Lilly Tira is a Senior majoring in LAS Individual Plan of Study (IPS) with minors in Dance, Religion, and Jewish Culture and Society. The IPS Lilly designed is titled “International Culture Studies”.
I first transferred to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign as an anthropology major during my sophomore year. I was excited to finally be an Illini after growing up just down the road from campus. I chose to major in anthropology and minor in dance when I transferred, knowing I wanted to study global cultures and to find a career in an internationally focused field. After a few months in the anthropology program, I realized that it was not the right fit for me. I wanted to dig deeper into cultural research, specifically focusing on Eastern European countries. Given my niche field of study, I met with an advisor for the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (LAS) in the spring to discuss an Individual Plan of Study (IPS), a unique path offered by the college. This sounded like a great option for me, allowing me to mix my passion for Slavic cultural studies, religion, and dance. I needed a faculty member to support my IPS proposal, so I reached out to Maureen Marshall at the Russian, East European, and Eurasian Center (REEEC) and now the Deputy Director of the Illinois Global Institute (IGI). She agreed to support me as an advisor if I agreed to study a Less Commonly Taught language and apply for a Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowship.
The following fall semester, my junior year, I began Bosnian-Croatian-Serbian (BCS) courses under Professor Renata Endres. After a year of intensive study and long hours teaching myself an entirely new language, I applied for a FLAS fellowship and was awarded a full summer intensive language program in Bosnia. I was so excited to travel abroad and live in another country for the summer, but unfortunately due to circumstances out of my control, I was not able to study abroad. I reapplied for BCS language programs, of which there were very few. American Councils, a language institute, offered me a 10 week, 3 hours a day, individual BCS program in the summer of 2025, which I accepted. Every day, I met with my wonderful instructor Sandra Branković, despite our 7-hour time difference. We became close, naturally, and she helped me grow my BCS language skills immeasurably. With the approval of David Cooper and Peter Wright of the Slavic Languages and Literatures department, I was able to continue my BCS study personally with Sandra for my third -year course. I am so thankful to Sandra, American Councils, REEEC and the Slavic Department for supporting me in my BCS language study.
While BCS is a major part of my academic journey, I also worked very closely with the religion department. My sophomore year, I took courses in Hinduism, Islam and Judaism, forming a close relationship with Professor Dov Weiss of Religion. He also has supported me in attaining my FLAS fellowship as well as furthering my knowledge in religious studies. Professor Weiss and Professor Anastasiia Strakhova have opened up many opportunities for me and have helped me with requirements to gain another minor in Jewish Culture and Society.
The dance department in the College of Fine & Applied Arts (FAA) has also been wonderful in supporting my academic career. Professor Betsy Brandt and Professor John Toenjes have allowed me to further my research in Serbian modern dance, encouraging me to present my research in the Undergraduate Research Symposium. I am so grateful for the accommodations and assistance that Dance at Illinois has provided for me.
In addition to my studies, I held several student worker positions. I started working in the dean’s office at the College of Education in summer of 2023. In the summers of 2024 and 2025, I worked for REEEC as a summer research lab assistant, helping host scholars at U of I during their time using our incredible Slavic Reference Service through the Library. I also worked as a children’s event coordination through REEEC and hosted an event for children of scholars at Orchard Downs, the university’s graduate and family housing complex. Now, I work under Maureen Marshall in IGI, assisting in communication and affiliate faculty affairs. I cannot thank everyone enough for creating these opportunities for me, taking me in and allowing me to form connections with graduate students, staff, and faculty.
Lastly, my biggest accomplishment of college would be maintaining my dance teaching job alongside my untraditional academic experience. I have had the pleasure of spending the past three plus years teaching recreational and coaching competitive dance each weeknight and Saturday. I love my job, the girls, and dance so dearly, and it has been such an honor working in the studio that I grew up in. I am so thankful for this job, each night getting to a studio full of love. I am so grateful that I was blessed with the opportunity to continue teaching, choreographing, dancing, and laughing with my students/friends each night (and most weekends!).
I cannot begin to thank all the professors enough for getting to know me, learning my story, for accommodating and working with me. I have the most amazing support system in my family and best friends who have been so encouraging when I felt like I made a wrong decision with a class, an assignment, or even with my major. I know I am prepared for whatever comes my way because of all the skills I've attained these past four years.