Dr. Elke Altenburger
Associate Professor of Interior Design
Informal Learning Environments for Diverse Learners
Elke Altenburger is an Associate Professor of Interior Design at Illinois State University. She has a degree as Graduate Engineer of Interior Architecture from the University of Applied Science in Düsseldorf, Germany. She practiced interior design in the large teams of major architectural offices in Germany and the United States, focused on cultural and higher education building projects before pursuing her PhD in Environment and Behavior at the University of Missouri-Columbia. Her research investigates the effects of social and physical informal learning environments on diverse students’ experience of schooling.
Elke likes to walk fast and dance hard. Her favorite way to feel part of something bigger than herself is to sing in a choir.
Dr. Amy M. Bardwell
Associate Professor
Commuity-based food systems and sustainable food environments
Dr. Amy M. Bardwell is an Associate Professor in Food and Beverage Management at Illinois State University. She received her Ph.D. in Hotel and Restaurant Management from Auburn University and holds a Certified Hospitality Educator (CHE) certification. Dr. Bardwell’s work focuses on integrating sustainable foodservice practices into both educational and professional settings, with an emphasis on community-driven food systems and food equity. As the treasurer of the Center for Integrated Intergenerational Environments (CIIE), she contributes to the center’s strategic development through innovative idea generation and forward-thinking initiatives.
In her free time, Dr. Bardwell enjoys crocheting, baking, and hanging out with her family. She can usually be found reading (or listening) to a book while sitting outside and drinking her coffee.
Dr. Gabriela Fonseca Pereira
Assistant Professor, Interior Design
Gerontechnology and Design Solutions for Aging
Gabriela Fonseca Pereira is an Assistant Professor in Interior Design. She received her Ph.D. from Oklahoma State University and has a Master’s degree in Design and Technology (Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul – UFRGS, Brazil), a degree in Visual Arts (Federal University of Pelotas – UFPel, Brazil) and in Furniture Design (Sul-Rio-Grandense Federal Institute – IFSul, Brazil). She practiced graphic, furniture, interior design, and photography in Brazil and Europe. Her current research focus on design solutions for the aging population, Gerontechnology, and the use of extended reality for interior design applied to speech language therapy and aging-in-place solutions.
Outside of work, Gabriela can be found riding her bike in the Constitution Trail, or practicing bouldering, or swimming. She likes the outdoors, and her greatest adventure was to hike and backpack to the Havasu Falls in the Grand Canyon. She loves traveling and has been to 28 U.S. states and to 25 countries.
Dr. Chang Su-Russell
Assistant Professor of Human Development and Family Science
Human Development and Family Science
Chang Su-Russell is an Associate Professor of Human Development and Family Science at Illinois State University. She has received training in different methodologies- qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods from her doctoral program at University of Missouri-Columbia. Her research lines include (1) parents’ decision-making process in the socialization of young children when encountering challenging social topics (death, loss, race, different types of families, etc.); (2) youth and young adults’ sense of belonging and career development. She has regularly collaborated with undergraduate and graduate students on research projects for presentations at the international and national conferences and for publications.
Chang enjoys doing creative art activities and having outdoor adventures with her family. She is passionate about being engaged in the community and explores various activities for her children and families to experience.
Dr. Luke Russell
Associate Professor of Human Development and Family Science
HUMAN DEVELOPMENT & FAMILY SCIENCE
