Rachel Loftus, HeRoP Lab alum, is this year’s University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign recipient of the Jerome D. Fellman Award. The award recognizes her senior thesis work on measuring the impact of public libraries across multiple community-level social determinants of health, from education to health resources, social cohesion, and more. Her work helps towards contributing new understandings of how place resources, like libraries, influence community health.

This did not come as a complete surprise to the rest of us here in the HeRoP Lab, as earlier this year the American Association of Geographers also awarded Rachel the 2026 Marble-Boyle Undergraduate Achievement Award, which honors excellence in academic performance by undergraduate students from the U.S. and Canada who are putting forth a strong effort to bridge geographic science and computer science as well as to encourage other students to embark upon similar programs.

Our Research Coordinator, Marc Astacio-Palmer, noted that “From the moment we first began working together, Rachel has consistently blown me away. It came at no surprise to me that others would come to recognize how awesome she is in her pursuits.”

Rachel earned her BS in Geography & GIS with a minor in computer science in December 2025. Her work at HeRoP involved project dissemination across social media, organization of lab events and symposia, and preservation of research materials. As her duties increased, she began contributing to lab publications. Her research interests covered a range of topics, including nuclear weapons political history, the public library/community health nexus, and applied spatial analysis.

The Jerome D. Fellman Award honors—and is named after—Dr. Jerome D. Fellman, who spent over 50 years contributing to geographical research and education at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. After completing his PhD, he arrived in Champaign-Urbana in 1950 where he spent the remainder of his life and career. His contributions to UIUC’s undergraduate education in the Department Geography & GIS are honored annually through this award, which is given to a graduating senior in geography who has written an honors paper rated superior.

Rachel’s current professional experience certainly builds on the training she received at the University of Illinois. She most recently worked as a GIS Technician with Michael Baker International, where she digitized and maintained indoor safety asset maps. This built on her work there as an intern, where she collected the spatial data integral to the creation of these maps. Outside of her work, Rachel serves on the Education Committee of the Illinois GIS Association, helping to promote and retain student engagement in GIS. As she looks toward the next chapter of her career, Rachel is excited to find her next opportunity to apply her expertise in geography and GIS, continue growing as a professional and a researcher, and make an impact through her work.

When asked to share a quote on this experience, Rachel had this to say:

I’m just so grateful that I found the chance to grow and to flourish in geography. I actually dropped out of college in 2021, so finishing my bachelor’s degree last December was a pivotal moment in my life. That I’ve had so many opportunities to build upon my coursework, pursue my research passions, and continue my work have all been cherries on top. I’ve gotten to work with interdisciplinary professionals, improve my research skills, and travel across the country to present at conferences. How cool is that?!

Rachel’s academic accomplishments and lived experience tell an inspiring story of resilience and dedication. Her drive to overcome challenges and continue moving forward is evident in her work, and has been recognized time and time again. Please join us in wishing Rachel a congratulations on her amazing accomplishments, and a bright future ahead!