CEHD honors five School of Kinesiology alumni

April 21, 2015

The College of Education and Human Development Alumni Society has selected it’s annual docket of Rising Alumni. Five School of Kinesiology alumni were acknowledged including Azizah Jor’dan, Nicole LaVoi, Christopher Schulz, Caitlin Sweet, and Terrance Jordan. This recognition is given to CEHD alumni who have achieved early distinction in their careers, demonstrated emerging leadership, or shown exceptional volunteer service in their communities.

Dr. Jor’dan earned a B.S., M.A., and Ph.D. in Kinesiology and is now a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Harvard Medical School. Dr. LaVoi earned her M.A. and Ph.D. in Kinesiology at the University of Minnesota where she is currently a Senior Lecturer and Associate Director for the Tucker Center for Research on Girls and Women in Sport in the School of Kinesiology. Mr. Schulz earned his B.S. in Sport Management and now maintains the position of Executive Director of Active Kids Association of Sport. Ms. Sweet earned a B.S. in Kinesiology at the University of Minnesota, D.PT. at Northwestern University, and presently holds the title of Physical Therapist for the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. Mr. Jordan earned a B.S. in Kinesiology and M.A. in Educational Psychology at the University of Minnesota. He is completing his Ph.D in Counseling Psychology at Georgia State University.

The awardees will be formally recognized at a special event later this month.

Wiese-Bjornstal discusses how coaches’ approach to injuries is shifting

April 21, 2015

Associate professor Diane Wiese-Bjornstal, was mentioned in a Minnesota Daily article, “Coaches’ role addressing injuries shifts with times.” The article provides a brief summary of Dr. Wiese-Bjornstal’s presentation at Friday’s 2015 Women Coaches Symposium sponsored by the Tucker Center. Dr. Wiese-Bjornstal discusses her research, describing how an athlete’s surroundings plays a role in handling injuries as well as how addressing an athlete’s injury has changed over time. She stated, “The culture of sport we have now, especially at the more elite levels, seems to overemphasize performance and underemphasize health.”

Results of Dr. Wiese-Bjornstal’s research suggest that fewer injuries happen within a positive and open team culture and when a player continues to be an active participant in the team’s culture despite being injured. Some University of Minnesota coaches are engaging in this practice and Dr. Wiese-Bjornstal is continuing to advocate for the education of coaches to monitor their injured athletes.

Kin PhD Andrew White presents research at regional AASP conference

April 21, 2015

Andrew White, Kinesiology PhD student, presented his pre-dissertation research at the Midwest Regional Conference for the Association for Applied Sport Psy chology (AASP) at Minnesota State University-Mankato on March 28, 2015. His address was titled, “‘No flag on the play’: Using behavioral modification to reduce injuries in youth football.” Mr. White is advised by Dr. Diane Wiese-Bjornstal, associate professor of sport and exercise psychology.

Ji to give prestigious lecture at SDSU

April 21, 2015

FullSizeRender(1) Li Li Ji, Ph.D., professor and director of the School of Kinesiology and Laboratory of Physiological Hygiene and Exercise Science (LPHES), will give South Dakota State University’s Lardy Distinguished Lecture in Chemistry on April 22 and 24. The Lardy Distinguished Lecture Series in Chemistry was established through a grant provided by SDSU alum Dr. Henry Lardy. Dr. Lardy was a US Academy of Science member and Director of Institute for Enzyme Research where Ji was mentored by him during his doctoral work and postdoctoral training. The purpose of the series is to bring to the SDSU campus outstanding biological scientists, who have made significant contributions.

Ji gave a public lecture to general audience to SDSU community titled, “Exercise is medicine: The role of free radicals and antioxidants,” and a second lecture in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry titled, “Role of redox signaling in the consequences of muscle activity and inactivity”.

Click here to learn more.

Ross interviewed by ABC5 EYEWITNESS NEWS on future of Minnesota United

April 10, 2015

Stephen Ross, Ph.D., associate professor and director of undergraduate programs, was interviewed by ABC 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS on the future of Major League Soccer (MLS) team Minnesota United.

Though Minnesota United has been recently awarded an MLS franchise, Dr. Ross stated that “whether there is a public-private partnership, or if the owners fund the new soccer stadium themselves, it has to be a concrete financial deal , or the MLS will move to another city.” Ultimately, “if the funding mechanism is not in place, at some point, the MLS will separate themselves from the Wilfs and the new Vikings stadium.”

In the interview, Ross observed that MLS could leave Minneapolis before playing one game here, if the funding package does not come through.

Ji delivers two invited lectures abroad

April 10, 2015

Li Li Ji, Ph.D., director of the School of Kinesiology and director of the Laboratory of Physiological Hygiene and Exercise Science, has recently delivered two lectures abroad.

At the invitation of Seoul National University, Dr. Ji organized a symposium of “Mitochondrial Biogenesis” and gave a speech entitled “Role of redox signaling in mitochondrial biogenesis and degradation.” The speech was presented on April 2, 2015 at the International Cancer Research Conference held in South Korea.

