Our Team

Our team values diversity in all its forms and brings together different but complementary perspectives, including lived and living experience, to guide our work. As a first-generation college graduate, I’m proud to lead a team where many members also identify as first-gen and come from backgrounds that have been historically underrepresented in research. We are committed to fostering a supportive, collaborative environment where students are mentored, empowered, and encouraged to grow as researchers and professionals. Together, we aim to inform prevention and intervention efforts that support people affected by substance use and mental health challenges. 

Principal Investigator:

Rachel A. Hoopsick, PhD, MS, MPH, MCHES
Assistant Professor, Department of Health and Kinesiology
hoopsick@illinois.edu 

Rachel Hoopsick

Research Coordinator:

Anamika Yadav, MBBS, MHA
Project Coordinator, Department of Health and Kinesiology
ay18@illinois.edu 

Coming Soon

Graduate Research Assistants:

Benjamin Campbell, MA
4th Year Community Health PhD Student
Joined team in Fall 2022

Benjamin Campbell

Tourna Khan, MBBS
4th Year Community Health PhD Student
Joined team in Spring 2023

Tourna Khan

Sylvia Okon, MS
3rd Year Community Health PhD Student
Joined team in Fall 2023

Tonazzina Sauda, MBBS
5th Year Community Health PhD Student
Joined team in Spring 2023

Tonazzina Sauda

Joseph Cedrick Wabwire, MRPP
1st Year Community Health PhD Student
Joined team in Fall 2025

Coming Soon

Amy Ni
MPH Student
Joined team in Spring 2025

Undergraduate Research Assistants:

Shreya Arikati
Senior, Cognitive Neuroscience
Joined team in Summer 2025

Sinan Anwar
Senior, Interdisciplinary Health Sciences
Joined team in Fall 2022

Sofia Castro
Senior, Community Health
Joined team in Spring 2024

Sofia Castro headshot

Bailey Dunsmore
Sophomore, Organizational Psychology
Joined team in Fall 2025

Isidora Kostić
Senior, Cognitive Neuroscience
Joined team in Spring 2025

Coming Soon

Tyler Lee
Junior, Community Health
Joined team in Spring 2025

Sofia Marin
Junior, Community Health & Business
Joined team in Fall 2023

Alan Oliva
Junior, Interdisciplinary Health Sciences
Joined team in Spring 2024

Owen Rusche
Junior, MCB
Joined team in Spring 2025

Bianca Varela
Sophomore, Kinesiology
Joined team in Spring 2025

Keemia Zandiani
Junior, Community Health
Joined team in Spring 2025

We would also like to thank our previous team members for their contributions: 

  • Farina Alam
  • Madeleine Alvis
  • Tarjani Bhatt, BDS, MPH
  • Jaqueline Carrillo, MPH
  • Marco Ciaccio, MPH
  • Benjamin Combs
  • Andres Davalos, MPH
  • Nora Duffy
  • Nivin George, MPH
  • Savannah Guzman
  • Dionicia Hernandez
  • Simrandeep Kaur, MPH
  • Alex Kim
  • Michael Knipp
  • Sylvia Las, MPH
  • Hahnbit Lee
  • Sophia Libman
  • Susana Lopez
  • Sahil Mali, MBBS, MPH
  • Wendy Marinez
  • Enky Mhlongo, MPH
  • Alan Oliva
  • Pankti Patel
  • Alexis Reyna
  • Carson Roan
  • Ameera Samad, MPH
  • Yasmeen Scott
  • Joshua Silvestre, MPH
  • Ja’Resa Stockdale
  • Rachel Sun
  • Uwamahoro Sophie
  • Eshana Vora