Tag: College of Applied Health Sciences

A message to Speech and Hearing Science, from Department Head Georgia Malandraki

Feb 02, 2026 | AHS Staff

“I welcome perspectives from everyone (…) because the future we create together will be stronger for it.“

Georgia Malandraki, professor and department head of Speech and Hearing Science, has begun her second month as department head. (Ethan Simmons/College of AHS)

Dear Speech and Hearing Science community,

It is with pride and a deep sense of responsibility that I begin my role as Head of the Department of Speech and Hearing Science. Returning to Illinois, where I completed my Ph.D. and where many of our distinguished faculty shaped my early career, feels like coming home. It is both humbling and exciting to now have the opportunity to give back to the community that supported me from the start.

Over the past several months, I have begun to learn the many stories, strengths, and aspirations that make SHS such a vibrant community. Every conversation with faculty, staff, and students has reminded me of something I have known since I was a student here: SHS is a community where excellence and compassion go hand in hand, and where people genuinely care about making an impact. I am grateful to join you as we continue building on that foundation together.

I am thankful to be joining the department at a time of remarkable momentum, built under the leadership of former Head and Professor Pamela Hadley and Dean Cheryl Hanley Maxwell. The shared governance model, the selfless and dedicated service of faculty, the collective passion for impactful research and clinical training, and the strong commitment to inclusion that I have witnessed during this transition are outstanding.

Equally impressive is the work ethic and dedication of our faculty, staff, and students, clear indicators of the remarkable potential ahead. Importantly, the support and enriching environment provided by the College of Applied Health Sciences and the University as a whole foster collaboration, innovation, and sustained excellence, creating the conditions for SHS to grow and continue its legacy as one of the leading departments in the state and the country.

As we look toward the future, I see a department that not only sustains this legacy but continues to grow its reach locally, nationally, and globally. Together, we will focus on our shared goals:

  • Strengthening our position as a global leader in research and clinical training in communication sciences and disorders
  • Empowering students through exceptional and forward-thinking education
  • Expanding our engagement with communities and partners who rely on our expertise
  • Growing the resources and support needed to enhance discovery, education, and service

These are meaningful goals, and I am confident we can achieve them. The talent, commitment, and heart I see within SHS are truly remarkable.

In the coming months, I look forward to hearing your ideas, learning from your experiences, and working with you to shape the next chapter of SHS. I welcome perspectives from everyone—students, alumni, faculty, staff and friends—because the future we create together will be stronger for it.

Thank you for the very warm welcome. I am inspired by this department, energized by its potential, and honored to walk forward with you.

With warmest regards,
Georgia A. Malandraki, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, BCS-S, ASHA Fellow
Professor and Head

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SHS researchers patent method to extract speech from noise using high frequencies

Dec. 18, 2025 | Ethan Simmons

Extended high frequencies, above 8 kHz, can make speech more intelligible in noisy environments.  

Associate Professor Brian Monson and Speech and Hearing Science Ph.D. student Rohit Ananthanarayana.

When we speak, the air moving through our vocal cords generates soundwaves vibrating at different frequencies: the higher the frequency, the higher the pitch. 

Most of our modern audio technology, including hearing aids, headphones, and phone conversations chop off the “top end” of these soundwaves to compress the information coming in while keeping speech understandable. 

But these extended high frequencies—8,000 Hz and above—contain important signals in the human voice, especially for comprehending speech in noisy environments. 

Two researchers in the Department of Speech and Hearing Science at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Associate Professor Brian Monson and doctoral student Rohit Ananthanarayana, have patented an algorithm to identify and extract speech signals from noise by using extended high-frequency information. 

The technique is novel, and with some investment, could be mapped onto existing modern hearing aids, earbuds and more. 

Where are these high frequencies useful? Picture a restaurant date where you’re trying to pay attention to your partner speaking on the other end of the table, and voices of other customers are bouncing all around you. 

“In those noisy settings in particular, that’s when these higher frequencies become valuable,” Monson said. “All the background noise masks out and interferes with those low frequencies, whereas these really high frequencies tend to stay pretty stable and unmasked, undegraded by the background noise.” 

