Among the newcomers to the Urbana campus are more than 7,500 freshmen and about 100 tenure/tenure track faculty members whose appointments began this summer or fall. Inside Illinois continues its tradition of introducing some of the new faculty members on campus and will feature at least two new colleagues in each fall issue.
Nuno Garoupa, professor of law, College of Law
Education: LLM (specialization in criminology and criminal justice), University of London; Habilitation Microeconomics, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal; D.Phil (economics), University of York; M.Sc. Economics, Queen Mary and Westfield College, University of London; B.Sc. Economics, Universidade Nova de Lisboa.
Teaching at Illinois: LAW 796, “Global Antitrust Law and Economics” and the JSD Legal Scholarship seminar, LAW 798.
Research: “Professor Garoupa’s research focuses on comparative law and economics,” said Charles Tabb, interim dean and the Alice Curtis Campbell Professor of Law. “He uses this lens to explain and assess legal institution across the world.” Garoupa has three substantive projects: including examining judicial performance around the world, examining prosecutors, and examining lawyers. Garoupa comes to Illinois with a 50 percent appointment, retaining the other 50 percent at IMDEA (Instituto Madrileño de Estudios Avanzados), a research center for social sciences in Madrid. Professor Garoupa has published numerous articles in all of the leading law and economics journals of the world,” Tabb said. “He may be the leading law and economics scholar in the world under the age of 40.”
Maureen McMichael, associate professor of veterinary clinical medicine , College of Veterinary Medicine
Education: D.V.M (veterinary medicine), Cornell University; B.S. (biology), Columbia University.
Teaching at Illinois: McMichael will be teaching small animal medicine courses in the area of emergency and critical care.
Research: Her primary research focus is oxidative stress in animals and humans.
“After graduating from veterinary school, completing an internship in private practice and a residency training program, Dr. Maureen McDonald accepted a position at the veterinary school at Texas A&M University, where she established the first program in Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care medicine at that institution,” said David A. Williams, head of veterinary clinical medicine. “A new clinical rotation in this discipline was established for the students, and formal collaboration with local veterinarians was set up to facilitate night and weekend veterinary emergency service to the local community.”
McMichael is a member of the editorial board for the Journal of Emergency and Veterinary Care and has acted as a reviewer for three scientific journals.
Nathan Dunfield, associate professor of mathematics, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Education: Ph.D. (mathematics), University of Chicago; B.S. (mathematics), Oregon State University
Teaching at Illinois: Math 595, “Real and Complex Hyperbolic Geometry”
Research: “A new era in three-dimensional topology has begun recently with Grigory Perelman’s proof of the Poincaré conjecture, selected as the scientific breakthrough of the year in 2006 by Science magazine,” said Sheldon Katz, professor and chair of the department of mathematics. “Nathan Dunfield has assumed a leadership role in this new environment. His recent work includes an innovative application of Perelman’s deep ideas to the study of hyperbolic geometry. This was very impressive work, especially since Perelman’s techniques were not created with this direction in mind. … He is a pioneer and leader in the field of computational and experimental topology. In particular, he developed the notion of a ‘random’ three-manifold, used in his work on the virtual Haken conjecture, inspired by the work of UI professor emeritus Wolfgan Haken of Four Color Theorem fame.
“He is equally at home in pure mathematics and computational mathematics, drawing from a toolkit spanning a range of areas of pure mathematics. He has done spectacular work on his own as well as in collaborations, where he has exhibited leadership abilities. I look forward to the enormous impact he will have on our campus,” Katz said.
Carol Tilley, assistant professor of library and information science, Graduate School of Library and Information Science
Education: Ph.D (information science), Master of Library Science, B.A. (English), Indiana University
Teaching at Illinois: LIS 506 “Youth Services Librarianship”
Research: Tilley’s research interests include the history of youth services librarianship, children’s print culture, information inquiry and instruction in school libraries and social psychological aspects of reference interactions.
