosta spent the summer as an intern for Prep Baseball Report*

The Skokie, Ill., native worked this summer as an intern for Prep Baseball Report (PBR), one of the top independent baseball scouting services in the country. Acosta plans to go to graduate school after he graduates in the fall, but he aspires to work in the baseball operations department for an MLB team.

Like many scouts you might have seen on TV while watching a baseball game, Acosta carried the tools of the trade—a stopwatch and a radar gun—and loved every minute of it.

“I obviously have a passion,” Acosta said about baseball. “And if I have a passion for it—we were learning (that it is) statistically proven that workers that have the biggest passion for what they do will move up higher and faster than anyone else that doesn’t have a passion for what they do.”

Acosta’s love for baseball began when he started playing the sport at four years old.

“I just kept (playing) until I blew my knees out. And when I was looking to go to school, I wanted to play baseball. I knew that I wanted to keep it as a part of my future someway, somehow.”

Acosta was recruited by Cornell University to play baseball before he hurt his knees but felt a natural inclination to the University of Illinois.

“I have a long lineage of Illinois alums,” he said. “My parents went there, my uncles went there, my aunts. I’ve been going (to UIUC) since I was a very young kid, and I just wanted to keep it in. So I decided to just go to school and see what I can do with the baseball team there.”

Thanks to his connections to Illinois, Acosta caught on as a bullpen catcher for the Illini baseball team, which fed his fire to stay in the sport. And, Acosta said, the courses offered in RST are a perfect springboard to a career in sports. He particularly enjoyed Clinical Associate Professor Mike Raycraft’s RST130 (Foundations of Sport Management) course, RST354 (Legal Aspects of Sport), and RST199 (Sport Brand Management), taught by RST Assistant Professor Jules Woolf.

“I feel like when it comes to the business side … there’s definitely times where I’m just like, ‘I remember talking about this in this class, but I’m seeing it here with the whole PBR thing. The Future Games is a perfect example. I remember thinking to myself, ‘Well, this is exactly– we talked about the brand and everything with Dr. Jules Woolf.’ And it’s genius. You bring everybody. You have every single state bring the entire country to one place, and you put on an event in one place across the entire country. It’s absolutely genius.”

For many RST students, a career in the sports industry is the ultimate goal. Some aspire to the customer-service side, some to the hospitality section, and others to the management sector. After all, who doesn’t want to be general manager of the Cubs? But while Acosta definitely dreams of being in a big league front office some day, he is ready to pay his dues first as a baseball scout, an often-grueling job with long hours, low pay and not much notoriety.

Diego Acosta

Student, Recreation, Sport and Tourism

“You’ve got to start at the bottom,” he said. “That’s the very first thing I figured out working with PBR, is there’s going to be some really, really, really long days. I was at a tournament in Rantoul from 8 in the morning until midnight. And I get back home, and the Cubs were playing. And I was staying at my apartment with a couple of my buddies that were there for the summer in Champaign. I was like, ‘Put the Cubs game on for me, please.’ And then they were like, ‘Uh, you just watched almost 13 hours of baseball. How do you want to watch the Cubs game?’ I was like, ‘I just want to watch the Cubs game.’ ‘They were like, you’re crazy.”’

Acosta is realistic, knowing how competitive working in the sports industry can be. That’s why he plans to pursue graduate school, possibly law school, upon graduation this fall.

“I have, basically, a plan B,” he said. “And my plan B would be some type of lawyer. I mean, my mom and dad have always joked, ‘Why do you argue so much with everything? Just go be a lawyer.’ I’m like, ‘Honestly, I might.’”

As much as he loves the game, Acosta wants to work in baseball for a reason larger than his appreciation for the sport.

“I’m Mexican-Colombian … and I grew up playing in Humboldt Park, which is like all Puerto Ricans and inner city kids, and then Homer Park. So I have a lot of friends from all different backgrounds,” he said. “And if I can do anything for kids like that, especially in other countries, because I’ve been there. Especially in Colombia, I’ve seen the slums. I’ve seen kids playing with rocks and sticks in the street. And if I could really help them get to their ultimate goal, I feel like that would be really cool for me to do. So that’s why I sort of want to be in professional scouting.”

Editor’s note:

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

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Tags: College of Applied Health Sciences, Diego Acosta, Internships, Major League Baseball, Prep Baseball Report, Recreation Sport and Touris, University of Illinois

Alumni Spotlight—Tim Clary

June 07, 2021 | Vince Lara-Cinisomo

Alumni of the College of Applied Health Sciences have myriad career options thanks to the tremendous diversity of programs. We periodically will put the spotlight on an alum to find out what they’re doing now, what experiences they had and what AHS means to them. This week, we talk to Tim Clary, who got his undergrad (2015) and master’s degrees (2016) from the Department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism. Currently, Clary is an educator and linebackers coach for a Class 6A High School near Austin, Texas.

