Laura Rice, PhD

Director

Email: ricela@illinois.edu

Dr. Laura Rice is an Associate Professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Community Health at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She is also a Program Director of CARD (Collaborations in the Advancement of Research on Disability). She received her PhD in Rehabilitation Science and Technology from the University of Pittsburgh in 2010 and a Master’s degree in Physical Therapy from Duquesne University in 2004. Professor Rice’s research interests are in the area of disability and health. She is specifically interested in the prevention of secondary impairments associated with disability to maximize quality of life and community participation among wheelchair users. A related interest is in examining education techniques to enhance functional mobility, prevent the development of secondary impairments and effective utilization of assistive technology to promote health and well-being among individuals with disabilities.

Carrie Wennerdahl

Email:

Carrie Wennerdahl began her role as CARD Coordinator in September of 2023. She graduated from Eastern Illinois University in 2022 with a Bachelor’s in Community Health focusing on Aging Studies. She is currently working towards a Master’s in Health Promotion from Eastern Illinois University. She has over 30 years’ professional experience in social services, direct healthcare, and healthcare coordination working primarily with older adults and adults with disabilities. She also serves as Coordinator for Collaborations in Health, Aging, Research, and Technology (CHART) and Research Coordinator for the Center on Health, Aging, and Disability (CHAD) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Her research interests include the benefits of exercise in aging, aging with disabilities, aging-in-place, and Age-Friendly communities.