Now in veterinary school at U of I, animal lover Jacob Dalen got his start in the Department of Animal Sciences' pre-vet track, and minored in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences. This week's 5 Questions Friday looks back at Dalen's time at ACES.

Where did you grow up? Do you have an agriculture background? If so, what did that look like?

URBANA, Ill. – Lifelong beef production devotee Doug Parrett was technically retired from the University of Illinois, but the emeritus professor never stopped showing up for the Department of Animal Sciences, the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES), or the beef industry. Still an active teacher, mentor, and friend to many, Parrett passed away unexpectedly on August 26, 2022. He was 71.

URBANA, Ill. – Tim Lecher, the assistant director of facilities, operations and planning in agricultural and biological engineering, is one of eight civil service employees recognized for exceptional performance by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Where did you grow up? Do you have an agriculture background? If so, describe.

I grew up in Sterling, Illinois on a 14-acre farmette where there was always a new project to do.  My involvement in 4-H (local club, county ambassadors, and federation officers) kept me busy, and I loved assisting with our Farm Bureau’s Ag in the Classroom program. My summers consisted of hog shows, and my brother and I even raised popcorn to sell to our community!

URBANA, Ill. – There’s a lot of history in the iconic Stock Pavilion on the University of Illinois’ South Quad. Now, thanks to one family’s love for the space and another family’s personal ties to a very famous steer, a piece of history will welcome visitors to the Stock Pavilion forever.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — A new study examines how Americans acquired food at various points during the COVID-19 pandemic, and how those activities changed over time as case numbers fluctuated and vaccines became available.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Black adolescents who lived in poverty and were less optimistic about the future showed accelerated aging in their immune cells and were more likely to have elevated insulin resistance at ages 25-29, researchers found.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — An individualized diet program that empowers users to create their own plan based on targeted levels of protein and fiber shows promise at helping people lose extra pounds and keep them off.

The Individualized Diet Improvement Program is a self-guided approach that involves easy-to-use tools, according to the nutritionists at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign who created iDip.

Champaign, Ill. – Poor nutrition coupled with living in a chaotic household environment may negatively affect young children’s executive functioning, the higher order cognitive skills that govern memory, attention and emotional control, researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign found.

Professor of Agricultural and Consumer Economics (ACE) Madhu Khanna has been named the Alvin H. Baum Family Chair and Director of the Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Khanna, who has served as iSEE’s Interim Director since 2020, assumes the role on July 16, pending the approval of the Board of Trustees.