Meet Our Graduates
While we are sad to see our students leaving us each year, we know they are moving forward with a solid foundation of knowledge and experience. They are prepared to make a difference in the world by improving the quality of life for individuals, families, and communities. Our sadness, then, is mixed with extreme pride as we say good-bye. Here are some of the students who will leave us this year.
Chesi Moral
Chesi will receive her bachelor's degree in Community Health, with a focus on Rehabilitation Studies, from the Department of Kinesiology and Community Health. In the fall, she begins studies at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. "I don't know what I want to specialize in yet, but I like pediatrics and sports medicine," she said. Chesi volunteered and completed an internship with the Health and Wellness Promotion D of the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District, and has also volunteered with the Crisis Nursery and the Emergency Department of Provena Covenant Medical Center. Chesi gained research experience as well, as an assistant in the STRONG Kids Project, and worked as a University Student Ambassador. She is a member of the AHS Student Council Executive Board and participates in the Mannie L. Jackson Illinois Academic Enrichment and Leadership Program. Chesi says the thing she'll miss most about the University of Illinois is the Quad, where she enjoyed spending time every season of the year.
Anne Nekoliczak
"I think what I'll miss the most are all of the people, both students and faculty, that I've met here," says Anne. After graduating with her bachelor's degree in Kinesiology, Anne will attend graduate school at the University of Illinois at Chicago to become an occupational therapist. She hopes to work in pediatrics. As a James Scholar, Anne worked with Professor Steven Petruzzello to investigate the effects of exercise intensity on affect and enjoyment. She has been on the Dean's List every semester and is a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, for which she has served as vice president, and a Bronze Tablet recipient. Anne also has been president of the Pre-Occupational Therapy Club, and is a member of Chi Omega and Best Buddies, which pairs college students with community members who have intellectual disabilities.
Brad Ryan
Brad has called the Department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism home for the past four years. He focused his studies on Sport Management and plans to work in professional soccer after graduation, doing public relations, sales, and marketing. His ultimate career goal is to become a general manager. He completed an externship with the Chicago Fire major league soccer team and a marketing and sales internship with the team FC Dallas. He also has experience as a media executive with Playbook Management International, a head coach of the Countryside soccer team, and a student recruiter for Illinois football. A Wesley Jay Vala Scholarship recipient and James Scholar, Brad says he most valued the opportunity to learn from amazing faculty members. "They made my education a rewarding experience, and I'll miss seeing them on a daily basis," he said. He'll also miss the social opportunities and resources available at the University of Illinois.
David Remmert
David is completing his doctoral degree in Community Health. For the last 20 years, he has been the executive director of the DeWitt/Piatt Bi-County Health Department. "It was the desire to learn everything I could about my field that motivated me to work toward the PhD," he said. He has recently assumed some duties with the Center for Prevention Research and Development, studying the value of public health laws to population health. His ultimate career goal is to reach the end of his career feeling satisfied that he did the best he could to improve life for others. David's dissertation research examined the relationship between public health agency resources and their products. As part of his work, he developed a benchmarking process that allows health departments to compare themselves to exemplar performers of a similar size. He's hoping the outcome will be a new quality standard throughout the field of public health. David volunteers in his community, serving on boards for the local education foundation and Rotary organization and assisting his oldest daughter's high school track team. He is looking forward to his hooding ceremony, which will be conducted by his father, also an alumnus of the University.
Breanne Tibbs
Breanne will pursue a master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology at Eastern Illinois University after graduating with her bachelor's degree in Speech and Hearing Science. She plans to focus her practice on treating acute care and rehabilitation patients in a medical setting. She looks forward to making a difference in the lives of people with aphasia, traumatic brain injuries, and dysphagia. "The variability, spontaneous thinking, and fast-paced environment of the hospital setting will allow me to provide care to patients in all stages of recovery," she said. A James Scholar, Breanne has spent the last two years working with Professor Torrey Loucks in the Stuttering Lab. She completed a senior thesis on the effects of delayed auditory feedback and dual-task activities on speech rate, and presented her findings at the 2011 Undergraduate Research Symposium. In addition to graduating as a James Scholar, Breanne has been a Dean's List honoree and is a member of Phi Eta Sigma Honors Fraternity. She has been a peer tutor in AHS, a leisure group activity leader for patients in the rehabilitation unit of Carle Foundation Hospital, and a teaching assistant at Marujita's Bilingual Day Care.