Humans can hear frequencies vibrating from 20 Hz all the way up to 20,000 Hz. Most modern hearing aids capture frequencies up to 6,000 Hz, which covers most everyday sounds. Most clinical hearing tests don’t test subjects’ hearing above this range. 

Consonant sounds called “voiceless fricatives,” such as “s,” “sh,” “f” and “ph” sounds, contain energy above 8,000 Hz. Through grant-funded experiments, the researchers have shown the usefulness of these high-end frequencies—such as determining whether someone is facing you and speaking, or if they’re facing a different direction. 

In those noisy settings in particular, that’s when these higher frequencies become valuable.

Brian Monson

Associate Professor, Department of Speech and Hearing Science at Illinois

One experiment conducted by Monson and Ananthanarayana asked participants to listen to another person speaking, with and without the high-frequency range, and determine whether the speech was directed at them or not. 

“If you test listeners’ ability to perform this task, to determine whether someone’s looking at you or looking away, they do quite a bit better at that task if they have access to those really high frequencies,” Monson said.

While performing high-frequency research, the algorithm became an interesting side project to work on. The algorithm was developed to be retrofitted as well: the listening benefits could be implemented on existing tech with a firmware update. 

“We wanted to find some way to utilize the information in those extended high frequencies to enhance the target speech signal,” said Ananthanarayana, who began his Ph.D. at Illinois in 2021. “We identified a way that was novel but also feasible to try out with the resources and time that we had.” 

The patent itself was four years in the making; Monson filed the provisional patent in December 2021, and the two researchers used their backgrounds in electrical engineering to test, code and strengthen the algorithm further. 

To test its efficacy, they ran the algorithm on simulated speech recordings, where the “target talker” uttered short sentences in a noisy environment. The algorithm was judged for its ability to enhance the target signal’s clarity while suppressing background noise. 

Together with the Office of Technology Management, Ananthanarayana and Monson put together their patent application to safeguard their idea, which was awarded in October. 

“Ideally, someone would take interest in this—whether that’s us or someone else—and run with it to see if it’s implementable in hearing aid technology or other assistive listening device tech, like over-the-counter hearing aids, earbuds, headphones,” Monson said. “We think there’s potential there.”

Editor’s note:

The patent “Speech Identification and Extraction from Noise Using Extended High Frequency Information” was approved in October 2025. 

To reach Brian Monson, email monson@illinois.edu 
To reach Rohit Ananthanarayana, email rohitma2@illinois.edu
 

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Social identification with a team boosts fans’ social well-being

Nov. 6, 2025 | Tia King

Sport teams and other organizations can boost their supporters’ social well-being through digital platforms and other initiatives that promote a strong group identity and feelings of trust that all members have their collective best interests at heart, according to a study led by recreation, sport and tourism professor Yuhei Inoue that included sport fans in the U.S. and the United Kingdom.

Professor Yuhei Inoue most recent study with his team shows that consumers’ identification with service organizations, such as sports teams, has a real impact on their social wellbeing. Photo taken at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign on Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025. (Photo by Fred Zwicky / University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Sport fans all know that rosy feeling of happiness when we hang out with others who support our favorite team. A new study conducted with sport consumers in the U.S. and the United Kingdom suggests that organizations that want to enhance their supporters’ health and well-being can achieve that by bolstering their social identification with the group.

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign recreation, sport and tourism professors Yuhei Inoue and Mikihiro Sato say that social identification with organizations boosts our social well-being — our ability to form and sustain meaningful relationships — by giving us access to three important social and psychological resources: in-group trust, a sense of purpose and meaning, and perceived progroup norms — which are the beliefs that all group members are prioritizing our collective best interests.

Read More About the Study

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Online Allies: How Black travelers view DMO social advocacy statements

Oct. 30, 2025 | Vince Lara-Cinisomo

Did digital gestures from destination marketing organizations resonate with Black travelers?

RST Assistant Professor Charis Tucker: “Tourism marketing must go beyond surface-level representation.”

