blog navigation

LAS BIOS

blog posts

  • Sharnelle Kimbrough

    Jan 3, 2025 2:00 pm |  1 View

    Sharnelle was born and raised in Champaign County, she has lived in southern states such as Georgia and Virginia but kept finding her way back to Illinois. Sharnelle has an Associate of Arts in Business and is currently pursuing her Bachelors of Science in Business Administration. She enjoys traveling, exploring, the theatre, art of all kinds, being out in nature, festivals, and spending time with her children.

    Share this Story

  • Jose De La O

    Jun 10, 2024 8:45 am |  23  Views

    Jose De La O is an Academic Advisor for the Access & Achievement Program. Before this, he was working in Undergraduate Admissions to recruit prospective college students to Illinois, but now he is enjoying working with college students to best ensure they meet their academic goals during their college career. Jose likes the outdoors and enjoys swimming and biking, especially during the summertime.

    Share this Story

  • MJ Licht

    Sep 13, 2023 8:15 am |  14  Views

    MJ Licht has worked for the last 10 years with the LAS First Year Experience program as an Instructional Technology Specialist and also helps other units in Student Academic Affairs Office with their Canvas needs. She has an M.A. in Germanic Languages & Literatures and completed coursework & exams in Second Language Education & Teacher Education at UIUC. She and her husband have two Illini sons and a dog named Spot. She enjoys theater, biking & napping.

    Share this Story

  • Danette Griffith

    Sep 11, 2023 2:45 pm |  9  Views

    Danette Griffith was born and raised on the South Side of Chicago (Go, Cubs, Go! Bear down!!), She is a mom of four boys and absolutely loves all things sports. She attended SIU Carbondale where she earned her undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice and two Masters in Rehabilitation Administration (MS) and Education (MS Ed). When she is not helping students shape and achieve their academic goals, she is attending sporting events, spending time with family, traveling and listening to music.

    Share this Story

  • Kirstin Wilcox

    Sep 11, 2023 1:45 pm |  35  Views

    Kirstin Wilcox is the Director of LAS Career Services.  She first got interested in helping students figure out their future in her previous role as a lecturer in the Department of English. In her free time, Kirstin likes exploring the nearby hiking trails and reading fiction (especially things written by students/faculty from the U of I).

    Share this Story

  • Julia Makela

    Sep 11, 2023 9:30 am |  7  Views

    Julia Makela, PhD is the Senior Director of LAS Career Services, where she leads initiatives to advance students’ career development competencies throughout their college experience. She has a deep passion for inspiring and empowering students in their education and career pursuits. Mentoring, individual coaching, and teaching career courses are often the highlights of her day. Julia is a Certified Career Counselor, National Career Development Association (NCDA) Fellow, and member of the NCDA Board of Directors (2020 – present). Beyond the office, Julia is enthusiastic about hiking and adventure racing, and also enjoys quiet times tea gardening, crocheting, and hanging out with family.

    Share this Story

  • Holli Hazelwood

    Sep 11, 2023 9:15 am |  3  Views

    Holli Hazelwood is the Academic Program Coordinator for the Global Leaders Program. One of my aspirations is to visit all seven continents, and I am currently at ten countries visited. I have a background in tech and project management.

    Share this Story

  • Darrell Hunter

    Sep 11, 2023 9:15 am |  36  Views

    Darrell Hunter II is the Director of First-Year Experience for the Student Academic Affairs Office. The LAS FYE Program helps to ensure that first-year and transfer students have a successful transition both academically and socially to the University of Illinois. As a football player at Bowling Green State University, Darrell earned a BS in Human Development and Family Studies, and an MEd in Workforce Education and Development. He is currently a doctoral candidate in the Educational Psychology Program at the University of Toledo.

    Share this Story

  • Ana Garner

    Sep 11, 2023 9:15 am |  14  Views

    Ana Esther Garner, Ph.D., is an academic professional specializing in the international educational field. As a specialist in education abroad and advocate for diversifying education abroad programming, Dr. Garner is the lead Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion advisor and co-chair of the UIUC DEI and Access Committee as well as the member of the Diversity Abroad Community of Practice focused on Asia and the Pacific Islands.

    Share this Story

  • David Mizell

    Sep 7, 2023 3:30 pm |  43  Views

    David Mizell is the Assistant Director of LAS Honors. He is an Illinois alum and has a Master’s Degree in Political Science. His favorite part of Honors is getting to work with all of you in advising, as an instructor, and through excellent community-building programs such as the James Scholar Student Advisory Board and our Honors Peer Mentor Program. He spends his free time getting together with family and friends, traveling, and cheering on Illinois sports. Go Illini!

    Share this Story