Meet Our Graduates
The 2013 Convocation was a great success, with more than 700 students receiving bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees during the ceremony. We can’t introduce you to all of them, but here are a few members of the Class of 2013.
(L-R) Marco Boscolo and Julia Valley completed Ph.D. degrees in Kinesiology. Marco, who focused on kinesmetrics, will join the staff of Gibson Area Hospital as an athletic trainer and grant writer. Julia will pursue her research and teaching in gender equity in physical education as a faculty member at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale.
Danielle Rodriguez completed her undergraduate degree in Community Health, with a focus on Health Planning and Administration. She will move to Texas to begin studies toward a degree in Veterinary Medicine this fall.
(L-R) Lainey Emmons, Sheila Tyler, and Amy Gibson completed the online master’s degree program in Recreation, Sport and Tourism. Lainey, who hails from Champaign, is a practice manager for a veterinary clinic in Mahomet, Illinois. Sheila is the Campus Recreation Manager for Chicago State University. Amy, from Pontiac, Illinois, hopes to get into sports administration.
(L-R) Melissa Avila focused on Health and Aging as an undergraduate student in the Interdisciplinary Health, or i-Health, program. After taking a year off to travel, she will attend graduate school in occupational therapy. Nicole Druktenis also focused on Health and Aging and begins studies toward a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree this fall at Northwestern University.
(L-R) Katie Burke and Ryan Farris completed Doctor of Audiology degrees in the Department of Speech and Hearing Science. Katie is moving to Santa Fe, New Mexico, to work for Southwestern Ear, Nose, and Throat, while Ryan is joining the Springfield Clinic in Springfield, Illinois.
Bridget Evans was accompanied by her service dog Hero as she received her master’s degree in Community Health. Bridget founded Illini Service Dogs, the first and perhaps only service dog training program run by college students, who foster and train services dogs that are provided to people with disabilities free of charge. Bridget hopes to obtain an administrative position in a nonprofit hospital.
(L-R) Ning Tang and Guanqing Qiao both focused on Sport Management as undergraduates in the Department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism. This summer, Ning will complete an internship in marketing and community relations with the Chicago Sky of the Women’s National Basketball Association. Guanqing has an internship lined up with the Urbana Park District, where she will assist with event planning.
(L-R) Qian Gan and Nell Haslett-Brousse completed the Master of Public Health degree program. Qian will return to China to work for the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Nell is going into health care consulting.
(L-R) Troy Davis, who completed his bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology, begins studies toward a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree this fall at the Krannert School of Physical Therapy in Indianapolis, Indiana. Rosco Doro’s undergraduate studies in Kinesiology prepared him for medical school. He hopes to go into orthopedics.
(L-R) Andrew Borawski, Nicole Trimble, and Katheryne Bradbury completed the online master’s degree program offered by the Department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism. Andrew works for Gold’s Gym in St. Louis, Missouri; Nicole is with the Iroquois Special Education Association in Crescent City, Illinois; and Katheryne works for the Shoreline Washington YMCA in Spokane, Washington.
(L-R) Marjorie Yarbrough completed her bachelor’s degree in i-Health, with a focus on Health Behavior Change, and will begin studies toward a Master of Public Health degree this fall at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Shayla Mutz, who also focused her i-Health studies on Health Behavior Change, is transitioning from college to professional sports as a soccer player. Also in Health Behavior Change, Margaret Ciesielski will pursue her master’s in Occupational Therapy at the University of Southern California.
(L-R) Tierney Reed, Nadine Robinson, Nejee Robinson, and Melissa Kimble completed undergraduate degrees in Community Health. Tierney, who focused on Health Planning and Administration, will spend the summer on campus assisting with event planning and hopes to get into the field of hospital administration. Nadine focused on Health Education and Promotion and will begin studies toward a career as a nurse practitioner this fall. Nejee and Melissa focused on Health Planning and Administration. Nejee will either work toward a Master of Public Health degree or take a marketing position with PCM. Melissa begins studies toward a Master of Public Health degree this fall, here in Urbana-Champaign.
(L-R) Kristen Boden and Mathea Goltermann completed their master’s degrees in Speech-Language Pathology. Kristen plans to work in K-12 schools. Mathea will work for the Unit 4 schools in Champaign, Illinois.
(L-R) Mudita Dave completed her PhD in Kinesiology with a focus on Migrant Health Behavior. She will pursue a teaching and research position. Laura Edwards’ doctoral studies focused on Health Behavior. She is enrolled in the MD/PhD program at Illinois and will complete her medical studies in two years. PhD recipient Bala Mutyala will pursue a research position in Epidemiology. Miranda Sue Terry begins teaching this fall as an Assistant Professor at Steven F. Austin State University in Texas.
(L-R) Michele Gulotta of Las Vegas, Nevada, Angela Bush of Silver Lake, Wisconsin, Todd Squires of Rockford, Illinois, and Scott Radunz of Troy, Illinois, completed the online master’s degree in Recreation, Sport and Tourism. Michele will continue working for Clark County Parks and Recreation and Angela Bush will remain with her current employer as well, Lindenhurst Park District. Todd currently works for Swedish American Hospital and hopes his degree will enable him to change careers. Scott is on active duty with the Illinois Army National Guard but hopes eventually to go into Sport Management.
(L-R) Neil Andrews, Breanne Bockwoldt, and Kristen Anderson completed undergraduate degrees in Speech and Hearing Science, with a focus on Speech-Language Pathology. Neil is going to work for Wolfram Research in Champaign, Illinois. Breanne will begin her master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology this fall at Rush University. Kristen plans to take a year off before beginning her graduate studies in Speech-Language Pathology.
(L-R) Kelsey Twomey, Michelle Kunkler, Erin Warwick, and Taylor Wernsing completed their undergraduate degrees in Kinesiology. After taking a year off to travel, Kelsey will pursue graduate studies in Physical Therapy. Michelle begins graduate studies in Occupational Therapy this fall at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Erin is a personal trainer and works at Parkland College, Truly Fit, and the Activities and Recreation Center on campus. Taylor will pursue a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree at Midwestern University.