The University of Illinois Springfield has announced the appointment of 23 new faculty members for fall 2024. These educators bring a diverse array of expertise and research interests to their respective fields, enhancing the university’s commitment to academic excellence and innovation.

Goutham Reddy Alavalapati joins UIS as an assistant professor of computer science and cybersecurity. His research focuses on cybersecurity and cryptography and he enjoys traveling in his spare time.

Marissa Baker has been appointed as a visiting assistant professor in the Department of Art, Music, and Theatre. She specializes in art history including modern and contemporary African American art, with a particular focus on artists working in collectives and community-based practices. Baker is an avid gardener and is training for her first 5K this fall.

Helen Brandon joins the School of Education as an assistant professor specializing in STEM education. Her research spans STEM, middle-level and multilingual education, covering topics from STEM identity to translanguaging. She enjoys reading, writing, walking, traveling and spending time with family and friends.

Alonzo DeCarlo has been appointed as an assistant professor of counseling and social work with a focus on liberal studies. His research is centered on advancing education, mental health and social justice for African American and marginalized communities by addressing and eliminating systemic inequalities. DeCarlo’s hobbies include cultural anthropology, acting, singing, weight lifting and studying indigenous African canvas art.

Priyanka Deo joins the School of Communication and Media as an instructor and director of student media. Her professional interests include digital storytelling, multimedia journalism and implementing youth media literacy in public policy. Deo is a former UIS tennis player and a proud supporter of the Prairie Stars.

Bell Eapen has been appointed as an assistant professor of management information systems. A health informatics researcher, Eapen contributes to open-source projects and is enthusiastic about emerging technologies like generative AI. He enjoys playing pickleball, cricket and exploring nature on his bike.

Jennifer Faulkner joins the School of Health Sciences as a clinical assistant professor of medical laboratory science. Her research focuses on recruiting and educating the next generation of medical laboratory scientists. Faulkner enjoys reading, gardening and spending time outdoors.

John Ferry has been appointed as a distinguished professor of chemistry and biochemistry in the UIS School of Integrated Sciences, Sustainability and Public Health. His research areas include environmental chemistry, toxicology, microbial ecology and science outreach. In his free time, Ferry enjoys farming herbs, cut flowers and dye plants.

B. J. Fletcher joins UIS as an assistant professor of public administration in the School of Public Management and Policy. Fletcher’s research interests include public policy, food policy, urban studies, smart and sustainable cities, science and technology policy, public administration ethics, social equity and phenomenology. Fletcher enjoys traveling, outdoor activities and playing board games.

Mallory Jallas has been appointed clinical associate professor and head of the Brookens Library’s information literacy and academic outreach program. Her research interests focus on peer learning programs, the impact of affordable textbooks on student success and academic libraries’ campus collaborations for student success. Jallas enjoys cooking, gardening, camping, hiking and novice birding.

Peng Kang joins computer science as an assistant professor. His research areas include artificial intelligence, machine learning and deep learning. Kang’s hobbies include bicycling, jogging, visiting museums, listening to music and watching movies.

Lomi Li has been appointed as an assistant professor of human development counseling in the Department of Counseling and Social Work. Her research interests include trauma, gender and sexuality-related issues and counselor trainees’ development. Li enjoys reading, hiking and learning to play the ukulele and guitar.

Rasel Mamun joins UIS as an assistant professor of management information systems. Focusing on cybersecurity management, his research involves solving problems related to emerging technology usage and managing associated privacy and security threats. Mamun enjoys reading books on history, economics and politics as well as playing table tennis.

Tammy Martin has been appointed a clinical instructor of education. Martin is dedicated to helping future UIS educators achieve the best possible experiences in their clinical placements. Her hobbies include reading, traveling, exercising and watching Illini football and basketball.

Vaibhav Mishra joins management, marketing and operations as an assistant professor. His research focuses on innovation, corporate entrepreneurship and the impact of external factors on firm behavior. Mishra enjoys sports, working out, hiking and traveling.

Gulnur Muradoglu has been appointed a professor of accounting, economics and finance. Her research interests include behavioral finance and the Behavioural Finance Working Group, a leading institution in the field. Muradoglu enjoys swimming, running, gardening, cooking and watching thrillers.

Clarissa Richardson joins UIS as an assistant professor of psychology. Her research focuses on perfectionism, stress, trauma and coping as well as community-based interventions to improve mental health knowledge and access. Richardson enjoys spending time with her family, coaching her children’s sports teams, gardening and traveling.

Tom Rothfus has been appointed a clinical assistant professor of environmental science in the School of Integrated Sciences, Sustainability & Public Health. His research interests include benthic macroinvertebrates, cyanobacteria, microplastics and paleoecology. Outside of work, he enjoys birds, woodworking and grilling.

Rishikesh Sahay joins management information systems as an assistant professor. His research focuses on cyber resilience, cyber risk assessment and mitigation, threat modeling, autonomic cyber defense and SDN security. Sahay enjoys traveling, running, meditation and reading books.

Rick Stokes has been appointed a clinical assistant professor in the School of Integrated Sciences, Sustainability and Public Health. His research interests include genetic variations in plants with unusual breeding systems and life cycles. Outside of work, he enjoys playing board games and spending time with family.

Sid Upadhyay has been appointed as a lecturer in the Department of Management, Marketing and Operations. His research interests include recruitment and staffing, machine learning methods, diversity and inclusion particularly disability inclusion and individual political ideology. Upadhyay is an avid cinephile who enjoys reading books on diverse topics, fitness and mixed martial arts.

Katie Williams joins UIS as an instructor of physics in the School of Integrated Sciences, Sustainability and Public Health. Her research focuses on evidence-based best practices to fully engage students and increase accessibility in physics/STEM. Williams enjoys spending time with her family, hiking, traveling, reading and learning Spanish.

Alex Wolfe has been appointed as an exercise science lecturer in the School of Health Sciences. His research examines the relationship between physical activity and academic achievement, free play during school and physical literacy. Wolfe’s hobbies include resistance training, rock climbing, painting tabletop miniatures and spending time with his children.