Steering Committee

In an effort to maintain and further mobilize our transdisciplinary participatory culture, FRC has utilized the knowledge and skills of our steering committee members, who have been influential in helping guide our center as we establish cutting-edge research hubs and reshape our agendas and approaches. These academic and community professionals conduct research and work in fields that align with areas addressed by FRC. We appreciate their assistance, which includes helping draft FRC's 2023 strategic plan.

Meet the team!

Beverley Baker

Chief Impact Officer, United Way of Champaign County
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Beverly Baker

Beverly works directly with issues and needs facing young children, their families, and the community as a whole. She considers herself a problem solver and works with community partners, elected officials, and concerned residents and volunteers to address some of the most challenging needs facing Champaign County. She has been a member of the United Way team since 2007.

Liza Berdychevsky

Associate Professor, Department of Recreation, Sport, and Tourism,
College of Applied Health Sciences at Illinois
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Liza Berdychevsky

Liza's research revolves at the nexus of health and well-being in leisure and tourism contexts, adopting a gender-sensitive and a life course-grounded approach. In her work, she focuses on risky behaviors and vulnerable populations, exploring the impacts of risk taking on health and well-being.

Chaundra Bishop

Regional Health Officer, Illinois Department of Public Health
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Chaundra Bishop

Chaundra has been a public health professional and community leader for several years, working in both nonprofit and government organizations. Her work has focused on creating strategies to increase visibility, participation, and the well-being of underserved communities through health education and promotion.

Zach Kennedy

Extension Specialist in Community and Economic Development, Illinois Extension
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Zach Kennedy

Zach helps Extension colleagues, local governments, and nonprofit organizations build their capacity to engage in data-informed decision making and planning statewide. Trained as an economist and urban planner, his areas of expertise are in demographics, economic analysis, and planning. Zach previously worked as an Extension educator in Champaign, Ford, Iroquois, and Vermilion counties.

Brent McBride

Professor, Human Development and Family Studies
Director, Child Development Laboratory at Illinois
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Brent McBride

Brent is a professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at Illinois, where he also serve as the director of the Child Development Laboratory program. He has been actively engaged in working with investigators from a variety of disciplines on the Illinois campus as they explore protocols and approaches for studying young children’s development in the context of classroom environments and in laboratory settings.

Andiara Schwingel

Associate Professor, Department of Kinesiology & Community Health,
College of Applied Health Sciences
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Andiara Schwingel

Andiara is an associate professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Community Health at Illinois, where she directs the Aging and Diversity Lab and teaches in the areas of aging, women’s health, and global health. Her research informs public health policy and practice that can lead to healthier communities.

Kelly Tu

Associate Professor, Department of Human Development of Family Studies
College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences
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Kelly Tu

Kelly advances the understanding of adaptive stress responses among children and adolescents. She investigates children’s physiological and behavioral responses to stress and parents’ role in helping children navigate and manage challenges. Her work informs broader efforts to promote positive youth development and well-being.

Community and Youth

Stay tuned to view FRC's future community and youth advisory boards!