The Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Institute is proud to introduce our 2025 Community-Academic Scholars (CAS)! Representing 19 majors and nine minors in eight colleges and schools at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and two additional universities, the 18 scholars in this cohort encompass a diverse array of fields of study, from community health to graphic design to statistics.
With a record number of applications received since the program began in 2019, this cohort of scholars was selected from a competitive pool of applicants possessing the skills needed to work on their selected projects, their personal connections to and passion for the issues their projects address, and for the many ways they have already made an impact on campus and in the community. Many students work in labs across campus, volunteer in the community, and serve in leadership roles in student organizations.
The Community-Academic Scholars Program partnered with the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Minority Serving Institutions (MSI) Alliance after a successful implementation last year. We are excited to welcome Talayah Walker from Morgan State University.
New this year, the Southern & Central Illinois Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (SCI-LSAMP), a program that affords scholars the opportunity to gain extensive experience at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign for eight weeks in the summer, has matched Leah Decatus-Haddad with the 2025 CAS cohort.
Special thanks to and for funding additional scholars for their 2025 projects, and the (WYSE) program for funding 's 2025 project.
The 2025 scholars will bring their experiences to the Summer 2025 projects with academic mentors and community partners to address diverse community needs, including accessibility and neurodiversity training for nonprofits, reducing maternal health disparities, visualizing the impact of acupuncture through art, the social impact of the CU BIPOC Artist Collective, digital dietary programs, expanding cultural humility in community clinics, body mapping for birth workers, addressing postpartum challenges for Latina mothers, strengthening community and volunteer engagement, robotic assistance for aging populations, culturally inclusive meals, food insecurity among older adults, and English literacy practices among Afghan women. We are excited to witness the lasting impact their talents and experiences will make on these issues. Sign up to receive program updates and learn more.
Meet the 2025 Community-Academic Scholars
Michelle Agyemang (she/her) is a rising senior ACES Jonathan Baldwin Turner Scholar majoring in Food Science and Human Nutrition (FSHN) with a minor in Public Health. At Illinois, she works in the laboratory of FSHN Prof. Krystal Hodge on a community nutrition study, exploring the validity and reliability of an adolescent nutrition survey as well as a student led project focused on food insecurity among undergraduate students, and serves as a McKinley Health Center Nutrition Wellness Peer. The lead volunteer at OSF Heart of Mary Medical Center, she plans to become a primary care physician with hopes of integrating nutrition and medicine to improve the health of underserved communities. Michelle will work with FSHN Prof. Mani Nakamura and Avicenna Community Health Center to analyze deidentified patient data to determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity, and related comorbidities such as heart disease, stroke, hypertension, diabetes, and sleep disorders to create a targeted implementation plan to sustainably integrate the EMPOWER program into Avicenna’s offerings. Learn more about the project.
Rena Amarteifio is a junior majoring in Human Development & Family Studies (HDFS) with a minor in Psychology, on the pre-med track to become a psychiatrist. At Illinois, she is an assistant for the Social Sciences, Health, and Education Library (SSHEL) and a member of the Illinois Student Council of Family Relations (ISCFR). Under the HDFS department, Rena volunteered to shadow doctors and nurses at the Khayelitsha Community Health Clinic for a faculty-led study in South Africa. Surrounded by older adults in both family and community, she realized that many older adults lack food insecurity education and resources to meet their dietary needs. Rena will work with Community-Academic Scholar Lara Terpetschnig, Health and Kinesiology Prof. Minakshi (Mina) Raj, and Sola Gratia Farm to conduct a needs assessment through surveys and interviews with older adults in Champaign County and provide Healthy Champaign County (HCC) with these perspectives to better understand their food-related challenges, needs, and preferences. She is excited to work with older adults this summer and contribute to improved food security in Champaign County. Learn more about the project.
Asal Amiri (she/they) is a junior majoring in Psychology and Gender & Women’s Studies. She has worked with Forging Opportunities for Refugees in America (FORA), a nonprofit in Chicago that offers tutoring for refugees. Asal plans to pursue graduate studies in psychotherapy and offer mental health services to her community as a therapist. Recognizing the challenges the refugee community faces in accessing mental health resources due to stigma, she aims to bring a positive perspective and raise awareness about mental health within this community. Asal will work with Community-Academic Scholar Joel Diaz, Linguistics Prof. Anna Mendoza, and Champaign-Urbana Refugee Center to investigate the out-of-class English language and literacy learning processes of 10 Afghan women from Veteran families who have relocated to Urbana-Champaign and provide a richer understanding of how these women engage with English and navigate learning outside of formal classroom settings. Learn more about the project.
