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University of Illinois Athletics

Academic Services Staff

Athletic Academic Counselors

Athletic academic counselors are assigned to work with specific athletic teams and to help those teams’ student-athletes balance academics with the demands of a competitive Division I athletic schedule and the student-athletes’ personal growth. The athletic academic counselors also assist student-athletes with designing academic plans to ensure that they are making sufficient progress toward a degree for eligibility purposes.

Learning Specialists

Learning specialists serve as valuable resources for student-athletes who have or think they might have a learning disability, ADHD or any other condition that might impact their educational performance. First, learning specialists can assist student-athletes and athletic academic counselors in identifying possible learning disabilities and conditions and in coordinating appropriate testing. Second, if student-athletes do have learning challenges, the learning specialist will: work closely with these student-athletes to identify any necessary accommodations, assistive technology, and resources; develop effective strategies and academic support plans to facilitate their academic success; act as their liaison with the Disability Resources and Educational Services (DRES); and assist them with understanding applicable policies and procedures. Student-athletes may also make an appointment with a learning specialist to help them gain insight into their learning styles, develop academic strategies, and support them in identifying appropriate academic services.

Academic Services

Name Title (Sport) Email (@illinois.edu) Office
Dr. Stephon Fuqua Associate Director of Athletics, Academic Services sfuqua 217-300-9727
Academic Counseling
Shari Clapp Senior Director of Academic Services, Operations and Enrollment (MBA, MGO) clapps 217-244-7787
Mike Maziarz Director of Academic Services (FB, WSWD) maziarz2 217-300-0767
Elizabeth Hamlet Director of Academic Services (MBB, WVB, WGO, WTE) ehamlet 217-333-7167
Rachel Kaltwasser Associate Director of Academic Services (FB, WBB, WGY) rachelk 217-244-3318
Madison Rayam Associate Director of Academic Services (FB, WSB, MGY) madisonr 217-244-8303
Celestine Akoro Assistant Director of Academic Services (MTR, WTR, MXC, WXC, MWR, WSO, MTE) cakoro
Isaac Solomon Assistant Academic Counselor isaacs5
Learning Services
Heather Schmitz Director of Learning Services hschmitz 217-300-3857
Elyse Gray Learning Specialist elyseg
DJ Taylor Learning Specialist djtaylo2
Kaitlyn Mitchell Assistant Learning Specialist km101
Illini Way Student-Athlete Development
Shanika Mungin Assistant Director of Athletics, Student-Athlete Engagement smungin 217-333-3266
Solomon Siskind Student-Athlete Development Coordinator siskind2 217-265-6511
Jasmine Jeffries Assistant Student-Athlete Development Coordinator jeffries
Office Support
TBD Office Support Associate