About Sabbatical Leave
Academic sabbaticals represent a period of leave granted by the University of Illinois for the purpose of study, research, or other pursuit in support of academic excellence at the University. Faculty must qualify in terms of required years of service and have a clear and cogent plan for work to be accomplished during the leave. Eleven UIS faculty were recommended for sabbatical leave during the 2021-2022 academic year.
The Deans invite you to join them in celebrating with their faculty who have been recommended for sabbatical leave during the 2021-2022 academic year.
Faculty are listed by college, below.
College of Business & Management
Patricia Byrnes
Dr. Patricia Byrnes in the Department of Accounting, Economics, & Finance proposes to research determinants of local economic development and create a “Dashboard-Website” with information on the local economy, which will provide information for local businesses and governments; and to publish two articles.
College of Education & Human Services
Holly Thompson
Dr. Holly Thompson in the Department of Human Development Counseling plans to study the effectiveness of various community and national reconciliation models, such as the Truth and Reconciliation Commission used in South Africa, that have been used to facilitate community and national healing during and after periods of discrimination, abuse, and in some cases, genocide.
College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
Lynn Fisher
Dr. Lynn Fisher in the Department of Sociology/Anthropology plans to study regional and chronological variations in Neolithic quarrying in Central Europe during the period 5400 – 2500 B.C.E.; and to begin work on a monograph publication on changing use and significance of a Neolithic quarry investigated in previous archaeological research.
Sharon Graf
Professor Sharon Graf in the Department of Sociology/Anthropology proposes to conduct a second phase of ethnographic field research in Oceania that contributes to our understanding of human diversity in art, music, performance, and culture related to seafaring; and to present findings in articles, courses, blogs, creative works, and public presentations.
Jae Sik Ha
Dr. Jae Sik Ha in the Department of Communication will examine the individual, professional, cultural, and social factors that influence the production and distribution of “fake news” across international borders; and to publish a book investigating the sociology of the fake news phenomenon in a comparative context.
Devin Hunter
Dr. Devin Hunter in the Department of History proposes to use his sabbatical to investigate commemorative practices related to historical racialized mass violence in America; specifically, the Springfield Race Riot of 1908, the Chicago Race Riot of 1919, and the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921; and to write a book manuscript.
Amie Kincaid
Dr. Amie Kincaid in the Department of Communication proposes to examine “safety” surrounding the practice of religion in digital communities, which will inform teaching and lead to publications.
Roxanne Marie Kurtz
Dr. Roxanne Kurtz in the Department of Philosophy plans to research conceptual engineering theory, focusing on how conceptual work reshapes possibilities and impacts theories of positive change across social, political, and scientific domains; and to complete three peer-reviewed products including papers and presentations.
Kenneth Owen
Dr. Kenneth Owen in the Department of History proposes to continue research and to write a book manuscript about the long history of secession movements in the United States, from its founding to the present day.
College of Public Affairs & Administration
Anne-Marie Hanson
Dr. Anne-Marie Hanson in the Department of Environmental Studies, plans to publish two journal articles, to submit a book proposal, and to begin a new research project on the social-ecological impacts of plastic debris and sustainable waste management.
Tih-Fen Ting
Dr. Tih-Fen Ting in the Department of Environmental Studies proposes to study and evaluate strategies for the recovery and conservation of two state-listed wildlife species, the Osprey and Franklin’s ground squirrel.