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.
Family and Consumer Sciences
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.
Jennifer McCaffrey
Family and Consumer Sciences Assistant Dean
Keywords
Nutrition
Health
Leadership
217-300-1799
Chelsey Byers
Family and Consumer Sciences 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
Family Life
Sara Attig
Family Life Educator
Keywords
Family Life
Managing Stress
Relationships
Social-Emotional Health
Mindfulness
815-842-1776
Tessa Hobbs-Curley
Family Life 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
Family Life 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) 993-3304
Kara Schweitzer
Family Life Educator
Keywords
Family Life
Brain Health
Mental Health
Managing Stress
Caregiving
Mindfulness
815-632-3611
Nutrition and Wellness
Kristin Bogdonas
Extension Educator, Nutrition and Wellness
Keywords
Nutrition Education
Food Safety
Diabetes
Herbs
Obesity Prevention
Food Preservation
Chronic Diseases
217-244-5274
Susan Glassman
Nutrition and Wellness Educator
Keywords
Food Safety
Food Preservation
Chronic Diseases
INEP
Nutrition Education
815- 224-0889
Kris Juelfs
Nutrition and Wellness Educator
Keywords
Nutrition
Nutrition Education
Wellness
(618) 939-3434
Rachel Mannen
Nutrition and Wellness Educator
Keywords
Nutrition
Wellness
Child Nutrition
Chronic Diseases
Community Health
Food Safety
Healthy Cooking
Nutrition Education
(217) 333-7672
Caitlin Mellendorf
Nutrition and Wellness Educator
Keywords
Nutrition
Diabetes
Food Safety
Food Preservation
Healthy Cooking
Healthy Eating
217-877-6042
Lisa Peterson
Nutrition and Wellness Educator
Keywords
Food Sanitation
Food Safety
Nutrition
Chronic Diseases
Food Preservation
Diabetes
Obesity Prevention
(217) 532-3941
Jenna Smith
Nutrition and Wellness Educator
Keywords
Nutrition
Child Nutrition
Nutrition Education
Diabetes
Food Preservation
Food Sanitation
Food Safety
309-663-8306
Mary Liz Wright
Nutrition and Wellness Educator
Keywords
Nutrition Education
Nutrition
Food Preservation
(217) 826-5422
Integrated Health Disparities
Our team provides leadership and resources in the crusade to address health inequities. Our resources and public engagement focus on priority issues of health promotion and education, healthcare access, behavioral health, and community well-being.
Integrated Health Disparities Staff
Margarita Teran-Garcia
Assistant Dean for Integrated Health Disparities Programs
Keywords
Integrated Health Disparities
217-244-2025
Monserrat Carrillo-Rodriguez
Integrated Health Disparities Social and Community Health Specialist
Keywords
Community Health
Integrated Health Disparities
Diversity Equity Inclusion Access
Andrea S. Fanta
Integrated Health Disparities Mental Health Specialist
Keywords
Mental Health
Community Health
Integrated Health Disparities
217-244-2481
Caitlin Fredericks
Integrated Health Disparities Physical Education and Health Specialist
Keywords
Community Health
Health
Integrated Health Disparities
217-333-2894
Elizabeth Sandoval Barrios
Integrated Health Disparities Program Coordinator
Keywords
Community Health
Integrated Health Disparities