Quianna Hart
Quianna graduates with her bachelor's degree in Community Health. She plans to pursue a graduate degree in Public Health, with the goals of learning and understanding social and behavioral determinants of health. "I'd like to work in health education and promotion to prevent disease and advance healthy lifestyles through knowledge and behavior change, particularly among underserved ethnic minority groups," she said. Working with Professor Angela Black, Quianna conducted research on health behaviors and health attitudes that are targeted in health interventions for women of color. Their work will appear as a chapter in The Handbook of Race-Ethnicity and Gender in Psychology. A Dean's List honoree, Quianna is a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and Phi Sigma Theta National Honor Society. She says she will most miss the dynamic academic advising staff and professors who were committed to the success of their students. The University of Illinois afforded her the opportunity to adapt to a more diverse community, she said, and push herself beyond expectations.
Matthew Sabin
After completing his degree in Kinesiology, Matthew will go on to an assistant professor position in the Department of Exercise and Sports Science at Eastern Kentucky University. His teaching responsibilities will be within the Athletic Training Education Program, and he hopes to continue his research as well. Matthew's doctoral research focused on a specific measure of balance, which he modified, and its effectiveness as an assessment tool. He would like to determine whether the measure can be used with people who have suffered concussions, and provide a better measure for detecting concussions. As for his career goals, Matthew said, "Ultimately, I desire only one thing: satisfaction. At the end of my life, I want to look back and know that I pursued understanding and excellence in everything I did." Having been the recipient of the 2009 Benjamin H. Massey Memorial Award and the 2010 Harriet and Ludwig T. Stoyke Outstanding Graduate Student Award, it is likely Matthew will attain his desired goal.
Jeremy Robinett
Jeremy has decided to stay on for a doctoral degree after completing his master's degree in the Department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism. He is generally interested in how men choose recreational activities, and how those choices affect other areas of their lives. "As a doctoral student, I am interested in exploring the interplay between leisure and gender," he said. "Through my involvement in the Diversity Research Lab, I have explored how gendered constructs affect the choices families make regarding youth activities." Before joining the College of Applied Health Sciences, Jeremy worked at a junior college in south-central Missouri for six years, and was the director of special events for the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois for five years.
Esther Thomas
After spending a month in Europe, Esther will work with a speech-language pathologist at a camp for children with intensive language problems. In the fall, this graduate of the Department of Speech and Hearing Science will begin studies toward a master's degree in Communicative Disorders at Northern Illinois University. "I want to work in a hospital as a speech-language pathologist," she said. "Right now, I think I would like to focus on patients with aphasia and Traumatic Brain Injury, or possibly on neonatal swallowing disorders." She was a research assistant to Professor Kenneth Watkin for three years and completed a thesis on the optimal method of oral exfoliation. She also has volunteered with the Stroke Communication Group at Carle Hospital in Urbana. A four-year James Scholar, Esther will graduate with highest honors. She has been on the Dean's List every semester, and is a member of the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association and the National Society of Collegiate Scholars.
Diana Arellano
Diana will be moving to Phoenix after receiving her bachelor's degree in Community Health from the Department of Kinesiology and Community Health. Eventually, she would like to return to school to pursue a Master of Public Health degree with a focus on global health. Her goal is to work in international health policy for women's health rights in developing countries. As a Ronald E. McNair Summer Research Scholar, she worked with Professor Stephen Notaro on an examination of disparity in infant mortality rates in India. As a volunteer in Peru with an organization called Solidaridad en Marcha, Diana said, "I observed surgeries, visited several private and public clinics, helped with health campaigns, and assisted with making medical supplies." Among her many achievements, Diana received a Charles Wert India-Illinois Scholarship Award and the 2009 Aurelio E. "Joe" Florio Scholarship. She is the current president of the AHS Student Council and a Mannie L. Jackson Illinois Academic Enrichment and Leadership Program Scholar.