In the summer of 2020, when streets across the U.S. filled with protests for racial and social justice, something unusual happened in the world of tourism. Destination marketing organizations—better known as DMOs—suddenly became vocal online allies. Their Instagram grids turned black. Their feeds carried hashtags of solidarity. Their captions spoke of inclusion, equity and justice.

It was a striking moment for an industry that historically has not been known for inclusivity. But it raised an important question: did these digital gestures matter to Black travelers, the very audience the messages were meant to support?

That question became the focus of a new study entitled “Online Allies? Exploring Black travelers’ perceptions of DMO social advocacy statements” and published in the Journal of Travel Research. For the researcher behind the project—Dr. Charis Tucker, an assistant professor in the Department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism at the University of Illinois—the motivation was straightforward.

“Organizations in various industries, including tourism, began engaging in digital advocacy, posting their support for racial diversity, the Black community, and/or the Black Lives Matter Movement,” Tucker said. “What was missing from the conversation, however, were the voices of the community for whom this advocacy was directed. I wanted to understand how these statements resonated with Black travelers.”

In this context, “social advocacy statements” means the public messages organizations choose to share online—on websites, social feeds or campaigns—about issues such as racial justice, LGBTQ rights or mental health.

“These statements are usually made during key moments after a major social event or movement,” Tucker said. “They’re meant to show that the organization cares about more than profit; they care about people and justice, too.”

But do they succeed? Or do they come off as hollow gestures?

To find out, the Tucker and her colleagues reviewed real-world posts from DMOs, looking at the kinds of images and captions they used. Then, they designed a set of mock posts that reflected different advocacy approaches:

  • A simple black square.
  • A black square with a short statement of solidarity.
  • A photo of a Black family holding a sign that read “United Against Hate.”
  • The same photo, paired with a written statement.

Nearly 200 participants evaluated the posts through an online research platform. Their reactions revealed not only what felt meaningful, but also what felt empty.

The black square, a widely used digital symbol in 2020, flopped in the experiment. Participants dismissed it as vague and performative.

A mockup of a black square Instagram post. Many corporations, including DMOs, posted similar images during 2020’s racial justice protests, in an effort to show solidarity. Tucker asked participants to evaluate different responses from DMOs on how meaningful, or hollow, the gestures felt.

The black square paired with a written statement prompted the most critical reflection. It made travelers stop and ask: does this organization actually understand us? Do they back up these words with action?

“I think this is a little lackluster compared to the other statements I have seen. I don’t want to be represented by just a black square” one participant said.

Posts that combined imagery with text—especially featuring Black people—were seen as more sincere and intentional. The message was clear: gestures need words and words need actions.

So how can DMOs avoid looking performative? According to the study, the key lies in specificity and consistency.

“Organizations must explicitly state their stance,” Tucker said. “Their posts should include who they are supporting, why, and—perhaps most importantly—how. This will limit scrutiny that is sure to come with vague or ambiguous messaging.”

Equally critical is aligning statements with a track record of action. Many participants questioned whether DMOs had been inclusive in the past. Without history to back them up, even the most polished posts risked falling flat.

The implications for tourism marketing are significant. For decades, Black travelers have been underrepresented—or completely absent—in promotional campaigns. In response, they created their own spaces for community and representation.

“Tourism marketing must go beyond surface-level representation,” Tucker said. “Genuine inclusion requires more than simply featuring Black travelers in promotional materials. It demands thoughtful, consistent effort that reflects a genuine understanding of and engagement with Black communities.”

One concept that emerged from the research is something called “relational legitimacy.” Put simply, it’s the trust that grows when organizations affirm the identities, values, and lived experiences of marginalized communities.

“To rebuild trust, DMOs should get to know their community, not just in its present state, but from a historical perspective as well,” Tucker said. “This means recognizing the past experiences, contributions, and challenges of these communities, and using that knowledge to inform more respectful, inclusive engagement.”

That means celebrating local Black voices—entrepreneurs, artists, and cultural leaders—while also listening closely to community feedback and adapting accordingly.

The study’s findings offer a roadmap for an industry that wants to do better. Social advocacy can’t be performative, and it can’t be a one-off post during a crisis. For Black travelers, sincerity shines through when organizations pair words with action, history with honesty, and representation with respect.

