James Scholar Experiences Begin by February 9th

➡️ If you are a James Scholar (Yes):

• ExP (Exploratory) Students

If you’re in the ExP section, your James Scholar project will be connected to our partnership with National Taiwan University (NTU). This means you’ll collaborate internationally and contribute to cross-cultural public health or nutrition efforts. These activities will take place during class time, with less than 10 hours of work outside of class time for your James Scholar Completion.

• BLLC (Business Living-Learning Community) Students

If you’re in the Business LLC section, your project focuses on Nutrition Security Initiatives.
You’ll work on real-world activities aimed at helping improve food and nutrition access in your community. These activities will take place during class time, with less than 10 hours of work outside of class time for your James Scholar Completion.

• Online Students (Asynchronous or Remote)

If you’re in one of the online modalities, you get to choose your project pathway from the approved options below and sign up at SPRING 2026 – Use UIUC Email to Sign Up for a James Scholar Option. Online students can choose a topic that fits their schedule and interests. See below for options:

SP26 – Honorary Course Assistant Projects

Nutrition Security Focused Honorary Course Assistant for the BLC section. Ready to trade a traditional research paper for real-world leadership experience? Join Professor Toni Gist “behind the scenes” of the Business LLC section as an Honorary Course Assistant. Instead of just observing, you will help orchestrate immersive “action learning” events—from managing logistics for ARC Cooking Classes and NCAA Tours to facilitating the SNAP Challenge simulation. This unique Honors option allows you to build tangible event management and operational skills while ensuring the success of these dynamic field labs.

Note: To select this hands-on HCLA option, you must be an online student available during the BLC section time on Wednesdays from 3:00 PM – 4:50 PM.

Clinical Focused Honorary Course Assistant Looking to gain leadership experience in a clinical setting? Join Professor Toni Gist “behind the scenes” of the Honors Section as an Honorary Course Assistant. In this role, you will help facilitate the section’s “lab-style” curriculum, moving beyond theory to manage the logistics of high-engagement science. You will assist in running immersive activities like the VR Metabolism Lab, the Digestion Escape Room, and clinical Urinalysis/Hydration testing. This HCLA option is perfect for students wanting to demonstrate operational leadership in health and wellness sciences.

Note: To select this interactive HCLA option, you must be an online student available during the Honors section time on Tuesdays from 4:00 PM – 5:50 PM.

SP26 – Global Roots 2.0: VR Public Health Campaign

This Spring’s James Scholar offering builds on our FA25 Illinois–Mexico collaboration by adding an exciting new component: analyzing VR footage from both countries and working with students in Mexico to help with research with our partners from the Universidad Veracruzana.

To lay cultural groundwork, students will explore VR videos showcasing food, culture, and sustainability in Illinois and Mexico, then team up with partners in Mexico to plan and produce materials focused on chronic disease prevention and sustainable agriculture. Together, the group will work with the vision of Professor Antonio Palma from Mexico, along with Professor Toni Gist from the University of Illinois.

Please note: Spanish-speaking ability and availability Wednesdays from 11-11:45am is required for this James Scholar experience, as all collaboration and content creation will involve bilingual communication.

Note: This option is ideal for online students to demonstrate Spanish proficiency, cultural competency, and a passion for health professions on their resume.

SP26 – Partner with National Taiwan University Students to Co-Create Public Health Campaign Videos

Partner with students from National Taiwan University (NTU) to co-create short, professional public health campaign videos addressing real-world nutrition and wellness challenges. This international collaboration offers a high-impact, resume-ready experience that demonstrates global teamwork, cross-cultural communication, and applied public health skills. All collaboration will take place virtually from 5-5:45pm on select Tuesdays via Google Meet, with flexible independent work time between meetings. Students will engage in content planning, evidence-based messaging, and digital storytelling alongside NTU peers, gaining experience that is highly valued by graduate programs and employers in health, policy, education, and industry.

Note: This experience is limited to the students enrolled in the ExP Honors Section of FSHN 120.

SP26 – Create Impressive Trailer Videos with a Hook

Watch the amazing video above, which was created by one of the prior FSHN team members. James Scholar students are invited to help create updated course trailer videos for FSHN 101 and FSHN 120. Students will collaborate with the instructor to plan, film, and edit short, engaging videos that introduce an overview of chapter concepts while creating a hook to spark student interest in each topic.

High-quality, accessible videos will be published on the course YouTube channel and used in future semesters as part of the instructional experience. This project offers hands-on experience in educational media production, inclusive design, and student-centered communication, and counts toward James Scholar honors credit.

Note: This option is ideal for online students majoring in Media, Marketing, or Communications.

SP26 – SoTL Data Analytics & Visualization

Calling all Informatics and Data Science majors! Apply your analytical skills to real-world educational research by joining Professor Gist’s Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) team. Instead of a standard project, you will dive into course data to uncover trends, create compelling visualizations, and support evidence-based teaching improvements. This high-level opportunity allows you to translate raw numbers into meaningful insights, with the exciting potential to contribute to a professional research publication.

Note: This option is ideal for online students proficient in Excel, Tableau, R, or Python who want to build their research portfolio.

