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  • Anna Chovanec

    Anna Chovanec is a Pittsburgh, PA native and made Central Illinois her home in June 2016. She received her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Penn State University and her EdM in Education Policy & Organizational Leadership from UIUC. She joined the LAS SAAO team in April of 2017 as an Admissions and Records Officer and in October 2019, started a new role as an Academic Advisor. Anna loves all things sports and tries to attend as many events as she can. She resides in Tuscola, IL with her husband, Eric, her son, Grady, her daughter, Lumi, and her dog, Hilde.

  • Steven Cox

    Steven Cox joined the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences in September 2017 as an academic advisor, specifically working with the secondary education minor. Before moving to LAS, he worked in college athletics as academic counselor at Illinois, previously at the University of Wyoming and University of Mississippi. Originally from rural Kentucky and/or Mississippi, he earned his BA in History and MA in Higher Education from the University of Mississippi (Harvard of the South), and is currently pursuing his doctorate in higher education on our campus. Hobbies include being a parent, a student, and any physical or social activity. He resides in Urbana with his wife, two sons, and two dogs.

  • Ashley Poppy

    Ashley Poppy is a transfer advisor in the College of LAS. She completed her Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from Western Illinois University. Ashley has worked in an academic advising setting for the past 12 years. She commutes from Bloomington/Normal where she lives with her husband and three kids. 

  • Tenaya Reifsteck

    Tenaya Reifsteck is the academic advisor for dual degrees and Individual Plans of Study for the College of LAS. She completed her bachelor's degree (human development and family studies) and two master’s degrees (elementary education and higher education) here at Illinois. She has a passion for education and enjoys working with people of all ages. She grew up in a small town not too far from campus, and is proud to be an Illini! She currently lives in the same small town where she grew up, along with her husband, daughter, and dog. She loves spending time with her family, attending her daughter's sporting events, reading, watching movies, and shopping.

  • Kristy Valentin

    Kristy Valentin is the Director of the Access and Achievement Program in LAS. She finds joy and passion for working with students in higher education. She is from the East side neighborhood in Chicago but has family in the Lake County area near Six Flags. She enjoys sunrises, scary movies, and smoothies! Kristy lives in Champaign with her partner, twins, and two dogs.

  • Allison Perry

    Allison Perry, a Champaign native, earned her associates degree from Parkland College and her BS from the College of Applied Health Sciences at Illinois. She joined LAS in 2010 and is committed to supporting undergraduate students and making their time here a great and memorable experience. She enjoys spending time with her family, including her husband, kids and pets. When not working or taking her kids to their extracurricular activities, she enjoys traveling and attending Illini athletic events. Go Illini! 

  • Jonathan Elugbadebo

    Jonathan Elugbadebo is Associate Director of Recruitment and Admissions where he oversees the recruitment, admissions, yield, and registration of new first-year and transfer students for the College. He joined LAS after working for 7 years in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Jonathan was born and raised in Southern Illinois, but relocated to Central Illinois. He is an alumnus of the University of Illinois, completing a BA in Communication with a minor in Business, as well as an EdM in Education Policy, Organization and Leadership.

  • Jeanine Meyer

    Jeanine Meyer joined LAS as an Admissions/Records Officer in January of 2015.  Before joining the college, she worked as an Office Support Associate at the Bruce D. Nesbitt African American Cultural Center and as the Assistant Scene Shop Supervisor at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts.  She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre from The Ohio State University and enjoys singing in the University of Illinois Black Chorus.  Jeanine has great passion for this work and hopes her quirky spark drives others to be more open to each other and the world.  Ask her about being a bonus mom, mindfulness, anime, gaming, Dungeons & Dragons, sci-fi fantasy, farm life, crafting or her evil but adorable cat, Lily.

  • Bob Steltman

    Bob Steltman, an alum of DePaul University and Illinois, has worked in the Student Academic Affairs Office since FA11, overseeing college-level advising and assisting students who are close to graduation. When he’s not in the office, and he’s here a lot, he spends time with his three sisters and tending his garden. A lifelong music buff, Bob owns over 12,000 CDs and LPs of all types, although most are of the rock and roll variety, one of the great American cultural adventures of the 20th Century.

  • Allison Branson

    Allison Branson has supported the LAS student academic affairs office and its students for nearly 15 years. She began as front desk receptionist but has spent most of her time working with LAS Honors as well as LAS Recruitment & Admissions. When not busy at work, you can find Allison with a camera in her hand photographing everything she sees.