“Carol Tilley’s background in literature and librarianship for young people will deepen many aspects of our GSLIS youth services program,” said professor emerita Betsy Hearne. “She has taught extensively in the SLIS distance learning programs and will be an asset to our LEEP students.” She added, “And besides that, she’s a lot of fun. Her dissertation topic is ‘The Jerky, Jiggling World of Comics: Librarians, Kids and Comic Books during the Golden Age, 1938-1955.’ ”
In addition to her work as a lecturer, Tilley has, since 2002, been the coordinator of distance education at SLIS, advising youth services students in the program and developing new courses, such as Grant Writing for Librarians and Educators, and Nonfiction Materials for Children and Young Adults.
Julie Gunn, associate professor of music, College of Fine and Applied Arts
Education: A. Mus. D. and M.M. (vocal coaching and accompanying), UI; A.B. (economics), Dartmouth College
Teaching at Illinois: Gunn will teach Advanced Ensemble, Vocal Coaching, Score Reading and Coaching Techniques and Advanced Accompanying.
Research: “Julie Gunn has for the past decade become well known as a superb accompanist, opera coach and chamber music performer,” said Robert Graves, dean of the College of Fine and Applied Arts. “In addition to her professional work as accompanist and coach for her husband, Nathan Gunn, she also has been a collaborative artist with other singers at the Metropolitan Opera, professional performers elsewhere and faculty members at other major universities. More recently, she has expanded her musical activities to include the production of commercial recordings in association with Mr. Gunn and SONY/BMG,” Graves said.
Nathan Gunn, professor of music, College of Fine and Applied Arts
Education: Bachelor of music in open studies with a focus on German lieder, UI
Teaching at Illinois: Gunn will offer a class in Mozart Recitatives, MUS 499.
Research: “Nathan Gunn is a consummate artist with an international reputation as both a performer and presenter of master classes. He has worked with the finest conductors, stage directors, singers, orchestras and opera companies in the world,” said Robert Graves, dean of the College of Fine and Applied Arts. “His continuing relationship with major opera houses (he is already under contract into 2012) will bring him into the spotlight for thousands of prospective students, and he in turn will reflect the high quality of musical performance and instruction that the School of Music has brought and will continue to bring to the classroom, rehearsal hall and concert stage,” Graves said.
Andrea Stevens, assistant professor of English, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Education: Ph.D. (English), University of Virginia; M.A. (English literature), Dalhousie University, B.A. (English honors) Huron University College
Teaching at Illinois: ENGL 418, “Shakespeare I.”
Research: Stevens is a specialist in early modern drama and performance history and theory. Since her engagement with drama is based in a cultural studies approach, it always connects outward to other aspects of Renaissance literature and culture as well. In her original and well-conceived dissertation, “Skin Theaters: The Epistemology of Paint in Early Modern Drama,” she uses extensive research into the material practices of cosmetics and costume in early modern theater in order to illuminate the metatheatrical and non-realistic representational logic of Renaissance English drama and, in the process, to intervene in ongoing debates about the early modern representation of race, inferiority and the physical embodiment of a variety of socially marked identities. In addition to her very promising research agenda, Stephens is a very accomplished teacher who won multiple teaching awards as a graduate instructor at the University of Virginia. “We anticipate her continuing to excel in the classroom while teaching courses on topics such as Shakespeare and Renaissance drama, the history of drama and writing about literature,” said Martin Camargo, head of the department of English.
Delores Albarracin, professor of psychology, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Education: Ph.D (social psychology, quantitative psychology) and M.A. (psychology), University of Illinois; Ph.D. (clinical psychology), Universidad de Belgrano Professor in Letters, Universidad Nacional de La Plata; B.A. (psychology) Universidad Catolica de La Plata
Teaching at Illinois: Psych 352, “Attitude Theory and Change” and Psych 558, “Attitudes”
Research: “Dr. Albarracin is one of the most prominent theorists working in the field of social psychology today,” said David Irwin, head of psychology. “Strikingly, she has achieved this stature in just 10 years since receiving her Ph.D. She was promoted early to an endowed professorship at the University of Florida. Her expertise combines basic theoretical innovation with translational work on HIV intervention.”