Savannah Blanden (she/her) is a sophomore at Fisk University majoring in Biology with a minor in Women and Gender Studies. Savannah has been a member of Girl Scout Troop 2207 since the first grade, and received the Mayoral Recognition Award for 100 or more community services hours in the 2022-23 academic year at Urbana High School. She is excited to return from Nashville, Tennessee, for the opportunity to grow in the field of research, while helping to advance the community in which she was raised during the summer. Savannah hopes to become an OBGYN, returning to her community to help support mothers of color and strengthen the maternal health rate. Savannah will work with Community-Academic Scholar Leah Decatus-Haddad, Social Work Prof. Tuyet Mai Hoang, and Urbana-Champaign Reproductive Justice (UCRJ) to interview doulas and midwives and document their experiences, needs, and visions for the future of perinatal care. Findings will be used to create a centralized resource list and improve communication and support systems for birth workers. Learn more about the project.
Sarah Blyskal (she/her) is a rising senior majoring in Community Health, concentrating on Health Planning & Administration. With hopes to purse an MPH, she is incredibly interested in using community-based participatory research to inform more equitable health policies and improving health outcomes in underserved communities. At Illinois, she is the Vice President of McKinley Special Populations Wellness Peers, where she works to make health education more accessible to diverse pre-health students, planning campus-wide events to promote awareness of health disparities. She also serves as a case manager at Avicenna Community Health Center, connecting uninsured and underinsured patients with essential health resources in the Champaign-Urbana community. Sarah will work with Kinesiology and Community Health Prof. Minakshi (Mina) Raj and ClarkLindsey Village to conduct an educational workshop with health professionals across Illinois and increase awareness, knowledge, and use of culturally diverse spices and herbs in healthcare settings. This project will support ClarkLindsey Village with organizing an inaugural research symposium to promote lifelong learning among its residents. Learn more about the project.
Leah Decatus-Haddad (she/they) is a junior majoring in Statistics. As part of the Undergraduate Research Experience in Statistics (URES) program, Leah works independently under Statistics Prof. Christopher Kinson to investigate the relationship between police department budgets and crime rates in Urbana. She is the founder and President of the first Women in Statistics club at Illinois. Leah will work with Community-Academic Scholar Savannah Blanden, Social Work Prof. Tuyet Mai Hoang, and Urbana-Champaign Reproductive Justice (UCRJ) to interview doulas and midwives and document their experiences, needs, and visions for the future of perinatal care. Findings will be used to create a centralized resource list and improve communication and support systems for birth workers. Learn more about the project.
Joel Diaz (he/him) is a junior majoring in Latino/Latina Studies with a minor in Spanish. At Illinois, he is involved with the Illinois Coalition Assisting Undocumented Students’ Education (I-CAUSE), Latinx in Law, and the New American Welcome Center. As a first-generation Latino student from a mixed-status family, Joel plans to attend law school with hopes to become an immigration attorney, advocating for marginalized individuals. Witnessing the fear of deportation that silences many, he is passionate about challenging status-related injustices and providing accessible legal support to immigrant communities. Joel hopes to apply his lived experiences to promote justice, equity, and dignity for those overlooked by the system in the nonprofit or public interest sector. Joel will work with Community-Academic Scholar Asal Amiri, Linguistics Prof. Anna Mendoza, and Champaign-Urbana Refugee Center to investigate the out-of-class English language and literacy learning processes of 10 Afghan women from veteran families relocated to Urbana-Champaign to provide a richer understanding of how these women engage with English and navigate learning outside of formal classroom settings. Learn more about the project.
Marina Justo (she/her) is a junior majoring in Sociology. At Illinois, she works with Social Work Prof. Flora Cohen to analyze the relationship between immigrants’ mental health and nutrition, exploring community gardens and nutrition in different cultural backgrounds and the effects of those interventions on mental health. Marina is also part of I-CAUSE, a student-led RSO that supports undocumented people and students on campus and appreciates that sense of community. Aiming to inspire and motivate future students through mentorship programs, the organization hosts Latine high school students in the Champaign-Urbana community and Chicago. Marina co-founded UIUC GEMS, an RSO dedicated to fundraising for medical support of women and children at a small clinic in Côte d'Ivoire, West Africa. With plans for graduate studies in sociology, she hopes for a career focused on race and ethnic relations, social justice, and advocacy. Marina will work with Health and Kinesiology Prof. Sandraluz Lara-Cinisomo and Champaign-Urbana Public Health Department (CUPHD) to assess the feasibility and acceptability of self-guided mindfulness-based interventions to reduce postpartum pain and postpartum depression for disproportionately affected Latina mothers who have undergone a Cesarean delivery. Learn more about the project.