As Tucker noted, real trust is built not through hashtags, but through consistency.

For DMOs, the message is as clear as it is challenging: it’s time to move beyond the black square.

Editor’s note:

To reach Charis Tucker, email cntucker@illinois.edu.
The paper “Online Allies? Exploring Black travelers’ perceptions of DMO social advocacy statements” can be found online here: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/00472875241294235
 

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Tattoos as anchors of transformative travel

Oct. 27, 2025 | Vince Lara-Cinisomo

A new RST study examines how tattoos from memorable trips continue to ‘speak’ over time

A tattoo one traveler obtained on a visit to Japan. Participants in the study were asked to share images of their tattoos, which embodied personal change, collaboration, and reminders of the travel experience. (Provided)

At the intersection of body art and travel lies a fascinating phenomenon: tattoos serving as anchors of transformative experiences.

A new study from Recreation, Sport and Tourism faculty members Toni Liechty and Joelle Soulard, along with recent RST graduate and current Western Michigan University Assistant Professor Xin Du—which earned a Silver Award at the TTRA International Conference—sheds light on how travelers inscribe their journeys into their skin—quite literally—turning fleeting moments into enduring symbols of change. Drawing on the theory of aesthetic reflexivity, Soulard and her team examined how tattoos reflect not only personal transformations but also the broader cultural contexts in which they are created.

At the heart of this study is aesthetic reflexivity, a lens that emphasizes how individuals make sense of their lives through aesthetic, embodied, and sensory practices. Rather than viewing tattoos as static souvenirs, Liechty and Soulard’s research frames them as dynamic expressions of ongoing transformation. Placement, style and design become as important as the stories behind them. Three themes consistently surfaced: tattoos as embodiments of personal change, tattoos shaped through collaboration with others, and tattoos serving as enduring reminders long after the journey ended.

In other words, the tattoo is not the final word on the experience—it continues to “speak” over time. A novel aspect of this research was the use of photo elicitation, where participants were asked to share images of their tattoos.

“This combination of stories and images provided a fuller picture of how tattoos expressed transformation and helped us notice patterns that might have been missed otherwise,” Soulard said.

This visual approach often unlocked memories and meanings that words alone did not capture. For instance, some travelers reflected on the significance of tattoo placement in relation to scars, or the choice of a particular design that tied back to their journey. By combining narrative and visual data, Soulard and Liechty were able to trace patterns of transformation that might have remained invisible otherwise.

The study included 31 U.S. travelers who had gotten a tattoo after what they considered a transformative trip. Participants were recruited to reflect diversity across age, gender, life stage, and destination. From backpacking in Asia to volunteering abroad or embarking on solo pilgrimages, the contexts varied widely. Yet, despite the diversity of stories, a shared thread emerged: the tattoo as both artifact and anchor of change. Recruitment continued until theoretical saturation was reached, ensuring that the insights reflected recurring themes rather than isolated anecdotes.

RST professors Toni Liechty and Joelle Soulard.

One of the more striking findings involved tattoo placement. Several participants deliberately chose sensitive spots—like ribs or spine—where pain intensified the meaning of the act. For them, the researchers said, enduring the process was part of the ritual, underscoring resilience and adding layers of depth.

“Across their stories, we also noticed common patterns,” Soulard said. “Tattoos used to cover scars, tattoos placed where others would see them as signs of transformation, and tattoos with symbolic designs, such as ancestral motifs, that carried personal significance. These layers of interpretation became visible when we looked at the tattoos alongside the participants’ accounts.”

Although the research did not include formal long-term follow-up, many participants described how their tattoos continued to serve as daily reminders of their journeys. In moments of stress or uncertainty, glancing at the tattoo provided grounding, calm, or renewed strength. This suggests that tattoos function not only as memory devices but also as active tools for navigating everyday life, anchoring identity and resilience across time.

A floral tattoo obtained by a traveler after a trip to New Zealand.