Ashton McCrate
Ashton will head to Portland, Oregon, after graduation, to complete her internship for the Department of Sport, Recreation and Tourism. After working for the summer at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, she plans to pursue a career in museums in the Portland area. She's hoping to work her way up the museum management hierarchy until she is a museum director or curator. Ashton has assisted with planning and working at events as a volunteer at the Krannert Art Museum on campus. Using a systems theory approach, she completed an independent study this semester that explored the relationship and interaction between a community and art, and the role of art in communities. She presented her findings at the Undergraduate Research Symposium in April. A Dean's List honoree, Ashton says it's difficult to identify what she will miss most about AHS and the University. "It has become such a large part of my life," she said. "I think my favorite part has been getting to know several of the professors."
Ashley Umali
Ashley will begin work on a master's degree in Occupational Therapy at the University of Illinois at Chicago after graduating with her bachelor's degree in Kinesiology. As an occupational therapist, she hopes to focus on pediatric care. Ashley was a research assistant to Professor Charles Hillman and the FIT Kids afterschool program for three semesters, helping with research on the link between fitness and cognition and scholastic achievement. She also spent three semesters volunteering at Heartland Health Care Center in Champaign. With seven appearances on the Dean's List, it's little surprise that Ashley will graduate with honors and is a Bronze Tablet honoree. She is an Edmund J. James Scholar and a member of Alpha Sigma Nu Kinesiology Fraternity, Phi Eta Sigma Honors Fraternity, and Alpha Lambda Delta Honors Fraternity. Ashley says the most beneficial experience she had in AHS was getting involved. "Through the FIT Kids research program, the James Scholar program, and the James Scholar Advisory Board, I met amazing people and gained really valuable experience," she said.
Patty Rudolphi
Patty will receive her master's degree with high honors from the Department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism at the May Convocation. She is looking for a job in recreation and hopes to do a lot of traveling. "I would love to have a position with a nonprofit organization abroad that works with underserved populations," she said. "I would enjoy providing recreation programming to both youth and adults." Patty's master's research focused on the physical, mental, and cultural benefits of youth recreation programming on American Indian youth. Working closely with leaders at Inter Tribal Sports in Temecula, California, she researched a best practice sport program, using Inter Tribal Sports' values and programs as a foundation. The program she developed is one of the only youth sport programs on American Indian reservations nationwide. Throughout her undergraduate and graduate career, Patty volunteered at a local soup kitchen, an experience that led her to volunteer in schools and soup kitchens in several states and abroad.
Ryan Greene
Ryan will graduate with his master's degree in Kinesiology from the Department of Kinesiology and Community Health. In the fall, he begins his studies at the Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Parker, Colorado, and hopes to build a career in sports medicine, either as an orthopedic surgeon or a team doctor for a professional sports franchise. His master's research focused on the effect of mild Traumatic Brain Injury on the expression of cytokines in the brain. "A cytokine is a protein, part of the immune system, that signals the body's natural defense system," he explained. As an undergraduate at the University of Illinois, he was a research assistant to Professors Steven Broglio and Jeff Woods, who became his graduate advisor. He also volunteered in the Cardio-Pulmonary Rehabilitation Unit at Provena Medical Center in Urbana, and has had several internships at Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield, Illinois. Ryan graduated from his undergraduate program with High Honors and was a frequent presence on the Dean's List.
Heather Burr
Heather will graduate with her doctoral degree in Audiology from the Department of Speech and Hearing Science. She plans to work in a medical facility in either Chicago or San Francisco with both pediatric and adult patients. "I hope to work with individuals who have received implantable devices, such as cochlear implants, auditory brainstem implants, and osseointegrated devices," she said. Her ultimate goal is to specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of hearing impairment in children. During her graduate school studies, Heather gained clinical experience in a variety of hospital and clinic settings in Illinois. She completed her fourth year externship at the University of Illinois at Chicago Eye and Ear Infirmary. Her doctoral research, completed in partnership with the Audiology Department at UICEEI, looked at the neural synchrony of the auditory system in patients who had received an auditory brainstem implant due to Neurofibromatosis Type II, a rare genetic disorder that causes tumors in the ear. While completing her coursework, Heather served as a teaching assistant for undergraduate classes in speech and hearing science, and volunteered as a tutor for students taking the introductory audiology course.