Albarracin’s main research focus is in the area of attitudes. The field of attitudes represents the oldest theoretical tradition in social psychology. Hiring Dr. Albarracin strengthened this area in the psychology department and helps build bridges to other units on campus, such as in marketing and advertising.”
Jasmijn Bol, assistant professor of accountancy, College of Business
Education: Visiting Doctoral Student, Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania; Ph.D. Candidate, IESE Business School
Teaching at Illinois: Accy 304, “Accountancy Control Systems”
Research: Bol joined the department of accountancy after a year at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Previously she was at the IESE Business School in Barcelona where she earned her Ph.D. Bol works in a very important emerging area – non-financial information in budgeting and control. She also has a strong interest in performance evaluation metrics.
Michael DeLorenzo, associate vice chancellor for student affairs and director of Auxiliary Services
Education: Ph.D. (public administration) in progress at University of Illinois; M.A. (education- sports management) Ohio State University; B.A. (history) Colorado State University
Research: DeLorenzo began his duties as associate vice chancellor for student affairs/director of Auxiliary Services July 16. He is responsible for the coordination, direction and budget oversight of the personnel, operations and facilities of the auxiliary services departments in Student Affairs, including Assembly Hall, Division of Campus Recreation, Illini Union and Bookstore, McKinley Health Center and University Housing and Dining Services.
“Mike brings years of experience in student affairs auxiliaries to the university,” said Renee Romano, vice chancellor for student affairs. “He really understands how auxiliary programs and facilities play a key role in the quality of student life and is committed to preserving and enhancing the Illinois experience for our students.”
Mary-Grace Danao, assistant professor of agricultural engineering
College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences and College of Engineering
Education: Ph.D. and M.S. (biosystems and agricultural engineering), University of Kentucky; B.S. (agricultural and biological engineering), University of Florida
Teaching at Illinois: “Introduction to Agricultural Engineering”
Research: Danao’s research interests include biosensor development, ultrasonic separation of microparticles, and optical and acoustic sensing for food process automation.
“Among all the graduate students I know, Dr. Danao has a most impressive record of fellowships and awards during her graduate studies,” said Robert Easter, dean of the College of ACES. “The NSF International Research Fellowship to UK was obtained by her before she completed her Ph.D. Her leadership and service activities have been equally outstanding. She has already served as officer for many committees within the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineering. Examples include Graduate Student Research Award Committee and Student Organizations Committee.”
Mohammad Khalil, assistant professor of religious studies College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Education: D.Phil and M.A. (Islamic studies), B.A. (Arabic and Islamic studies), University of Michigan
Teaching at Illinois: “Introduction to Islam” and “Qur’an Structure and Exegesis”
Research: Khalil specializes in Islamic theology and has published articles on a variety of topics, such as Western analyses of Islamic theology, Islamic ethics, contemporary conversion narratives and Hadith studies. He is working on a monograph of Islamic soteriology.
“Mohammad’s dissertation concerns Islamic perspectives on the salvation of non-Muslims,” said Robert McKim, director of the Program for the Study of Religion. “He provides an analysis of the relevant ideas of classical figures such as al-Ghazali, Ibn al’ Arabi, and Ibn Taymiyya, and of those modern thinkers such as Sayyid Qutb and Farid Esack. This work, which combines careful textual analysis and historical investigation, is of historical, theological and philosophical interest. Explorations in this controversial area have a potential for influencing how people think and hence how they act,” McKim said. “Mohammad’s presence will enable us to expand our course offerings and to further enhance our already impressive scholarly profile in the area of Islamic thought,” McKim said.
Brant Houston, Knight Chair for Investigative and Enterprise Reporting, College of Communications
Education: B.A. (English literature), Bennington College
Teaching at Illinois: “Investigative Reporting” (JOUR 480); Houston will eventually teach Reporting 1 and 2 in addition to investigative reporting.
Research: “Brant is particularly interested in creating an international network of investigative training programs for journalists worldwide,” said Walt Harrington, head of the department of journalism. “He is also interested in developing programs to support the burgeoning ethnic press in the U.S. Brant’s specialty is computer-assisted reporting. A new edition of his “Investigative Reporter’s Handbook” – the bible of investigative journalism methods – will soon be published by Bedford/St. Martin’s.
