Biography

Academic and Personal Background

Dr. Blount (they/them) is a socio-ecohydrologist who is interested in the interactions between hydrology (water), ecology (vegetation), and society (people). Dr. Blount joined the faculty at UIS in Fall 2022 after completing a postdoctoral research appointment in urban ecohydrology at Washington State University Vancouver. They received a Ph.D. and M.S. in Hydrology from Colorado School of Mines (2020; 2018) and a B.S. in Environmental Geosciences from Texas A&M University (2013).

I received my Bachelors in Exercise Science, Masters in Exercise Physiology, and I am currently earning my Doctorate in Teaching and Learning with an emphasis in Science Education from Illinois State University. I primarily identify as a Pediatric Exercise Physiologist and study physical activity and fitness during childhood and adolescence. I currently live in Mahomet with my wife Valerie, I am the father of three boys, Asher, Reagan and Charlie. I was initially interested in exercise science due to my involvement in sports such as wrestling and Judo.

Dr. Lee received his Ph.D. in epidemiology from the University of Memphis School of Public Health in 2019 and his MS in epidemiology from Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine in 2015. His research centers on children's health, with a particular focus on quantitative methods in epidemiology and biostatistics. He uses large-scale population-based data to examine environmental exposures, comorbidity patterns, and health outcomes.

Dr. Madrigal joined the School of Integrated Sciences, Sustainability, and Public Health in the College of Health, Science, and Technology at the University of Illinois Springfield in August 2025. She received her Ph.D. in epidemiology from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Public Health, where she was a National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) fellow. Most recently Dr.