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  • Tracey Hudson

    I’m an Illinois native, from the South Suburbs of Chicago. I worked as an Administrative Assistant for over a decade, within several school districts.  In 2020 I relocated to Las Vegas, NV and worked with the Department of Aviation as an Office Specialist, with the Safety, Risk and Management Team, from 2021-2024.  I found the heat to be unbearable in Nevada, and relocated back to Illinois in 2024, making Illinois home again, specifically Urbana. My hobbies are reading, pilates, shopping and traveling. 

  • Suzanna White

    Suzanna White is an Office Support Specialist who support the Executive Assistant Dean and the Advising and Records team. When she is not at work, you will likely find her spending time with her fur babies or reading.

  • Stephanie Buldak

    Stephanie Buldak is an LCSW and one of 2 embedded counselors in LAS. She grew up in the Chicagoland area and moved to Champaign in 2021. Stephanie attended UIC and graduated with a master’s degree in social work and has worked in social service agencies, hospitals and now happy to be serving students as an clinical counselor at UIUC. When not working with students, Stephanie loves to spend time with her family, attend concerts and listen to music. Stephanie is an avid bicycle enthusiast and rides her bike to work daily.

  • Sara Hubbard

    Sara Hubbard is excited to be joining the SAAO team as a records advisor. Sara is originally from the St. Louis area but has called Champaign-Urbana home for 11 years. She majored in English at Webster University in St. Louis and worked in secondary education and undergraduate admissions prior to joining LAS. She is passionate about helping students achieve success, and working with students is the aspect of being a records advisor that excites her the most. In her free time, Sara loves traveling, reading, listening to podcasts, and spending time with her husband and three sons.

  • Kristy Krisher

    Kristy Krisher is the Assistant Director for Employer Connections in career services. She comes from a similar role at Monmouth College in Monmouth, Illinois. Prior to her work in career services, she spent the first part of her career in human resources. She is a proud 2x graduate from the University of Illinois system with her MPA from the University of Illinois in Springfield and her EdD from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She has her undergraduate degree in psychology from Alfred University in Alfred, New York. She is an avid traveler and a fiction author in her free time. 

  • Alexandro Venegas

    Hi, I’m Alexandro! Originally from the Chicagoland area, I’m new to UIUC and excited to be part of the LAS community. I earned my Master’s in Higher Education Leadership from Northeastern Illinois University and am passionate about helping students find their path, feel supported, and succeed. I believe in meeting students where they are and guiding them forward with care and confidence. Outside of work, I enjoy anime, collecting trading cards, and spending time with my dog, Blu. I also love thinking about future travels. Japan and China are at the top of my list. Feel free to stop by, I’m always happy to chat!

  • Cheryl Marcelo

    Cheryl joins LAS International Programs from nearly a decade of directing international programs at Austin College in Sherman, Texas. As a 1.5-generation immigrant from the Philippines and a first-generation college graduate, Cheryl’s work is rooted in diasporic decolonization and social justice, with which she strives to lead students in becoming responsible actors in local and global affairs. She also aims to cultivate global programming that expands access to all students, particularly underserved populations. Cheryl received her bachelor’s degree from Temple University, where she participated in a semester exchange at Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea. She then later obtained her Master’s of Education degree in Higher Education from the University of Houston. In her spare time, Cheryl is a doting dog mom to her spoiled furbaby Kamja (“potato” in Korean) and is also an enthusiastic explorer of diverse cuisines wherever she goes.

  • Bailey Lehmann

    Bailey Lehmann, a proud Southern Illinois native, is currently an AAP advisor within LAS. She holds a bachelor’s in Interdisciplinary Studies and a master’s in Educational Leadership, both from Mississippi State University. During her undergraduate years, Bailey worked as a peer mentor for freshman students, an experience that sparked her passion for guiding others and deepened her love for working in Higher Education. Outside of work, Bailey enjoys long walks, reading, playing card games with her family, and exploring her creative side.

  • Rachael Dean

    Rachael joined LAS International Programs in May 2025 as an Academic Program Coordinator and had been previously working with Illinois International as the Coordinator for International Safety and Security from March 2019. She is passionate about student exploration and wellness! Rachael spent time living, traveling, and studying abroad in Europe, South America, and Asia and holds a special place in her heart for Japan where she lived for seven years. She is currently keeping busy with her never-ending house and garden projects and spending time with her girls (dog & cat) and family.

  • Steph Lepak

    Stephanie Lepak is an Academic Program Coordinator in the LAS International Programs Office at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. A proud first-generation college graduate, she earned her Bachelor of Science in Global Studies and Spanish from the university, with a concentration in Environment, Sustainability, and Social Responsibility. Her passion for international education was sparked by transformative study abroad experiences in Spain and Italy, where she worked on sustainable tourism initiatives and gained hands-on experience in biological agriculture at a cooperative farm.