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. Reem Bagais
Assistant Professor of Interior Design
Children development in the built environment
Reem Bagais is an Assistant Professor in the Interior Design Program at Illinois State University. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Interior Environmental Design from Texas Tech University, as well as a Master of Science in Environmental Design from the same institution and a Master of Art in Interior Design from George Washington University. Dr. Bagais’s research focuses on the relationships between the built environment and children’s development. Her ongoing research delves into the influence of home environments on the self-regulation development of disadvantaged families, emphasizing the importance of shaping a child’s growth and well-being.
Reem loves exploring new activities and exciting places with her family. Whether she’s traveling to new destinations or trying fun, fresh experiences with her kids, she’s always up for an adventure. One of her favorite hobbies is collecting magnets from all the places she visits, creating a colorful reminder of her family’s travels!
Dr. Amy M. Bardwell
Associate Professor of Food, Nutrition, and Dietetics
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.
Connie Dyar
Interior Design Program Coordinator
Interior Design
Professor Connie Dyar began her career as a NCIDQ certified interior designer at a multi-practice architecture firm. After working in the professional field for 10 years she moved onto becoming a full-time tenured faculty member and the Interior Design Program Coordinator at Illinois State University. Ms. Dyar research focus on interior spaces that are open and welcoming to all. She has published in the Journal of Fire Technology, Journal of Architectural and Planning Research, and the International Journal of Architectonic, Spatial, and Environmental Design. Recent intergenerational Graduate and Senior Interior Design Thesis Projects include Pediatric Palliative Care, Multi-generational Housing, Multi-generational Assisted Living, and an Immigration Center. In these projects innovation to meet physical and emotional needs are central to the design solution.
Ms. Dyar enjoys being active in her communities and socializing with multiple generations. She is inspired by her college students who always bring something new to the table. Her love for this age group makes her the “favorite aunt” of her adult nephews and nieces. She loves to travel, hike and playing pickle ball.
Dr. Gabriela Fonseca Pereira
Assistant Professor of 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. Reecia Orzeck
Associate Professor of Geography
Geography, Geology, and the Environment
Reecia Orzeck is a human geographer with an interest in the relationship between power and space at a variety of scales. Her areas of research include the conflict over Palestine in the first half of the twentieth century and representations of the body and emotions in political and legal discourse. She is currently conducting research on critical information literacy and the teaching thereof. Among the courses Reecia regularly teaches are World Geography, Political Geography, Geography of the Middle East, and Qualitative Research Design and Methods in Human Geography. She received her PhD in Geography at Syracuse University and her Masters in Geography at York University in Canada.
When she is not at work Reecia enjoys hanging out with her family, reading, and ambling around in natural and somewhat-natural environments.
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Dr. Chang Su-Russell
Associated 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 T. Russell
Associate Professor of Human Development and Family Science
Supporting Health and Resilience Across Diverse Family Structures and Contexts
Luke Russell is an Associate Professor of Human Development and Family Science at Illinois State University. His research investigates how individuals living in diverse and complex family structures (single-parent, post-divorce, stepfamilies) and contexts foster resilience and maintain family-members’ health and well-being. He also studies how broader social institutions (e.g., health care systems, schools, and government agencies) can function as supportive resources for such families. In addition to his work with the Center for Inclusive Intergenerational Environments, he currently serves as the associate editor of Family Transitions, and is a founding member of the Divorce Education Assessment Collaborative. He teaches courses at Illinois State University on family dynamics, communication and helping skills, couple relationships, families in later life, and family policy.
Luke enjoys visiting local and state parks, watching the stars, and playing boardgames with his family. When he gets the opportunity, he also likes reading historical and science fiction or fantasy novels (and non-fiction on similar topics!).