The findings hold valuable insights for tourism operators. Rather than offering only conventional souvenirs, Soulard suggests that operators could facilitate co-creation experiences with local artists—tattooists, calligraphers, or printmakers—that allow travelers to express transformation in deeply personal ways. Maker studios for engraved tokens, stitched patches, or memorial jewelry could provide meaningful alternatives. Post-trip reflection kits, blending journaling prompts with art, might also extend the transformative power of travel once travelers return home. These approaches recognize that identity work does not end when the trip concludes; it evolves.

Of course, tattoos are not free from cultural complexity. The researchers said they approached the subject with care, ensuring ethical research practices, IRB approval and respect for participants’ privacy. Photo sharing was optional, and aliases were used to protect identities.

“We also ensured that participants’ own stories and meanings were at the center of the research by giving them space to guide the conversation, and interpreting their tattoos through the explanations they offered,” Soulard said.

Importantly, the researchers acknowledged broader issues, such as the colonial suppression of Indigenous tattoo traditions, as well as the risks of cultural appropriation or stigma in modern practice.

Soulard and Liechty’s insights raise possibilities for future research. Longitudinal studies using diaries or repeat interviews could explore how the meanings of tattoos evolve over decades. As tattoos continue to gain cultural prominence, particularly among younger generations, their role as anchors of transformative travel is likely to expand.

What remains clear, Liechty and Soulard suggest, is that tattoos are more than body art—they are living, breathing narratives etched into skin, carrying the echoes of journeys that reshape lives.

Editor’s note:

To reach Toni Liechty, email tliechty@illinois.edu.
To reach Joelle Soulard, email jsoulard@illinois.edu.
 

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U. of I. trial will test if exercise can improve protein efficiency for older adults with type 2 diabetes

Oct. 25, 2025 | Ethan Simmons

Can regular exercise reduce the protein needs of adults with type 2 diabetes?

From left: University of Illinois Professor Nick Burd, postdoc Mikaela Kasperek, Ph.D. student Gena Irwin, and Associate Professor Jacob Allen pose inside Freer Hall’s gym, where their labs will train participants in a 12-week exercise program for a clinical trial.

For healthy adults, roughly .8 grams of protein per kilogram of bodyweight per day is enough to maintain muscle mass and support daily function.

But for adults with type 2 diabetes, an estimated 1 in 10 adults in the United States, their protein requirements remain relatively undefined, but are believed to be elevated when compared to their non-diabetic counterparts. Especially as diabetic individuals age, their bodies often become more anabolic resistant: less responsive to the muscle-building effects of exercise and protein intake.

Researchers from the Department of Health and Kinesiology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign are recruiting participants for a human clinical trial to understand the protein needs of older adults with type 2 diabetes, and whether regular exercise can help their bodies use protein more efficiently.

“The problem with current strategies for type 2 diabetes is they largely try to keep throwing protein in people’s diets: eat more, eat more, eat more,” HK Professor Nicholas Burd said.  

Piling on the protein could have detrimental effects. There’s evidence that circulating amino acids, including branch chain amino acids that promote muscle mass, are associated with poorer outcomes for people with diabetes, said HK Associate Professor Jacob Allen.

Their upcoming study, “Exercise impact on dietary protein efficiency in older adults with type 2 diabetes,” is funded by a grant from the American Diabetes Association. The principal investigators are Burd, who researches protein metabolism, and Allen, who studies how exercise and nutrition impact the gut microbiome.

Health and Kinesiology professors Jack Senefeld and Steve Petruzzello are co-investigators on the study.

HK Assistant Professor Jack Senefeld and Professor Steve Petruzzello are co-investigators on the study, bringing expertise on training diabetic individuals and psychological well-being during exercise. Ph.D. candidate Gena Irwin and postdoc Mikaela Kasperek will lead the work from the Burd’s Exercise Performance Lab and Allen’s Integrative Microbiota Physiology labs respectively.

Starting this fall, the researchers will recruit 30 older adults to participate in this study—15 individuals living with type 2 diabetes and 15 without—and bring them into Freer Hall’s gym for a 12-week fitness program that mixes weight training with endurance exercise.