Q. Why did you pick AHS?

A: In high school, I knew I wanted to be an Athletic Director/Coordinator, and AHS provided the pathway to doing that with Sports Management.

Q: Which professors had the most impact on you?

A; Dr. (Michael) Raycraft: A personable man that would lead with honesty but connect on a level that helped you understand the intricate complexities within RST. Also, Nuno Ribeiro: he was a man that helped me a ton even after I graduated. He taught me about his life experiences and how they shaped his life in hopes it could influence mine.

Q: What course did you most enjoy?

A: Two courses equally, both taught by Dr. Raycraft. One, Sports Management and two, Sports Ethics.

Q: Did you enter AHS knowing your career path, or did AHS help you decide?

A: I entered knowing I wanted to be in athletics in some capacity.

Q: What was your favorite on-campus experience?

A: Most of my time was taken up by athletics; I did appreciate the study sessions in the underground library prepping for some of the harder courses (Research Methods).

Q: What does AHS mean to you?

A: I’m thankful for my time in AHS. Led by many wonderful professors and provided the path to achieving my goal of becoming an athletic director one day.

Editor’s note:

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

Tags: alumni, Alumni Spotlight

RST Senior Sam Tinaglia Talks About His Program, COVID and Campus

May 10, 2021 | Vince Lara-Cinisomo

Students are attending college in a unique environment, and that includes students in the College of Applied Health Sciences at the University of Illinois. The AHS communications staff spoke with AHS seniors about online classes, truncated courses and how COVID-19 changed their expectations. Today, we speak with Sam Tinaglia, a Recreation, Sport and Tourism major with a concentration in sport. Sam will graduate as a Bronze Tablet Scholar this month.

Q: Why did you pick RST?

A: When I first came to UIUC, I started as a journalism major, but then was recruited to go on Dr. Michael Raycraft’s RST 180 Hall of Fame Class Trip. I enjoyed the trip and meeting other RST students and faculty so much that I eventually transferred into the RST program my sophomore year. I have always loved sports and knew I wanted to work in the sports industry and I felt RST was the major that could help me reach my goals. As I finish my undergraduate degree, I feel I made the right choice as the RST curriculum has thought me many valuable skills for the future.

Q: Which professors had the most impact on you?

A: Dr. Kim Shinew, Dr. Michael Raycraft, Dr. Sharon Zou, Dr. Bill Stewart, Robyn Deterding, and Don Hardin have left a lasting impact on me from my time in RST.

Q: What course did you most enjoy?

A: RST 180 with Dr. Raycraft was my favorite course as that class is one of a kind. As a group of about 20 individuals, we jumped on a big orange Illinois coach bus and traveled to recreation, sports, and tourism destinations in Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania, and Indiana. We saw the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, the Lake Placid Olympic facilities, the Woodstock Concert Grounds and Museum, the National Football League Hall of Fame, and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, which were just a few of our many fantastic stops. This class was like no other I’ve ever taken in my years of schooling and I would take it again in a heartbeat.

Q: Did you enter RST knowing your career path, or did RST help you decide?

A: I entered RST knowing I wanted to work in sports, so I went the sports concentration route. But as I was taking classes in RST, I learned to love the recreation and tourism concentrations too. I think the parts of R, S, and T can be intermixed, and after finishing the course work, I can say I would love to work in any of the RST fields.

Q: What do you hope to do after you graduate?

A: After I graduate I hope to start up my online master’s degree with RST and get more experience in the RST field as I intern with the Niles Park District in Athletics.

Q: What was your favorite on-campus experience?

A: My favorite on-campus experience at Illinois was working with the Fighting Illini Marketing Team within the athletic department. For that opportunity, we handed out promotional materials before athletic events at UIUC and helped with in-game promotions too. Being able to work in person at various Illini sporting events was a fantastic experience and I’ll miss it when I graduate.

Q: What do you miss most because of the pandemic?

A: I have been schooling from home since March of 2020, so ever since the pandemic started. The thing I miss most is going in person to classes and interacting with other students and professors. You don’t realize something was so great until you can’t experience it anymore, and that was me at Illinois. I really enjoyed school and, sadly, it’s (technically) over.

Q: What are the biggest changes on campus, pre- and during COVID?

A: (I) haven’t been back since March 2020, I wouldn’t know.

Q: What would you say to recommend RST to a prospective student?

