Dr. Renata Endres joined the University of Illinois Department of Recreation, Sport, and Tourism (RST) as a teaching assistant professor in August 2022. She holds a joint appointment with the Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics (ACE). Previously, Dr. Endres was an instructor for both departments. Originally from Croatia, she received her Master of Economics from the University of Rijeka in 2007 and her PhD from the University of Ljubljana Faculty of Economics (Slovenia) in 2015. Prior to joining the University of Illinois, Dr. Endres held an appointment at the Faculty of Tourism & Hospitality Management, Department of Public Finance, with the University of Rijeka.

Dr. Endres teaches Finance & Budgeting in RST, Intermediate Applied Microeconomics, Natural Resource Economics, and is a co-instructor for the Experiencing Agritourism course in the new Agritourism Management certificate program. She also leads a study abroad program to Croatia focused on recreation and tourism economics. Her current research efforts explore sustainable tourism initiatives as a form of economic development, especially in the context of agritourism and food-based tourism. Personally, Dr. Endres loves exploring new places with her family whether they are across the globe or close to home.