The researchers will use sensitive tools in their labs to figure out how efficiently participants’ bodies utilize protein, and whether that efficiency varies for older adults with and without diabetes. After participants wrap the exercise program, the team will test whether resistance training improved their bodies’ usage of protein overall, lessening their daily protein needs.

“To make an older person’s muscles more youthful, you can exercise them,” Burd said. “But we don’t know how the gut’s being impacted, and we don’t know how type 2 diabetes interferes with some of the ‘youthfulness’ effects of exercise.”

Some of our dietary protein ends up in our skeletal muscle, through muscle-protein synthesis, and some of it is used for energy. But there’s a “black box” around where the rest of our protein goes in the body, Allen said.

“We think that the microbes in the gut, the gut microbiome, might be responsible for some of this, but this has never been studied,” Allen said. “We’ve run some pilot work that fueled part of this study, where we can show that indeed, ingested amino acids are converted into these microbial metabolites.”

Why might that matter? Some of these metabolites are important for human health overall, Allen said. For example, short chain fatty acids—the byproducts of dietary fiber being processed in our gut—bring a host of benefits for metabolism and the immune system.

The research teams will host intervention days at the beginning and end of the 12-week exercise program, to see how participants’ bodies are using the protein in their muscle and gut.

Participants will consume amino acids labeled with stable isotope tracers. The labs will collect breath samples to see how much of the labeled amino acid is showing up in the breath—if more of that labeled protein appears in participants’ breath, their bodies aren’t as good at incorporating it into muscle.

Blood samples will help the scientists understand how the gut is taking those amino acids and converting them into potentially beneficial metabolites.

The second intervention day at the end of the trial will determine whether an exercise program changed the way participants’ bodies use protein.

“There are very few labs in the U.S that not only have the expertise, but have the infrastructure to be able to do this kind of work, so we’re very fortunate for Illinois and our department,” Burd said. “Stable isotope tracers require expensive machines to analyze.”

What’s in it for participants? On top of helping the scientists form dietary guidelines for older adults with type 2 diabetes, they’ll receive progressive exercise training from expert students and faculty at the college, that will hopefully serve them well beyond their last visit.

“A big goal is to change behavior, too, to make them healthier,” Allen said. “That’s ultimately what we’re trying to do.”

Editor’s note:

Interested in participating in this study? Take the survey to see if you qualify, or email the organizers at HK-ADA-Study@illinois.edu

To reach Nick Burd, email naburd@illinois.edu
To reach Jacob Allen, email jmallen5@illinois.edu

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Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.) Program Phasedown

Oct. 16, 2025 | Department of Speech and Hearing Science

On July 17, 2025, the University of Illinois Board of Trustees approved the decision to phase down the Doctor of Audiology (AuD) Program. Please read further to understand our decision and our continued commitment to hearing education and clinical services.

Our History in Audiology Training

The Doctor of Audiology (AuD) Program at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is nationally recognized for its excellence in clinical training and academic leadership. For decades, our program has prepared future audiologists to meet the evolving demands of healthcare addressing hearing and balance, consistently earning top rankings among peer institutions. Our alumni and current students continue to shape the field—advancing research, leading clinical innovation, and improving patient outcomes.

Speech and Hearing Science Building.

Today, the need for innovative models of hearing care is only increasing. With 48 million people in the United States and 477 million worldwide living with hearing loss, the demand for accessible, high-quality hearing care is growing rapidly. As a department, we are committed to supporting our students, alumni, partners, and community in addressing this global challenge.

Re-Envisioning Audiology Education at Illinois

Audiology education in general has experienced long-term challenges. Among these, a shortage of audiologists has contributed to a shortage of local clinical placement sites and clinical faculty, limiting the availability of supervised clinical training experiences. This is combined with limited applicants to our AuD program and competition from other AuD programs across the state and region. Over the past two years, the department engaged in a comprehensive review of the AuD program, assessed multiple models for long term sustainability, engaged in dialogue with statewide partners, and evaluated future trends in audiology education and clinical practice. As a forward-thinking department, we have decided to transition to new educational training models for supporting the future of hearing care.

