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  • Roman Friedman

    Sep 27, 2022 9:45 am34 views

    Dr. Roman Friedman works as a Global Learning Specialist, helping facilitate the internationalization of the curriculum in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. Prior to his work in international education, Roman received a BA in Economics and worked as a public school History teacher while pursuing his MA in Social Studies Education from Rutgers University. He completed his Ph.D. in Education Policy studies with a focus on Philosophy of Education at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

  • Amanda Lentz

    Aug 17, 2021 1:30 pm21 views

    Amanda Lentz is an Academic Program Advisor for Education Abroad in LAS International Programs.  Her primary focus is on advising students on many of the ways to engage globally during their time at Illinois. During her undergraduate career, she majored in international studies, political science, and Spanish.  She studied abroad for a semester in Costa Rica, a summer in Cuba and Israel, and participated in a faculty-led program in Turkey. She went on to earn her master’s degree in international education from the SIT Graduate Institute, where her research focused on best practices for education abroad advising.

  • Allison Holden

    Aug 17, 2021 1:30 pm112 views

    Allison Holden is the Associate Director of the LAS Honors program. Originally from Wisconsin, she has moved around the Midwest before making the University of Illinois and Champaign home. Now she rallies the LAS Honors Program from enrollment to graduation. When she’s not working with the amazing students in LAS, she’s selling real estate, drinking coffee, listening to podcasts, watching Disney+ with her kids or mapping out her next travel destination. 

  • Cathy Edgar

    Aug 17, 2021 1:30 pm3 views

    Cathy Edgar lives in Arcola where she was born and raised. She then raised her two sons there as well.  She enjoys spending time with her friends and family, particularly her two granddaughters. Reading is a favorite pastime. Living just 35 miles away, she's always been an Illini fan! She is happy to be a part of the University and is here to assist our LAS students.

  • Nikia Brown

    Aug 17, 2021 1:00 pm56 views

    Nikia Brown is the Associate Director for Intercultural and Global Learning, International Student Experience within the LAS International Programs team.  She has master degrees in sociology and intercultural & international communication. She considers South Korea a second home as she lived there for close to 6 years. When she has free time, she enjoy's traveling and finding the best spots for brunch. Recommendations are accepted on a rolling basis.  

  • Kate Abney

    Aug 17, 2021 8:15 am208 views

    Kate Abney is a medical and social anthropologist. She earned her BA at Boston University, and MA and PhD while lecturing at the University of Cape Town, South Africa.  She has spent the majority of her adult life in South Africa and has traveled extensively and worked in other countries as a lecturer, program coordinator, and an academic director for education abroad programming. Kate is passionate about cooking, plants, people, and politics; preferably discussed over dinner.

  • Ekateryna Bondareva

    Aug 16, 2021 2:30 pm61 views

    Ekateryna Bondareva is the Assistant Director of Recruitment and Admissions in the College of LAS. Ekateryna was born and raised in Ukraine, coming over to the US at the age of 12. She attended Southern Illinois University for her undergraduate degree, and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville for her masters degree in Public Administration and Policy Analysis. One of the things Ekateryna is most passionate about is education, and helping students succeed in their pursuit of knowledge. In her spare time, Ekateryna enjoys reading, traveling, cycling, jewelry making and tending to her plants. Ekateryna is fluent in Russian and English, with the ability to understand and read Ukrainian.

  • Elly Hanauer

    Aug 13, 2021 4:45 pm6 views

    Dr. Elly Hanauer leads the LAS International Programs team. She has worked in the field of international education for 20 years managing international exchange, professional development and academic enrichment programs. In addition to her work in higher education, Elly also spent six years working in the non-profit sector, leading program evaluation for Women’s Alliance for Knowledge Exchange and managing government, corporate, and foundation-sponsored training and scholarship programs at the Institute of International Education (IIE). Elly holds BA and MA degrees in French from Wellesley College and Middlebury College, and a doctorate in International Education from NYU.

  • Raymona Wicks

    Aug 13, 2021 3:45 pm91 views

    Raymona Wicks is an Academic Advisor with the AAP program. She has been with UIUC for more than 8 years. She received her Bachelor’s in Liberal Studies from U of I, Springfield and her Master’s in Education, Policy, Organization and Leadership from UIUC. Her favorite pastimes include spending time with her family, reading, writing and watching movies – mainly action and sci-fi.

  • Teresha Bossinghamn

    Aug 13, 2021 3:45 pm4 views

    Teresha Bossingham received her BS in Business Administration from Illinois State University.  She has worked in higher education for 14 years; 12 years at ISU and 2 years at the University of Illinois.  She is married with 3 children.  When she is not working, she spends her time watching her daughter play sports and enjoying time with her family. 