“Brant Houston is the most distinguished teacher of investigative journalism in the country and probably the world. He’s the best of the best, and we’re excited and honored that he has joined our journalism faculty. His presence reinforces and enhances our department’s long-standing public affairs journalism tradition and the influence of our Knight Chair,” Harrington said.
Jozef Kokini, Bingham Professor of Food Engineering and associate dean for research, College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences
Education: Ph.D. and M.S. (chemical engineering), Carnegie-Mellon University; B.S. (chemical engineering), Bogazici University, Istanbul, Turkey
Teaching at Illinois: Graduate seminar (FSHN 597)
Research: Kokini’s area of research is the study of the rheological properties of foods, particularly of carbohydrates and proteins. In the past several years, he has built capacity in his lab to use nanotechnology tools to study the properties of food systems, said Faye M. Dong, professor and head of the department of food science and human nutrition.
“Dr. Kokini brings a wealth of expertise to our department,” Dong said. “Examples are the application of nanotechnology tools to the study of food systems, which is a ‘hot topic’ and developing area in the food industry, with applications in food quality, nutritional value and food safety, his model leadership skills and the ability to work in interdisciplinary fields and his superb teaching and mentoring skills”
Kokini has been recognized nationally and internationally for his work. Most recently, he was elected to the International Food Academy of Food Science and Technology.
Diana Grigsby-Toussaint
assistant professor of kinesiology and community healthCollege of Applied Health Sciences
Education: Ph.D. (maternal child health epidemiology), UIC; M.S. (public health and international health), Boston University; B.S. (zoology), North Carolina State University
Teaching at Illinois: CHLH 274, “Introduction to Epidemiology”
Research: “Dr. Grigsby-Toussaint is an outstanding scholar whose research focuses on examining the impact of social and environmental factors in public health among minorities,” said Tanya Gallagher, dean of the College of Applied Health Sciences. “Specifically, her research explores the impact of neighborhood characteristics on risk factors for the development of Type 2 diabetes among African-American and Latino children in Chicago.”
Grigsby-Toussaint’s research experience includes study conceptualization, design, implementation, and qualitative and quantitative data analysis. In the future, she will teach more courses related to epidemiology, health data analysis, health behavior and public health practices.
William D. Gropp
Paul and Cindy Saylor Professor of Computer ScienceCollege of Engineering
Education: Ph.D. (computer science), Stanford University; M.S. (physics), University of Washington; B.S. (mathematics), Case Western Reserve University
Research: “We were looking for a senior person in scientific computing to fill a named professorship,” said Michael Heath, interim head of the computer science department. “With the new Petascale system coming to NCSA, we were also very interested in enhancing our already strong emphasis on high-performance computing. Bill Gropp is one of the small set of people who have had significant impact on both scientific computing and high-performance computing.”
Gropp is co-author of Messaging Passing Interface, which, according to Heath, is the dominant software framework for using high-performance parallel computers to solve large-scale problems in science and engineering.
Janet Liechty
assistant professor of social work and of medicine
Education: Ph.D. (family studies), University of Maryland; M.S.W. (clinical concentration), University of Maryland; B.A. (social work), Goshen College.
Teaching at Illinois: SOCW 513, “Delivery of Health Care.”
Research: “Liechty brings to her position rich clinical experience in medical and social service settings, including five years at the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Washington, D.C., where she provided psychosocial support and therapy to people with spinal cord injuries, stroke, post-polio and amputation,” said Wynne Korr, dean of the School of Social Work.
“Her research is on the influence of gender socialization and family attitudes on adolescent girls’ self concept, body image and weight-control behaviors,” Korr said. “As obesity and eating disorders have become major public health concerns, her work on sorting out risk factors for these disorders is particularly important. She is interested in determining the extent to which support from parents and family members serves as a protective factor.”
Liechty also has been recognized as an outstanding teacher, Korr said. “She brings her practical experience to the classroom so that students can readily see the link to real life situations.”