A: If you love and want to work in recreational activities, sports, and/or the tourism industry, RST is the place for you. Also, if you just want to get a good, well-rounded college experience in a smaller tight-knit college within a large university, RST would be a great home for you.

Editor’s note:

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

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Tags: College of Applied Health Sciences, COVID-19, Kimberly Shinew, Mike Raycraft, Recreation Sport and Touris, Sam Tinaglia

Freshman Todd Marshall talks about campus and COVID

April 03, 2024 | Ethan Simmons

Freshmen are entering college in a unique environment, and that includes students in the College of Applied Health Sciences at the University of Illinois. The AHS communications staff spoke with new AHS students about campus life, why they decided to come to campus—or stay home—and how COVID-19 changed their expectations. Today, we speak with Todd Marshall, a Recreation, Sport and Tourism major with a concentration in sport.

Q: Are you on campus?

A: I do not live on campus, but I grew up in Champaign so I live at my house off campus.

Q: What made you decide to be on campus?

A: It was a cheaper option to stay home especially with classes being mostly online. Although I am still able to attend my in-person classes since I live close.

Q: What challenges have you found in navigating campus?

A: I’ve been on campus quite a lot and navigating is not very difficult to me.

Q: Have often are you in a classroom, as opposed to taking remote classes?

A: Two days a week I go to in-person classes, (but) only the Spring semester, though. I spend much more time on computer classes than in-person.

Q: What challenges are you discovering with remote classes?

A: Deadlines often conflict or get mixed up with each other. I have not had very many technology barriers, other than having to pay for services teachers use.

Q: Tell me what you think about the COVID testing process. Has it been easy to find a testing site?

A: I believe the university is doing a great job providing testing and access to students health history through the app. The U of I has taken this opportunity to actually demonstrate their innovation and commitment to student safety, and as a student that is very valuable.

Q: What are the differences between your high school remote learning experience, and here at Illinois?

A: Not much is different, other than more Zoom calls with university classes.

Q: What is the one thing you can’t wait to do when you get to campus?

A: Go to Kams (bar in Champaign).

here is a news quote as an example:

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. He was central in establishing an interdisciplinary leisure research program at the University of Illinois in the 1970s that led the way for other programs around the country. He was such an inspired and energetic leader as all his accomplishments demonstrate, but it was his friendship that we appreciated most and that we will all miss dearly. — Carla Santos, department head, Recreation, Sport and Tourism

*Joe Bannon, right of center in sweatshirt, was central in establishing an interdisciplinary leisure research program at the University of Illinois in the 1970s.*

Joseph (Joe) J. Bannon, 89, of Champaign passed away March 30, 2021, at his home in Champaign.

Joe was born on May 30, 1931, in Glens Falls, N.Y., to parents Leo and Elizabeth Bannon. Joe was preceded in death by his wife, Ann, and his grandson, Keegan. Joe is survived by his two sons, Joseph Jr., and Peter, and their spouses, Jill and Amy. Joe was blessed with eight grandchildren: Kelsey, Keegan, Erin, Sophie, Regan, Doug, Leo, and Rory, and one great granddaughter, Keegan Rose.

Joe was a loving and devoted father, grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin, boss, mentor, and friend. He was a wonderful role model for his family and was fiercely loyal to those he loved. When Joe was not busy working or spending time with family and friends, he enjoyed running, golf, and spending his summers with his family at his mountain retreat in upstate New York.

Professionally, Dr. Joseph J. Bannon graduated Cum Laude from Ithaca College in 1957. In 1958, he was awarded an assistantship at the University of Illinois in the Department of Park and Recreation to pursue his master of science degree. Upon graduation, he assumed the position of Superintendent of Recreation in Leonia, N.J. In 1963, he became the General Superintendent of the Topeka, Kansas, Recreation Commission where he served until 1966. In 1966, he returned to the University of Illinois to become the Chief of the Office of Recreation and Park Resources. During his tenure as Chief, he completed his Ph.D. in 1971. In 1973, he assumed the headship of the Department of Leisure Studies.

Dr. Bannon was a prolific writer, having authored or co‑authored nine books, contributed a number of chapters to edited books, and wrote more than 50 journal and magazine articles. He is a co-founding editor of the Journal of Park and Recreation Administration. Dr. Bannon was a founding member of The Academy of Leisure Sciences and the American Academy of Park and Recreation Association. He was presented numerous awards in his lifetime for his decades-long service to the park and recreation profession. In 2001, Dr. Bannon was honored with the Pugsley Award, the most distinguished award for park and recreation conservation given in the profession.