  • Gabby Elkins

    Aug 13, 2021 3:45 pm13 views

    Gabby Elkins graduated from the University of Southern Indiana with a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology.  She has over a decade of experience as a veterinary assistant/tech.  In her free time she enjoys traveling wherever her car will take her, live bluegrass/folk music, lounging with her fiancé and 5 cats, and trying new food and drink. 

  • Allyssa Finder

    Aug 13, 2021 3:45 pm7 views

    Allyssa Finder is a mother to a two legged and four legged kiddo. She love's going for walks and reading when she get the chance. Coffee, chocolate, and calories are her favorite food groups! 

  • Kari Mahannah

    Aug 12, 2021 10:30 am50 views

    Kari Mahannah has been working at UIUC for over seven years, has pre-K-2nd grade teaching experience, and holds a BS and an MS from Illinois State. She is pursuing a second MS in college student affairs through EIU. In her free time, she indulges in true crime podcasts and tv shows and working on her fixer-upper home. Note: Demo is way easier than putting things back together. She enjoys working in her yard and visiting Peruvian kiddos in our summer/their winter (pre-COVID). She has a dog named Eddie who resembles a baby fox and loves her ten nieces and nephews ages 12 and up. Si deseas hablar en español, es posible que ella te entienda de vez en cuando.

  • Sean Beal

    Aug 12, 2021 9:45 am14 views

    Sean Beal began as an ARO in January of 2020. He graduated from Millikin University where he played baseball and majored in Sports Management. Prior to working at UIUC, he worked in admissions at the University of Chicago and coached Semi-Pro baseball in the Chicago suburbs. Currently, he lives in Urbana with his wife, Angeline, who also works at UIUC.

  • Anna Chovanec

    Aug 12, 2021 9:00 am128 views

    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

    Mar 12, 2019 8:00 am910 views

    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

    Mar 12, 2019 8:00 am573 views

    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 10 years. She commutes from Bloomington/Normal where she lives with her husband, two kids, and a dog named Ted.

  • Brian Schumacher

    Mar 12, 2019 8:00 am313 views

    Brian Schumacher is an Admissions and Records Representative in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. He majored in History and Philosophy at Elmhurst College before moving to the Champaign-Urbana area. He enjoys using that degree to analyze the philosophy of films and television series.

  • Tenaya Reifsteck

    Dec 20, 2016 8:00 am57 views

    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.

  • Jonathan Elugbadebo

    Feb 8, 2016 8:00 am218 views

    Jonathan Elugbadebo is an associate director on the Recruitment and Admissions team. He works closely with transfer recruitment and admissions, including the Parkland Pathway to Illinois program. He joined LAS after working seven years in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, where he reviewed applications, recruited high school students across the globe, and planned successful programs that have contributed to the diversity and excellence of this campus. Jonathan was born and raised in southern Illinois, but relocated to central Illinois during his junior year of high school. He is an alumnus of the University of Illinois, completing a BA in Communication with a minor in Business. He also completed a master’s degree in education policy, organization and leadership at Illinois.

  • Jeanine Meyer

    Feb 8, 2016 8:00 am85 views

    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 mindfulness, anime, gaming, sci-fi fantasy, farm life, and her adorable but evil cat, Lily.

  • Kristy Valentin

    Feb 8, 2016 8:00 am167 views

    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

    Feb 8, 2016 8:00 am189 views

    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! 

  • Bob Steltman

    May 5, 2014 8:00 am85 views

    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.

  • Gretchen Pein

    May 5, 2014 8:00 am55 views

    Gretchen Pein is Assistant Dean for student services. She earned her bachelor’s in rhetoric and a master’s in education, both from Illinois. She and her husband stay busy with their five kids, four dogs, and various home remodeling projects. Gretchen serves as president of her sorority’s local alumnae chapter and is on the Make-a-Wish Foundation regional council.  

  • Allison Branson

    May 5, 2014 8:00 am92 views

    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.

     

  • Mary Davis

    Mar 12, 2014 8:00 am2 views

    Working with students in historical Lincoln Hall since 2003 is a plus for antique loving Mary Davis. A product of The Land of Lincoln, Mary enjoys her admissions/records officer duties and frontline LAS student interactions. When not on campus she lives the rural life with her husband, training and showing their numerous retrievers or judging at dog performance events around the country. Mary works hard so her dogs (and cats) can enjoy a better life!

  • Joe Murphy

    Mar 12, 2014 8:00 am24 views

    Joe Murphy has been an Admissions and Records officer in LAS for 15 years. He earned his BA at Western Illinois University in elementary education. He spends his time away from work traveling the country watching his son play hockey and watching his daughter dance.  He and his wife, Kim--also an Illinois employee--live in Champaign. They also have an awesome Alaskan Malamute named Mika