Monika is Brightbill/Sapora Professor in the department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism

What is the focus of your current work and/or subject of your current research?
My research focuses on issues of cultural change, quality of life, and their relationship to leisure behavior of ethnic and racial minorities. In 2022-2023, I collected data for the study on the refugee experiences, adaptation, and coping with the war trauma through leisure among Ukrainian war refugees in Poland. I am currently working on two research projects. The first one explores access to and participation in leisure time physical activity among people with mobility impairments who are members and racial and ethnic minority groups. The second one examines how far-right movements manifest themselves in leisure, tourism, and sport contexts and how communities respond to the rise of far-right ideology.

What classes do you teach? What are some of the topics of those classes?
I regularly teach two classes in the Department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism - RST 230 (Diversity in Recreation, Sport and Tourism) and RST 501 (Concepts and Applications in Recreation, Sport and Tourism).

Do you have any recent awards, honors, or publications that you would like to highlight?
2022 - Excellence in Online & Distance Teaching Award (College of AH)

2021- Excellence in Graduate and Professional Teaching Award (College of AHS)

2020 - Distinguished Researcher Award (The Academy of Leisure Sciences)

2019 - Larine Y. Cowan Make a Difference Award for Teaching and Mentoring in Diversity (UIUC)

2017 - Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Award (College of AHS)

What is a book (academic or non-academic, in or outside your field) that you think should be more widely read?
1984 by George Orwell