SP26 – Captioning for Inclusion: A DRES Internship Opportunity

There is a need to level the learning field for all individuals. One of the steps to take in health education is to ensure that individuals who need captioning or could merely benefit from captioning can connect with health-related learning materials.  In this unique DRES internship for your James Scholar program, you would be closed captioning a variety of health and wellness-related videos for your peers and individuals beyond UIUC.  If you are majoring in education, any health-related fields, and speech & hearing sciences, this may be a fantastic opportunity to grow your resume. Training is on your own time (2-4 hours at https://canvas.illinois.edu/enroll/Y4WTEK). Training must be completed by February 13th with all hours completed by April 26. After training is completed, scholars can begin the 20 hours of service for the semester. Scholars need to accumulate at least 2 hours of work each week. A student can work more than 2 hours a week and finish their hours early.

[past] FA25 – Global Roots: Illinois-Mexico Educational Video Collaboration Project

The Global Roots: Illinois-Mexico Educational Video Collaboration Project is a dynamic tailored internship experience uniting students from the University of Illinois with peers from Mexico to create a series of informative videos. This cross-cultural partnership aims to explore and educate viewers on two critical topics: the strong correlation between food choices and chronic diseases, and the principles of sustainable agriculture. Participants should be comfortable speaking Spanish and having basic knowledge of Mexican culture, ensuring that the project’s output is culturally authentic and effective. Through shared research and diverse perspectives, the project will produce compelling video content that bridges geographic and cultural gaps, fostering a deeper understanding of global food systems and their impact on health and the environment. This collaborative effort leverages the unique insights of students from both nations to develop engaging and accessible educational resources for a wide audience. Meetings for this experience occur on Wednesdays at 3pm CT through Zoom beginning Wednesday September 10th.

Note: The videos will be showcased with corresponding data at the Undergraduate Research Symposium in Spring 2026.

[past] FA25 – Shared Ground: The Illinois-Mexico VR (Virtual Reality) Video Project

The Shared Ground: The Illinois-Mexico VR Video Project is an innovative internship opportunity partnering with Professor Toni Gist to produce immersive virtual reality content. The project leverages the unique perspectives from both the US and Mexico to document sustainable agriculture farms and the rich food and cultural traditions of Mexican communities. By helping Toni capture footage in Illinois and editing 360-degree footage from both Illinois and Mexico, this initiative aims to transport a global audience directly into these environments, fostering a deeper, more visceral understanding of sustainable practices and cultural heritage. The final VR videos will serve as powerful educational tools, creating a bridge between Illinois and Mexico and offering viewers a truly engaging and unforgettable experience. Video creation and editing will occur at mutually convenient times with Professor Gist and CITL.

Note: The videos will be showcased with corresponding data at the Undergraduate Research Symposium in Spring 2026.

SP26 – A Healthier Campus: Contribute to the Illinois App Redesign

Looking for a flexible opportunity to make an impact? Join this unique experience where you’ll complete bi-weekly tasks on your own schedule to provide valuable input on health and wellness features in the Illinois app. You’ll participate in the human-centered design process as a mobile app user research participant, engaging in activities like answering survey questions, creating narrated screen recordings, and joining Zoom sessions with the Illinois app Design and Research team (scheduled to fit your availability). No prior experience in app design is needed—whether you use the Illinois app frequently, occasionally, or not at all, your feedback is welcome. Don’t miss this chance to influence the future of campus wellness tools! There will be four meeting times throughout the semester with the remainder of the work completed asynchronously. 

[past] FA25 – Inclusive Learning: FSHN Internship for ADA and Title II Revisions

The Inclusive Learning: FSHN Internship for ADA and Title II Revisions is a dedicated opportunity for students to play a critical role in enhancing the accessibility of the Food Science and Human Nutrition department’s course content. Interns will be responsible for meticulously reviewing and providing feedback on educational materials, making necessary revisions to ensure they meet federal ADA and Title II compliance standards. This hands-on experience is vital for promoting an inclusive learning environment, directly impacting how all students, including those with disabilities, engage with and succeed in their coursework. The internship not only provides valuable professional skills but also contributes to the department’s commitment to equitable and accessible education. Meeting times are flexible with individuals working towards the completion of 20 hours total during the semester.

FA25 – Captioning for Inclusion: A DRES Internship Opportunity

There is a need to level the learning field for all individuals. One of the steps to take in health education is to ensure that individuals who need captioning or could merely benefit from captioning can connect with health-related learning materials.  In this unique DRES internship for your James Scholar program, you would be closed captioning a variety of health and wellness-related videos for your peers and individuals beyond UIUC.  If you are majoring in education, any health-related fields, and speech & hearing sciences, this may be a fantastic opportunity to grow your resume. Training is on your own time (2-4 hours at https://canvas.illinois.edu/enroll/Y4WTEK). Training must be completed by September 13th with all hours completed by November 26. After training is completed, scholars can begin the 20 hours of service for the semester. Scholars need to accumulate at least 2 hours of work each week. A student can work more than 2 hours a week and finish their hours early.

Note: If colleges or departments would like to partner with the creation of a unique James Scholar section of FSHN 101 or FSHN 120, reach out to Toni at Burkhalt@Illinois.edu 

Steps to request & complete James Scholar Project: