Summer 2026 Community-Academic Scholars Projects

The Community-Academic Scholar will work with Carle Illinois College of Medicine Associate Clinical Prof. Grace Park, Illinois Extension Director of Applied Health Professions Margarita Teran-Garcia, Avicenna Community Health Center, and the Chinese American Association of Central Illinois to support the adaptation and evaluation of a culturally responsive, Mandarin-language health education program for immigrant families. The project focuses on promoting health literacy, preventive care, and family well-being through community-based workshops designed for Mandarin-speaking parents and children in Champaign County.

The Community-Academic Scholar will work with Crop Sciences Visiting Research Scientist Carmen Blubaugh and C-U Farm2School through the Bug2School program to investigate how edible living mulches can reduce weeds, enhance crop productivity, and influence insect activity in garden-based systems. The project uses collaborative, hands-on ecology research in school and community gardens to better understand sustainable growing practices while supporting STEM learning and community engagement.

The Community-Academic Scholar will work with Industrial and Enterprise Systems Engineering Prof. Yiwen Dong and ID8Lab Foundation to explore how in-home digital health technologies can better support long-term health monitoring across the lifespan. The project examines which health markers are most meaningful to track at different life stages and how existing sensors and devices can be used in ethical, accessible, and supportive ways within everyday home settings.

The Community-Academic Scholar will work with Graphic Design Prof. Catalina Alzate and the CUPHD Great Start Program to critically examine how Artificial Intelligence is shaping community-based health care, with a focus on maternal health and doula work. The project uses equity-centered research and participatory design to explore the impacts of AI in community health systems and to imagine future care practices grounded in social justice.

The Community-Academic Scholar will work with Discovery Partners Institute Senior Research Associate Anuj Tiwari and Champaign-Urbana Public Health District to design and evaluate an AI-supported system that automates evidence-grounded drafting for public health accreditation. The project focuses on using retrieval-augmented generation to reduce documentation burden while ensuring accuracy, transparency, and responsible use of large language models.

The Community-Academic Scholar will work with Health and Kinesiology Prof. Sheena Martenies and community partners including Indoor Climate Research and Training (ICRT) and the Champaign County Regional Planning Commission to study how housing conditions and weatherization interventions affect indoor environmental quality in residential homes. The project focuses on collecting and analyzing indoor air quality and housing data to better understand how home environments influence health and equity.

The Community-Academic Scholar will work with Industrial and Enterprise Systems Engineering Prof. Yiwen Dong and Beckwith Residential Support Services to design privacy-respecting, in-home mobility monitoring tools for individuals with mobility disabilities. The project focuses on human-centered and participatory design approaches to develop sensing systems and interfaces that support autonomy, dignity, and effective care coordination in residential settings.

The Community-Academic Scholar will work with Health & Kinesiology Prof. Sandraluz Lara-Cinisomo and the Champaign-Urbana Public Health Department to support a study evaluating a remote, mindfulness-based intervention for women with planned Cesarean deliveries. The project focuses on improving postpartum pain management and emotional well-being through accessible, non-pharmacological approaches during the early postpartum period.

The Community-Academic Scholar will work with Linguistics Prof. Anna Mendoza and Champaign-Urbana Refugee Center to support multilingual, community-based English instruction for adult learners with emergent literacy. The project explores how problem-posing pedagogy and multilingual materials can support language learning, critical reflection, and real-world communication beyond the classroom.

The Community-Academic Scholar will work with Food Science and Human Nutrition Prof. Manabu (Mani) Nakamura and Avicenna Community Health Center to evaluate a dietary and lifestyle intervention aimed at reducing blood pressure among adults with hypertension. The project focuses on testing the feasibility of nutrition-based strategies—including dietary quality improvement and behavioral support—to support hypertension management in a free clinic setting.

The Community-Academic Scholar will work with Electrical and Computer Engineering Prof. Katherine Driggs-Campbell and ClarkLindsey Life Plan Community to explore how assistive robots can support navigation for older adults with visual and mobility impairments. The project focuses on co-designing and evaluating robotic systems that use haptic and verbal feedback to improve safety, accessibility, and independence in everyday environments.

The Community-Academic Scholar will work with Shahid and Ann Carlson Kan Professors of Applied Sciences Wendy Rogers and the Persons Assuming Control of the Environment (PACE) to study the everyday challenges and unmet needs of people aging with long-term disabilities. The project uses surveys and interviews to inform inclusive, community-driven approaches to designing technologies and supports that promote independence, participation, and quality of life.

The Community-Academic Scholar will work with Industrial and Enterprise Systems Engineering Prof. Avinash Gupta and OSF Saint Francis Medical Center to design and evaluate an eXtended Reality (XR) training system that helps older adults and caregivers learn vital sign measurement skills. The project uses immersive virtual and mixed reality to create accessible, human-centered training experiences that support health monitoring and challenge assumptions about aging and technology use.

Communications Prof. Haden Botkin and the Community-Academic Scholars Program to facilitate structured reflection on community–campus partnerships using the Transformational Relationship Evaluation Scale (TRES). The project focuses on strengthening partnership quality by supporting faculty, staff, and community partners in examining power, collaboration, and shared decision-making and identifying concrete steps to deepen their work together.