Dr. Bannon consulted extensively throughout the U.S. and Japan, China, Korea, South Africa, Germany, Netherlands, Italy, and Peru. In 1988, he spent an extended period of time in China consulting with universities as well as city officials in Beijing, Shanghai, and Suchow about fitness and recreation programs.

Joe developed the newsletter Management Strategy in 1977. The publication was dedicated to disseminating management information to parks and recreation professionals throughout the world. This led to the formation of the Sagamore Publishing Company, which he built and worked at full time, acquiring and developing titles after retiring from the University of Illinois alongside his son, Peter Bannon. Joe continued to maintain his close ties to the recreation field he loved throughout his life, advising and mentoring countless young professionals in the field.

He will be greatly missed by all of us.

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Tags: Carla Santos, Joe Bannon

Alumni Spotlight—Andy Szabo

April 01, 2021 | Vince Lara-Cinisomo

Alumni of the College of Applied Health Sciences have myriad career options thanks to the tremendous diversity of programs. We periodically will put the spotlight on an alum to find out what they’re doing now, what experiences they had and what AHS means to them. This week, we talk to Andy Szabo, who got his B.S. in Recreation, Sport & Tourism (Sports Management) and Leadership Studies Minor in 2013 and is now Director of Partnership Development for MLB’s Oakland Athletics.

Q: Why did you pick AHS?

A: I entered the university in general studies as an undeclared student. Through a year or so of discovery and exploration, I was denied by the College of Business and at a loss. At a similar time, I was introduced to the College of AHS, specifically Sports Management. Ultimately, I chose AHS for its people, experiential opportunities and practical application to my aspirational career path—a college basketball coach, collegiate athletic director or professional sports team/agency executive.

Q: Which professors had the most impact on you?

A: LoriKay Paden, Don Hardin, Kim Shinew, Ryan Gower, Michael Raycraft and so many others created an inclusive, collaborative, challenging and supportive educational experience. Specifically, LoriKay for her unconditional positivity and Professor Hardin for his mentorship and coaching.

Q: What course did you most enjoy?

A: Loved any Leadership, Strategy or Philosophy course… And Sports Law with Kyle Emkes was a great introduction to the business of sport. For a Leadership/Comms class, I recall having to reenact Jack Nicholson’s courtroom scene in ‘A Few Good Men’—mortifying but hilarious lesson in owning a room and breaking down mental barriers.

Q: Did you enter AHS knowing your career path, or did AHS help you decide?

A: A healthy mix of both. I had a vision to explore a few different paths. Through the AHS/RST curriculum, you learn so much about yourself. I did my best to focus on diversifying my experiences and it not only led to a discovery of what I was interested in, but most importantly why.

Q: Did your AHS experience lead to your current job?

A: Yes—in a variety of ways. First and foremost, it revealed to me my passion for the business of sport. Secondly, it taught me the value of relationships. One of the joys of my Illinois experience was the planning and execution of the annual Sapora Symposium, where we had the opportunity to host some of the most talented professionals in sports and entertainment for a two-day event. Dan Migala, Co-Founder and Chief Innovation Officer at 4FRONT, was kind enough to be our keynote speaker and offered an opportunity with his sports marketing agency upon graduation. Our then-Head Men’s Basketball Coach John Groce and then-Director of Basketball Operations Mark Morris also supported the event and went so far to recommend me for the Ohio University Sports Administration MBA/MSA graduate program. What was intended to be a simple volunteer opportunity, turned into an event that fundamentally changed the trajectory of my life and professional career. I owe a lot to Dan, Mark and Coach Groce for believing in me and showing me how to effectively navigate the industry through authentic relationships.

Q: What is your current job?

A: Currently, I serve as the Director of Partnership Development for the Oakland Athletics of MLB. My role primarily consists of establishing marketing, business and community partnerships on behalf of the organization, working as a revenue generator, storyteller and strategist, while managing a partner portfolio of 20+ local, regional and global brands.

Q: What was your favorite on-campus experience?

A: Too many to count! As a team manager for the Fighting Illini men’s basketball team, I was grateful to learn from amazing coaches, build impactful relationships within the athletic department and represent the university as a whole. Winning the Maui Invitational, beating Gonzaga on the road and taking down No. 1 Indiana at home at the buzzer made for a memorable senior year, to say the least.

Q: What would you say to recommend AHS to a prospective student?

A: The University of Illinois is world-class, and the College of AHS provides a world-class, student-first experience. It felt like a family and there was reason for everything we did. Not an education for the sake of a degree and not a test for the sake of a grade. It is what you make of it, and there are plenty of chances to lean in and create your own personalized journey.

Editor’s note:

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

Tags: Alumni Spotlight, Andy Szabo

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