Mary Kathleen Maloney
After receiving her bachelor's degree in Kinesiology, Mary Kathleen will attend the University of Illinois at Chicago to work on a master's degree in Occupational Therapy. She plans to work with special needs children to help them reach their highest potential. On her first winter break in graduate school, Mary Kathleen will travel with her sister to Ecuador to give free therapy to children. She has volunteered with International Impact in Guatemala and with a Ronald McDonald House in Western Australia, as well as Crisis Nursery and Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana, Occupational and Hand Therapy Ltd. in Blue Island, Illinois, and Palos Community Hospital in Palos Heights, Illinois. She also assisted Professor Charles Hillman in his FIT Kids research program. A Dean's List honoree, Mary Kathleen is a member of Alpha Sigma Nu Honors Fraternity, Phi Eta Sigma Honors Fraternity, Mortar Board Senior National Honor Society, and the AHS Student Council. She lauds the University of Illinois with providing students with a myriad of opportunities. "They create memories that last a lifetime; all you have to do is get involved," she said. "I am extremely thankful for all of the different experiences I've had at the University."
Jonathan Hicks
After receiving his master's degree from the Department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism, Jonathan hopes to do research that leads to a deeper understanding of what draws people to wild animals. "This type of research will be increasingly important to leisure practitioners and the public alike, as phenomena such as urban sprawl increases the frequency of human-wildlife contact," he said. He believes teaching also will be an important part of his career. Jonathan revised the content of a course on community recreation planning and established what he hopes will be a long-term partnership between RST and Pontiac, Illinois. He has been a forestry technician at the U. S. Forest Service's Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie in Wilmington, Illinois, and this summer will conduct research on uniting human and wildlife communities with funding from the National Great River Research and Education Center. In June, Jonathan will present his master's thesis, "Wildlife as a Priority in Park Development," at the 17th International Symposium on Society and Resource Management in Madison, Wisconsin.
Yadira Montoya
The Department of Kinesiology and Community Health will award Yadira a master's degree in Community Health. She wants to pursue a doctoral degree and an academic career. "This will allow me to document the voices of a medically marginalized population and contribute to our knowledge or the Latino immigrant experience when accessing health care services," she said. She plans to continue working for community-based organizations that provide direct services in the belief that both research and community-based work are critical to advancing public understanding of health care disparities for Latino immigrants and to improving the health profile of this community. Yadira has been working with Champaign County Health Care Consumers, a nonprofit health advocacy organization, where she coordinates a consumer health helpline and a dental program for low-income community members. Her graduate research focused on the role of place of residence and its influence on cancer screening behaviors among Mexican immigrant women. She is particularly interested in the intersection between socio-demographic factors and community factors that play a role in the Latina immigrant's health status. In 2010, Yadira received the Outstanding Graduate Student Achievement Award from La Casa Cultural Latina.
LaWanda Cook
LaWanda, who completed a Ph.D. in the Department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism, now works for Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, as an extension associate and training specialist for the Employment and Disability Institute in the Industrial and Labor Relations School. She develops and presents training modules about the Americans with Disabilities Act and related legislation, and issues concerning the employment of people with disabilities. Her work keeps her traveling, as her office serves New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. LaWanda also prepares manuscripts for scholarly publication and assists with grant writing. She tries to incorporate leisure and wellness into her work, particularly with service providers, by addressing issues related to self-care and stress management. She is a member of Cornell's Wellness Advisory Committee. In 2010, the Department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism awarded LaWanda the Christine Ziebarth Howe Award, which recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students.
Alexandra Barker
Alexandra begins work toward her master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology this fall at Northwestern University. Her primary interest is in feeding and swallowing assessment and intervention with infants. After completing her master's degree, she would like to work in a neonatal intensive care unit in a hospital within the greater Chicago area. Ultimately, Alexandra plans to complete a doctoral degree in Speech-Language Pathology and conduct research on infant swallowing disorders. She has worked with Dr. Laura DeThorne on an investigation of speech-language disabilities associated with autism and apraxia of speech. She volunteered as a classroom aid for bilingual kindergarten students at Booker T. Washington School and as a literacy enrichment facilitator at Bradley Day Care Center. A member of Gamma Phi Beta Sorority and the National Student Speech Hearing Language Association, Alexandra says what she'll miss most about the University of Illinois are the people. "My four years in the College of Applied Health Sciences has been characterized by an invaluable education, not only in academia but also in life," she said.