After careful consideration, and with the best interests of our students, faculty, and the department in mind, we made the difficult decision to phase down the AuD program. As a result, we are no longer accepting applications to the AuD program.

A Continued Commitment to Hearing Health

We remain committed to educating future practitioners and leaders in hearing health. All currently enrolled AuD students will continue to receive full support from the faculty in meeting their educational and clinical requirements through the completion of their degrees. Our program continues to hold full accreditation status with the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA). We are also designing new opportunities for students in our other degree programs to interface with our Audiology Clinic, collaborate with leaders in hearing science, and pursue interdisciplinary learning and innovation.

Our Audiology Clinic remains fully operational and continues to accept new patients and referrals without interruption. We are committed to serving the clinical needs of the university community and the public. Furthermore, we continue to pursue innovative models and partnerships as a leader in hearing throughout the state.

Designing the Future of Hearing Education and Research

Hearing science remains a core strength of our department, supported by a vibrant research community and ongoing investment in hearing innovation. Our faculty direct projects of national and international impact, to support children and adults across the lifespan with their hearing needs, and to improve clinical practice and technological solutions. With the growing influence of artificial intelligence, we are designing innovative undergraduate education opportunities that merge clinical practice with advancing computational methods, preparing students to thrive and lead in data-driven healthcare. We are building the future of hearing science and clinical practice, and we are training our PhD students to lead in this rapidly evolving field through our mentorship and interdisciplinary training.

We are deeply proud of our AuD program and the many accomplishments of our students, alumni, and faculty. We are also grateful for the valuable contributions of our adjunct faculty, emeriti faculty, and external clinical supervisors. We invite alumni, clinical partners, collaborators, and prospective students to join us in building the future of hearing science and advancing hearing care and education in Illinois and beyond.

Questions can be directed to Dr. Ian Mertes, the Director of the Audiology Program (imertes@illinois.edu).

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Exercise is Medicine On Campus month kicks off at Illinois

Oct. 09, 2025 | AHS Staff

Join activities hosted by Health and Kinesiology faculty and students

Exercise is Medicine Month on Campus kicked off with an in-person yoga event at Freer Hall lawn. (Provided)

Exercise is Medicine on Campus (EIM-OC) is an annual initiative that calls upon colleges and universities to promote physical activity as a core component of health and wellness. More than 200 campuses in the United States have registered for the program.

This month, Health and Kinesiology faculty and students at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign—led by this year’s EIM at Illinois committee chair Emerson Sebastião—have planned out several activities to bring campus together in movement. Representatives from the Illinois Counseling Center, Campus Recreation, McKinley Health Center, Carle Illinois College of Medicine and local health organizations joined this year’s committee.

All month, participants can join the online “Move More Challenge” by posting a video or photo of them exercising, and tagging @illinoishealthkin on Instagram.

Coming up:

Free Pilates

A free, introductory pilates class in front of Freer Hall, led by HK Teaching Assistant Professor Alana Harris. Bring your own mat!

When:
Wednesday, Oct. 15 at 12 p.m. at Freer Hall lawn

Check your vitals

Get your blood pressure and resting heart rate checked for free by HK students and faculty. Students will provide education on physical activity and exercise guidelines.

When:
Wednesday, Oct. 15 from noon to 1 p.m. at Illinois Street Residence Hall
Wednesday, Oct. 22 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at Student Dining and Residential Programs building (SDRP)

Fall into Fitness 5K | Run, Walk and Roll

Join a 5K race that starts at Freer Hall and loops through campus. Check-in and registration begins at 7:30 a.m., and the race starts at 8:30 a.m.

When:
Sunday, Oct. 19 at 8:30 a.m. Check-in begins at 7:30 a.m.

