Meet the Instructors
Director and Manager
Bob McGrew
Assistant Director of Campus Recreation - Adventure Recreation
Since the Fall of 1982 I have been working full time in the field of Outdoor recreation with the Adventure Recreation Program at the University of Illinois. During these few years of being in the out-of-doors with a variety of students and patrons we have seen and explored many of the country’s great backcountry areas. Through backpacking, canoeing, sea kayaking, biking, cross country skiing and/or camping we have experienced the Wind River Range in Wyoming, the Appalachian Trail in the Great Smokey Mountains, the Green River in Utah, the snow of the Upper Midwest and Canada, the waters of the Florida Everglades, and many other outdoor wonders. In May of 2009, as Adventure Recreation continues forward, we will be hiking the scenic trails down in the Grand Canyon on our 27th backpack trip. Adventure on!
Favorite Back Country Meal: Pop-tart for breakfast warmed up under your arm.
Favorite Backcountry Location: The Boundary Waters of Quetico and Northern Minnesota
Favorite Activity: Canoeing
Photo: Canoeing down the wild and scenic Middle Fork River in Illinois.
Tzlil Perahia
Facility Manager - Adventure Recreation
An organic chemist by training, I am currently pursuing a teaching degree at UIUC. I currently instruct all the rock climbing segments of KIN 100 and RST 199 courses.
I have been rock climbing for going on 8+ years on the east coast at the Gunks in NY, Rumney in NH, Looking Glass Rock in NC, and T-Wall in Tennessee to name a few. I mostly climb traditionally, but have been known to clip bolts now and then. In the past I have worked as an instructor and route setter at Boston University’s Barecca Climbing Wall.
Favorite Backcountry Meal: Stir fried tuna with Vidalia onions, green and red peppers, mushrooms, and tomato sauce all with 9-grain bread.
Favorite Climbing Location: Cathedral Ledge, NH
Favorite Rock Type: Granite and Gneiss
Photo: Jungle Beat 5.9+, Red River Gorge, KY
Adventure Recreation Instructors
Molly Haneberg
Adventure Recreation Instructor
I started climbing outdoors in the fall of 2007 and quickly became addicted. I adventure down to southern Illinois as much as possible on the weekends to camp and climb at Jackson Falls. Outside of Illinois, I have climbed at Red River, KY and Looking Glass, NC but plan on expanding that list very soon.
Favorite Back Country Meal: Gram crackers. Marshmallows. Chocolate.
School Status: Junior in Anthropology and Integrative Biology
Photo: Looking Glass, North Carolina
Kerri Henderson
Adventure Recreation Instructor
I am currently a sophomore working toward a degree in bioengineering. I hope to specialize in prosthetics (artificial limbs, organs, etc.). I got hooked on climbing in 5th grade on a field trip to Devil's Lake, but I also enjoy many other outdoor activities like snowboarding, scuba diving, kayaking, windsurfing, and camping, especially in the mountains.
Favorite Back Country Meal: My favorite camp breakfast before a day of exploring is pan-fried potatoes and onions with Spam!
Jeffery Kramer
Adventure Recreation Instructor
I've been climbing for 10 years, and in that time have instructed in Iowa, New Mexico, and Illinois. I enjoy the puzzle-solving involved in trad climbing, being a law student, and (with the sole exception of knee-boarding) every outdoor activity that I've yet tried.
Favorite Location: Moab is the weirdest and most awe-inspiring landscape that I've ever climbed in; it is worth exploring.
Favorite Fruit: Pomegranites
Photo: Vermillion River, outside Kickapoo State Park, IL.
Annie Mergen
Adventure Recreation Instructor
I started climbing two years ago with the UIUC climbing club to meet new people and get some exercise but quickly became addicted to climbing. I’ve mostly climbed in southern Illinois so I love climbing slab. But I really like every kind of climbing that I’ve done. I was able to climb bit while studying abroad last year in Argentina also.
Favorite Backcountry Meal: peanut butter and jelly and smores
Favorite Climbing Location: Jackson Falls, Southern Illinois
Andy Pukniel
Adventure Recreation Instructor
6 years of climbing experience. Bouldering, sport, trad, mountaineering, and soon ice-climbing and big walling. Have climbed in nearly 50 different climbing locations mostly in the US, with few in Mexico, Canada, and Poland. I'm still a boulderer at heart, but want to be very versatile.
Favorite Backcountry Meal: Polish Sausage Kabobs
Favorite Climbing Location: Hard to decide. Wherever there is clean, solid rock.
Favorite Rock Type: Bullet Hard Sandstone
Sean Reynolds
Adventure Recreation Instructor
I have been climbing for around 9 years. I also climbed competitively for around 4 years. I was a former member of USA Climbing, a National competitive rock climbing association. I prefer sport climbing and bouldering.
Favorite Location: The Red River Gorge, KY
Favorite Back Country Meal: 100% whole wheat bread
Photo: Red River Gorge, KY
Nicholas Rubin
Adventure Recreation Instructor
I have been climbing for about three years all around northern California. I started with a lot of bouldering and still spend most of my rock climbing time at the bouldering walls. My favorite indoor climbing spots are Planet Granite Sunnyvale and touchstone San Jose(RIP). Despite starting as a hardcore boulder junky, I've slowly seen the light and started sport climbing.
Favorite Gyms: Touchstone Bouldering - San Jose, CA; Iron Works - Berkeley, CA; Planet Granite - Sunnyvale/Belmont/San Fransisco, CA
Favorite Type of Climbing: Long overhangs
Photo: V5 on the fishbowl at Touchstone San Jose,CA.
Kevin Sierzega
Adventure Recreation Instructor
I'm into my second year of climbing. I love sport climbing for the athleticism involved, but enjoy multi-pitch trad climbing the most. I especially prefer crack over eyebrows!
Favorite Location: The Red River Gorge, KY and Red Rock Canyon, NV
Favorite Rock Type: Bullet hard sandstone
Photo: Top of Looking Glass Rock, NC
Matt Thorum
Adventure Recreation Instructor
I am a 4th year Chemistry Ph.D. student. I grew up in Utah and climbed a few times, but really got hooked about 2 years ago after moving to IL.
Favorite Type of Climbing: I prefer mountaineering and long days of easy climbing in a variety of styles (scrambling, traditional rock climbing, ice climbing, snow/glacier walking).
Favorite Rock Type: Sandstone or Granite
Photo: Looking Glass Rock, NC