College of Applied Health Sciences

Monika Stodolska named Brightbill/Sapora Professor in Recreation

Dr. Stodolska’s recent research examines the experiences of refugees who fled to Poland after being displaced by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Through interviews with refugees, hosts, and volunteers, Stodolska is investigating how the refugees adapt to their new lives, the role of leisure in helping them deal with war-related trauma, and the Polish population’s response to the crisis. “At the end of our careers, we won’t be remembered by the number of papers or the books that we’ve written, but by the impact we’ve had on people and whether we’ve used this privilege of professorship to leave the world a slightly better place,” she said. Learn more about Dr. Stodolska and her research.

The “Band of Brothers” Legacy

Bonded by their experiences as members of the Illini Wheelchair Basketball team, 12 alumni who call themselves the “Band of Brothers” were motivated to give back. Pledging a donation to the Wheelchair Basketball Alumni Legacy Scholarship Fund, Makara (Mak) Nong, one of the alumni, expressed his gratitude saying, “The University of Illinois gave me and my teammates the resources and opportunities to be successful in life. We wanted to give back and help Illini who came after us.” Learn more about the Band of Brothers.

Chez Veterans Center Hosts Warrior-Scholar Project

The Chez Veterans Center partnered with the Warrior-Scholar Project to provide a fully-funded, two-week college preparatory program for enlisted service members. The program enrolled fifteen veterans and six fellows in July 2023. Tizoc Rubio, who attended the program in 2022 said, “The fact that I’m able to be (here) in person, and take in the campus environment, and actually feel what it’s like to be a student is just super amazing.” The program offers skills such as a STEM-based curriculum, strategic reading and writing instruction, note-taking techniques, test preparation, syllabus analysis, and orientation to campus resources taught by university faculty and instructors. Learn more about the Warrior-Scholar Project.

Pedro Hallal named Alvin M. and Ruth L. Sandall Professor of Kinesiology

Invested as the Alvin M. and Ruth L. Sandall Professor of Kinesiology in March 2023, Dr. Hallal came to the University of Illinois in the Fall of 2022 to lead the Master of Public Health (MPH) program. Dr. Hallal is focused on diversifying and bringing international recognition to the MPH program. “Having students from different countries, cultures, and socioeconomic backgrounds will contribute to a broader understanding of the public health issues that affect diverse people and communities,” he said. In addition to leading the MPH, Dr. Hallal also serves on the steering committee for the Global Physical Activity Observatory (GoPA). GoPA aims to help reduce physical inactivity and the associated health conditions, as well as increase peer-reviewed research on the effects of physical dormancy. Learn more about Dr. Hallal.

The Impact of the Willard R. Zemlin Memorial Fund

The Willard R. Zemlin Memorial Fund was established to commemorate the life and work of Professor Emeritus Willard R. Zemlin, who had a profound impact on numerous Speech and Hearing Science students as they ventured out into the world as clinical practitioners, researchers, and educators. This year, the fund contributed to the advancement of faculty by supporting their conference travel and also provided funding for Ph.D. student Charlie Nudelman’s attendance at the Summer Vocology Institute held at the University of Utah. Nudelman had the opportunity to participate in a course instructed by Dr. Ingo Titze, a distinguished scientist in Nudelman’s subfield. The course not only enhanced Nudelman’s research but also served as an exemplary model for his own teaching. Learn more about the legacy of Willard R. Zemlin.