Read Chancellor Isbell’s official proclamation for Exercise is Medicine Month on Campus:

Committee Members 2025-2026

  • Chair: Emerson Sebastião, Ph.D., Health and Kinesiology
  • Nicholas Burd, Ph.D., Health and Kinesiology
  • Alana Harris, Ph.D, Health and Kinesiology
  • Diana Morales (Graduate Student Representative)
  • Harrison Guo (Undergraduate Student Representative)
  • Maggie Verklan, the Counseling Center
  • Alexia Hammonds (Graduate Student Representative)
  • Brie Whitted, McKinley Health Center
  • Jared Willard, MD, Christie Clinic
  • Annie Tigranyan (Carle Illinois College of Medicine Student Representative)

Editor’s note:

To reach Emerson Sebastião, email esebast2@illinois.edu.
 

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AHS Faculty Q&A: Megan Huibregtse on traumatic brain injuries, MRI and coming to Illinois

Oct. 8, 2025 | Ethan Simmons

Megan Huibregtse, Ph.D., is a first-year assistant professor in the Department of Health and Kinesiology, but she’s no stranger to the Midwest. Huibregtse obtained her bachelor’s in neuroscience and a Ph.D. in human performance from Indiana University, Bloomington. She worked as a postdoctoral fellow at Emory University before joining the AHS faculty this fall.

Megan Huibregtse (Fred Zwicky / University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign)
Talk about what drew you to the College of AHS. Why did you choose to come to Illinois? 

Megan: I was looking for an environment where I could connect with a vibrant research community and work directly with undergraduate and graduate students. While my work spans multiple disciplines such as clinical neuroscience or psychiatry, traumatic brain injury is one of the most common neurological conditions (Maas et al., 2022 The Lancet Neurology), and there’s a real public health concern about acute and long-term neurobehavioral effects.

So, AHS’s mission of improving health and well-being across the lifespan is a great fit for my research program. Plus, the neuroimaging resources here are unparalleled, and I can’t wait to start using the 7 Tesla scanner. 

(The University of Illinois and Carle Health co-own a 7 Tesla MRI scanner, which provides a huge step up in quality for brain imaging.)

You’ve described yourself as ‘obsessed with the brain.’ When and how did your fascination with neuroscience begin? 

I was unlucky enough to get two concussions from playing volleyball when I was younger, and the second led to the discovery of a brain tumor in my left frontal lobe. It might have been a coincidence, but the tumor was right next to where I hit my head when I got the first concussion.

Fortunately, the surgery to remove it went well, and I’ve been fascinated by the brain and what happens in response to injury ever since. Having personally gone through many hours of magnetic resonance imaging, I learned what a powerful tool it is to non-invasively examine the brain. 

Within the area of traumatic brain injury, you’ve already investigated a wide variety of topics, from sub-concussive head impacts in high school football to head trauma from intimate partner violence. How do you generally describe your research interests? 

That’s right—I’ve been fascinated by various aspects of neurotrauma. In general, I would say that my interests revolve around comprehending how our experiences (brain injuries, traumatic events, and when they occur simultaneously) impact our brain health. I consider brain health in terms of both structural integrity and function. 

What are your priorities as you’re getting started here at Illinois? 

This year, I’m working on setting up my research program—recruiting graduate students and undergraduate research assistants, submitting my protocols to the Institutional Review Board, and getting acquainted with the excellent neuroimaging resources at the Beckman Institute. 

How has your experience in Urbana-Champaign been so far? Is there anything you’d like your colleagues to know about you? 

It’s been great so far! Having completed my degrees at another Big Ten school (Indiana), Urbana-Champaign feels familiar already. Outside of work, I love to cook and bake for my family and friends. 

Editor’s note:

To reach Megan Huibregtse, email mhuibreg@illinois.edu.

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Announcing our faculty promotions for 2025-26

Aug. 14, 2025 | AHS Staff

Seven AHS faculty received promotions for the 2025-26 academic year

Seven faculty at the College of Applied Health Sciences received promotions prior to the 2025-26 Academic Year. Here are their new faculty titles.

Professor

Nicholas Burd, Health and Kinesiology

Andiara Schwingel, Health and Kinesiology

Associate Professor

Susan Aguiñaga, Health and Kinesiology

Jacob Allen, Health and Kinesiology

Mary Flaherty, Speech and Hearing Science

Sharon Zou, Recreation, Sport and Tourism

Teaching Associate Professor

Kristen DiFilippo, Health and Kinesiology

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