What We Believe
Body
Our mission is to align research to needs and translate that research into action plans that allow Illinois families, businesses, and community leaders to solve problems, make informed decisions, and adapt to changes and opportunities. This blend of long-range focus and local accountability is a powerful strategy that ensures we stay true to our mission while we serve communities across the state.
Health and Community Wellness
Our team members represent the diverse field of family and consumer sciences that includes areas across human health and wellness. Extension programming focuses on human development, aging, personal and family finance, food science, nutrition, and community health.
Chelsey Byers
Extension Specialist
Keywords
Administration
Aging
Brain Health
Caregiving
Chronic Diseases
Communication
Dementia Alzheimer’s
Elder Care
Family Life
Health
Health Care
Leadership Development
Managing Stress
Marketing
Mental Health
Mindfulness
Physical Activity
Professional Development CEU CPDU
Real Colors
Relationships
Resilience
Social-Emotional Health
Team Building
Trauma-Informed Adverse Childhood Experiences
Wellness
Workforce Development
Workplace Wellness
217-300-3930
Health and Family
Sara Attig
Extension Educator
Keywords
Family Life
Managing Stress
Relationships
Social-Emotional Health
Mindfulness
Brain Health
Aging
Health
Real Colors
Wellness
815-842-1776
Emily Harmon
Extension Educator
Keywords
Family Life
Brain Health
Aging
Social-Emotional Health
Real Colors
Relationships
217- 333- 7672
Tessa Hobbs-Curley
Extension Educator
Keywords
Family Life
Aging
Brain Health
Bullying
Caregiving
Dementia Alzheimer’s
Diabetes
Diversity Equity Inclusion Access
Early Childhood
Elder Care
Inclusion
Life Skills
Managing Stress
Mental Health
Mindfulness
Navigating Difference
Parenting
Real Colors
Real Colors
Relationships
Social-Emotional Health
Team Building
Teenagers
Time Management
Wellness
(309) 837-3939
Robin Ridgley
Extension Educator
Keywords
Family Life
Brain Health
Aging
Chronic Diseases
Health
Managing Stress
Mindfulness
Real Colors
Relationships
Social-Emotional Health
Trauma-Informed Adverse Childhood Experiences
Wellness
(618) 439-3178
Food and Nutrition
Kristin Bogdonas
Food and Nutrition Educator
Keywords
Nutrition Education
Food Preservation
Food Safety
Chronic Diseases
Diabetes
Healthy Cooking
Healthy Eating
Herbs
Disaster Preparedness
217-244-5274
Susan Glassman
Extension Educator
Keywords
Food Safety
Food Preservation
Chronic Diseases
INEP
Nutrition Education
(815) 433-0707
Rachel Mannen
Extension Educator
Keywords
Nutrition
Wellness
Child Nutrition
Chronic Diseases
Community Health
Food Safety
Healthy Cooking
Nutrition Education
(217) 333-7672
Caitlin Mellendorf
Extension Educator
Keywords
Nutrition
Diabetes
Food Safety
Food Preservation
Healthy Cooking
Healthy Eating
(217) 877-6042
Lisa Peterson
Extension Educator
Keywords
Food Safety
Food Sanitation
Food Preservation
Cottage Food
Leadership Development
Chronic Diseases
Community Health
Diabetes
Healthy Cooking
Nutrition
Obesity Prevention
Workplace Wellness
(217) 532-3941
Jenna Smith
Extension Educator
Keywords
Nutrition
Child Nutrition
Nutrition Education
Diabetes
Food Preservation
Food Sanitation
Food Safety
309-663-8306
