Tag: RST Spring Newsletter 2026

Spring 2026: Message from RST Department Head Carla Santos

May 13, 2026 | Carla Santos

Our alumni play a vital role in sustaining the strength of our community

Hello alumni and friends of the Department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism,

As the spring semester comes to an end, I am pleased to share the latest edition of the Recreation, Sport and Tourism newsletter with our alumni community. This issue reflects the breadth of experiences, scholarship and impact that define RST, and I hope it reconnects you with the people and programs that continue to shape the field.

One of the highlights in this edition explores an exciting partnership centered on Wintrust Sports Complex and Bedford Park, where RST students have been directly involved in emergency planning efforts. This hands-on work exemplifies how our students apply classroom knowledge to real-world challenges, gaining valuable experience while contributing meaningfully to community resilience and safety.

We also take a reflective look at the history of Black runners in the Boston Marathon, a story that not only honors perseverance and achievement, but also underscores the evolving relationship between sport and social change. It is a powerful reminder of the broader cultural contexts in which recreation and sport exist.

Closer to home, we celebrate the contributions of Professor Laura Payne and her work documenting the history of the Office of Recreation and Park Resources. This story highlights the enduring legacy of outreach, research and public engagement that has long been a cornerstone of our department’s mission.

Our alumni network continues to be a source of pride and inspiration. In this issue, you’ll read about a group of RST graduates whose professional paths converged at the USTA, illustrating both the strength of our program and the lasting connections formed here. Their story is a testament to the collaborative spirit that defines our community.

We are also excited to spotlight the global opportunities available to our students, particularly through internships abroad that expand cultural understanding and professional growth. These experiences prepare students to lead in an increasingly interconnected world.

Please join me in welcoming our new postdoctoral researcher, Alessio Norrito, whose work will contribute to the department’s ongoing commitment to innovative research and thought leadership.

Finally, the 2026 Sapora Symposium brought together students, alumni and industry leaders across recreation, sport and tourism for a dynamic day centered on the theme of community. More than 130 students engaged with over 35 speakers and table hosts—many of them RST alumni—creating meaningful connections and mentorship opportunities. We are especially grateful to our alumni, partners and TSMGI for making this experience possible.

Thank you for your continued support and engagement with RST. Whether through mentorship, collaboration or simply staying connected, you play a vital role in sustaining the strength of our community. I hope you enjoy this issue and find it both informative and inspiring.

Warm regards,

Carla Santos, Department Head

Recreation, Sport and Tourism

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An online RST master’s degree affirmed Haupert’s career in the arts

May 16, 2026 | Ethan Simmons

A “theater kid through and through,” Haupert (RST ‘21) helps realize the artistic dreams of her community as Palatine Park District’s first-ever cultural arts manager.

In her new role at the Palatine Park District, Laney Haupert carries administrative work to keep her local arts scene running .

From an early age, Laney Haupert dreamed of working in the theater—not acting on stage, but managing her favorite productions behind the scenes. 

But life took her in an unexpected direction: as Palatine Park District’s cultural arts manager, Haupert carries administrative work to keep her local arts scene running from her position in parks and recreation. 

“I had this lightbulb moment: I can work in cultural arts, do theater, put up shows, serve my community, and have all the benefits of working in the public sector,” Haupert said. “Taking this job was my Hannah Montana, ‘Best of Both Worlds’ moment.” 

After a stint in the creative arts and a taste of park district life, Haupert went back to school, obtaining master’s degree online from the Department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 2021. It gave her the tools to steer her career toward a new path. 

“A master’s degree is something I always wanted to complete,” Haupert said. “Having found this program and hearing more about it, it was a great fit for where my career was at and where I saw my life going.” 

Haupert is from Bartlett, Illinois, a village of 41,000 in the Chicago metro area. She grew up in community theater, starring in her local production of “The Velveteen Rabbit” when she was 8 years old. As she got older, she found more roles backstage: hanging curtains, doing makeup and building sets for local plays.

Haupert’s mother, Carrie Fullerton, always thought Haupert had the “personality for parks and recreation.” Fullerton is a two-time graduate of the RST program at Illinois and has served as executive director of the Arlington Heights Park District since 2020. 

Haupert had different plans, at least at first. She obtained her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Administration from Millikin University in 2018, working as director of development for the school’s student-run studio theater. But after graduating, the job prospects were dry, so she found an administrative assistant role at the Glenview Park District—and found out she loved it. 

“Sometimes it takes someone who is not your parent to realize how cool this thing is, that your parent has been spoon-feeding you,” she said. “I thought parks and recreation was something I really wanted to explore further.” 

You have to remember the ‘why’ of what we’re doing, and who it’s for. It’s for the little version of you who really needed this at a certain point in life.

Laney Haupert

Cultural Arts Manager, RST ’21

In February 2020, she landed a role with the Bolingbrook Park District, managing both its gymnastics and theater programs. A month in, the COVID-19 pandemic hit, all in-person events were canceled and she had a “whole lot of nothing to do.” 

Haupert’s graduation cap after obtaining her online master’s degree in RST reads “Don’t forget to play.” Today, she is the Palatine Park District’s first-ever cultural arts manager. (Photo provided)

But Haupert had a clearer idea of where she wanted to take her career. She wanted more knowledge—and a degree that connected to her new industry. 

The flexibility of the RST online master’s program appealed to her: “Maybe you’re a sports person and love athletics, want to be around it doing recreation management. For me, my love has always been theater and live performance,” Haupert said. 

The online format made it easier for her to balance coursework and her job, completing her master’s in a year and a half. RST’s online degree gave her “structure” that she sorely needed, especially early in the pandemic. The master’s program also helped her ace the test for her Certified Parks and Recreation Professional Certification, an industry qualification. 

Haupert stayed with Bolingbrook until January 2022, when she began with the Deerfield Park District as its cultural arts and special events supervisor. That experience brought her to Palatine in 2024, where she’s continued to support young artists as the park district’s first ever cultural arts manager. 

She supports all manner of performances year-round: multiple choirs, a community band, theater programs and dance recitals. Her big task is to cultivate a school-of-art brand for the park district, while getting “more and more people to do cool stuff with us,” she said. 

With a fresh perspective on her role, Haupert is helping to realize the artistic dreams of kids growing up in the same lane she once did. 

“The most important thing that’s been a throughline for me: if you’re having fun, you never work a day in your life,” Haupert said. “You have to remember the ‘why’ of what we’re doing, and who it’s for. It’s for the little version of you who really needed this at a certain point in life.” 

Editor’s note

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

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