Emma Oyola (she/they) is a junior in Media and Cinema Studies and Communication, with hopes to become a cinematographer to create cinematic and empowering films and productions. Emma will work with Carolyn Randolph-Kato, Director of Engaged Research in the College of Fine & Applied Arts, and the City of Urbana Arts and Culture Program. She will use digital storytelling to document the social impact of the CU BIPOC Artist Collective and explore how the Collective fosters belonging, social cohesion, and economic vibrancy in Urbana-Champaign. Aimed to communicate the transformative role of the Collective in creating a more inclusive and equitable arts and culture ecosystem, these stories will support community and economic development efforts. Learn more about the project.
Dhanvi Puttur (she/her) is a rising senior James Scholar with a double major in Information Sciences and Graphic Design. At Illinois, she is an Illio School Yearbook designer and part of MedLaunch UIUC, a student led organization focused on making our community more accessible. Passionate about bringing technology and design together to create accessible and responsive solutions, Dhanvi is exploring different areas within design. Dhanvi will work with Graphic Design Prof. Catalina Alzate and Urbana Acupuncture to document how engagement within a shared community clinic space contributes to healing experiences among patients. Through participatory sessions supported by storytelling and visual exercises, patients will collaboratively depict their journeys, resulting in graphic materials to be displayed in the clinic and other relevant venues and showcasing the power of community and holistic medicine. Learn more about the project.
Shreya Rana (she/her) is an junior majoring in Brain and Cognitive Science with a minor in Chemistry. At Illinois, she is an ATLAS intern and communications specialist at the Beckman Institute, focusing on neuroscience website updates, newsletter creation, and faculty spotlights, and a programming concierge at the Siebel Center for Design, facilitating resource access and improving user experience. Shreya is also a board member and participant in the Penny Dreadful Players theater RSO. With a variety of interests that tend to overlap and plans to pursue psychology graduate studies and become a therapist, she hopes to contribute to assistive technology, identifying ways to incorporate design into her work. Shreya will work with Community-Academic Scholar Yuheng (Leo) Wang, Health and Kinesiology Prof. Wendy Rogers, and ClarkLindsey Life Plan Community to address the needs of older adults with MCI/early AD, and/or mobility impairments with a focus cognitive and physical tasks and evaluate the Stretch and SoRoSH assistive robots’ potential for supporting residents and staff. Learn more about the project.
Olivia Ross (she/her) is a rising senior majoring in Psychology. At Illinois, she is a member of the nonprofit organization and RSO, Illini4000, which raises funds for cancer research and support services through an annual cross-country bike ride, completing her first ride in 2023 and returning in 2024 as ride leader. Olivia is involved in the UIUC Healthcare Book Club, allowing her to spend weekends volunteering at ClarkLindsey, a local retirement center. With plans to pursue graduate studies in occupational therapy, she hopes to continue advocating for those with disabilities and conduct neurodiversity research. Olivia will work with Special Education Prof. Emily Tarconish and Illinois Extension to develop trainings and resources about accessibility and neurodiversity for staff at nonprofit community organizations affiliated with Illinois Extension. Learn more about the project.
Sophia Stierwalt (she/her) is a junior James Scholar, Chancellor’s Scholar, and Provost Scholar majoring in Statistics with minors in Data Science and Math. She is a data analysis intern for Premier Cooperative, which provides agricultural commodities and energy products, and volunteers at the Newman Center as part of the service team for SJCNC Koinonia Weekend Retreats. Sophia hopes to identify a service-oriented career that combines her background in math and statistics with other interests, such as education or nonprofit work, positively impacting the lives of others. Sophia will work with Lara Hebert, Co-Director of the Illinois Center for Family and Community Engaged STEAMM and Driven to Reach Ex excellence & Academic Achievement for Males (DREAAM), to design and assess a series of culturally-rich STEM experiences for DREAAM students in grades 3-5. She will engage in research that investigates the intersections of STEM learning objectives, culturally sustaining instructional practices, and beliefs about STEM identity and confidence. Learn more about the project.
Farris Sweid is a junior majoring in Interdisciplinary Health at Illinois. He is the treasurer of Students Organize 4 Syria, a national, student led RSO focused on spreading awareness on the crisis in Syria and provide aid to those affected through advocacy, solidarity efforts, and fundraising. As a manager at Avicenna Community Health Center, a free healthcare clinic that offers services to the uninsured and underinsured, Farris is involved in running the clinic and maintaining flow and efficiency. After complete undergraduate studies, he plans to pursue a medical degree. Farris will work with Community-Academic Scholar Talayah Walker, Illinois Extension Assistant Dean for Health Disparities Programs Dr. Margarita Teran-Garcia, and Avicenna Community Health Center to evaluate existing modules within the HEALER training program (Humility, Empathy, Awareness, Leverage, Empower, Reflect) and improve the cultural competence of healthcare providers and volunteers to develop new training materials and implementing the program in diverse settings. Learn more about the project.
Lara Terpetschnig (she/her) is a rising senior James Scholar majoring in Information Sciences + DS with a minor in Statistics, and hopes to become a nonprofit or government data analyst. At Illinois, Lara works with Prof. Anita Chan in the Community Data Clinic, researching the impact of the Digital Navigators program on individuals and community organizations. She is the president of Project4Less, an RSO focused on food insecurity in the local community, and an assistant at the Urbana Free Library. Lara will work with Community-Academic Scholar Rena Amarteifio, Health and Kinesiology Prof. Minakshi (Mina) Raj, and Sola Gratia Farm to conduct a needs assessment through surveys and interviews with older adults in Champaign County and provide Healthy Champaign County (HCC) with these perspectives to better understand their food-related challenges, needs, and preferences. Learn more about the project.
Talayah Walker is a junior majoring in Psychology and Computer Science at Morgan State University. Recently inducted into the Tau Sigma National Honor Society, which recognizes academic excellence among transfer students, she is proud to be part of a community that uplifts students who have overcome challenges during the transition to university life. Talayah has been actively involved in community outreach through her mother’s charitable organization, which provides undergarments and hygiene products to underserved youth in Baltimore to combat hygiene insecurity and bullying. As part of her ongoing commitment to service and advocacy, she also helps organize monthly care packages for unhoused individuals with a small group of peers. Talayah is passionate about conducting ethical, community-based research that prioritizes mental health needs of underserved and underrepresented populations, particularly Black and Brown communities. With plans to pursue graduate studies in clinical and counseling psychology, she hopes to develop culturally competent therapeutic interventions to ensure that psychological practices reflect the lived experiences of those traditionally excluded from research. Talayah will work with Community-Academic Scholar Farris Sweid, Illinois Extension Assistant Dean for Health Disparities Programs Dr. Margarita Teran-Garcia, and Avicenna Community Health Center to evaluate existing modules within the HEALER training program (Humility, Empathy, Awareness, Leverage, Empower, Reflect) and improve the cultural competence of healthcare providers and volunteers by developing new training materials and implementing the program in diverse settings. Learn more about the project.
Yuheng (Leo) Wang (he/him) is a sophomore James Scholar on the Dean’s List, majoring in Industrial Design, concentrating on human-centered technology, with plans to minor in Game Studies and Design. At Illinois, Leo works in the McKechnie Family LIFE Home with Health and Kinesiology Prof. Wendy Rogers, assisting with promotional material design, visual storytelling, and UI/web layout, leveraging user-centered principles to make advanced research more accessible. He also conducted an in-depth user research and designed a cleaning module for the Stretch robot as part of the TechSAge Pitch Competition project. Passionate about solving diverse design challenges ranging from fitness equipment to AR glasses and helmets, his work has received several international design accolades, including the New York Product Design Award, two International Design Awards, and the MUSE Product Design Award. Leo is interested in a career at the intersection of user-centered design and emerging technologies, developing solutions that genuinely enhance lives, especially those in vulnerable or underserved communities. Leo will work with Community-Academic Scholar Shreya Rana, Prof. Rogers, and ClarkLindsey Life Plan Community to address the needs of older adults with MCI/early AD, and/or mobility impairments with a focus cognitive and physical tasks and evaluate the Stretch and SoRoSH assistive robots’ potential for supporting residents and staff. Learn more about the project.
Maya Westbrook (she/her) is a rising senior majoring in Clinical/Community Psychology with a minor in Social Work. At Illinois, she works in the Language Acquisition Lab with Prof. Cynthia Fisher, studying how children learn and understand language. She is training to work as a paraprofessional at the Counseling Center to assist with student mental health outreach and prevention and the myriad of issues at the intersection of mental health and wellness. Maya served as Member Development Vice President of the Kappa Chapter of Alpha Xi Delta for three semesters and volunteers with her sorority sisters at the Family Room CU, a nonprofit focused on providing for children in foster care or homelessness/housing instability. She hopes to become a clinical counselor, focused on the development of children and families. Maya will work with Graphic Design Prof. Catalina Alzate and GREAT Start Home Visiting Program, conducting creative body mapping sessions among home visitors and doulas in Champaign-Urbana to explore the impacts of their work on their physical, emotional, and intellectual well-being. Learn more about the project.