Invited by Shanghai Sport University, Dr. Ji delivered a lecture entitled “Redox signaling in the pathogenesis of muscle immobilization” on March 31, 2015.

Physical Activity Epidemiology Laboratory celebrates grand opening

April 10, 2015

The Physical Activity Epidemiology Laboratory, (PAEL), celebrated its grand opening in Williamson Hall on Wednesday, April 8.

The lab is located in 310 Williamson Hall, the former location of the model railroad club.

Lab director Zan Gao, Ph.D., and his research team moved into the new lab in February. Immediately after the set-up of the equipment, they have initiated a lab-based project titled “Effects of Exergaming on College Students’ Physiological and Psychosocial Outcomes” from late March. This project was designed to determine the impact of different exergaming activities on college students’ physical activity levels, heart rates, blood pressure, motion sickness, and perceived exertion, as well as various psychosocial variables (situational motivation, situational interest, mood, self-efficacy and enjoyment) as compared to traditional treadmill exercise.

Thus far, Gao’s team has tested over 20 college students, including all the China Champions, in the lab.

Learn more about the lab’s equipment here.

Kinesiology M.S. student Ashley Watkins publishes in Journal of Pediatrics

April 6, 2015

M.S. student Ashley Watkins, B.A/B.S. (Kinesiology, 2013), is the lead author of an article recently published in The Journal of Pediatrics entitled “Childhood wrist circumference is not a predictor of insulin resistance in adulthood.” Ms. Watson conducted the study as part of her KIN 3993 Directed Studies experience as an undergraduate. Donald R. Dengel, Ph.D., kinesiology professor and director of the Laboratory of Integrative Human Physiology in the School of Kinesiology, is Ms. Watson’s adviser and a co-author of the article.

Konczak and colleagues patent robotic rehabilitation technology

March 31, 2015

Professor and director of the Human Sensorimotor Control Laboratory Jürgen Konczak, along with four colleagues from Nanyang Technical University of Singapore and the Italian Institute of Technology in Genoa, Italy, have been named inventors in a recent patent that concerns robotic rehabilitation technology developed at these three institutions.

The technology consists of a robotic device to train and evaluate wrist movements. Patients with motor problems of the hand/wrist will use this device during their rehabilitation. The device has its own motors and an array of sensors that allows patients to feel and IMG_2144_BG_Black

experience virtual haptic objects, or to provide assistive forces to the patient to guide and shape impaired wrist movements.

In some training modules, like shown in the picture to the right, vision and hearing is blocked. Here patients will go through exercises that focus on improving the “feeling” or awareness of movement with the ultimate goal of improving motor function.

Buysse leads first-year students to Rome and Florence to study Sport Culture in Italy

March 30, 2015

Dr. Jo Ann Buysse, Kinesiology senior lecturer in socio-cultural aspects of sport and
physical activity, spent spring break leading a group of U of M freshmen on a First Year Seminar Learning Abroad course, Sport Culture in Italy. Students exploring Kinesiology and Carlson School of Management degree programs left March 13 for nine days in Rome and a day trip to Florence, with guided site visits to the Colosseum and the Roman Forum; the sports complex Foro Italico; Stadio Olimpic; and the archaeological site, Ostia Antica. The group visited the Italian sports club Serie A Soccer team S. S. Lazio’s training facilities, touring the grounds and meeting with marketing and media staff. Students also visited PalaLottomatica (the 1960 Olympics basketball arena), met Olympic diver Maria Marconi, and attended the AS Roma vs. Sampdoria soccer game at Stadio Olimpico.

Gao named to editorial board of international journal

March 30, 2015

Assistant professor Zan Gao, Ph.D., and director of the Physical Activity Epidemiology Lab (PAEL), was named to the editorial board of the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity (IJNPA).

IJNPA is the official journal of the International Society of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity (ISBNPA), with an impact factor of 3.68. A scholarly, multi-disciplinary, online journal, it is devoted to the promotion of understanding behavioral aspects of physical activity and diet.

To see the full editorial board, click here.

Dr. Beth Lewis quoted in The Atlantic

March 25, 2015

Dr. Beth Lewis, Ph.D., associate professor in the School of Kinesiology, was quoted in a recent article in The Atlantic. The article, “The Fitness Guru of the Trucking Industry,” details a man’s experience as a truck driver, a historically unhealthy profession. After gaining significant weight and trying just about everything to take it off, the driver, Siphiwe Baleka, developed a fitness program for his fellow colleagues. Lewis is cited as reference for the credibility of his methodology: “You have to get creative, work with what’s available to you, and tailor an exercise program to your lifestyle,” Lewis said.

Read the complete article here.

Wiese-Bjornstal discusses social benefits of team sports in Minnesota Hockey

March 24, 2015

Playing sports and being on a team can have many positive effects on a young person’s social growth. In a recent article in the online publication Minnesota Hockey, Diane Wiese-Bjornstal, Ph.D., associate professor of sport and exercise psychology, describes six social benefits kids can experience as members of a hockey team. Sport friendship, motivation, cohesion, leadership, team identification, and free play all can help a child grow in important ways socially as well as physically, says Dr. Wiese-Bjornstal. Go here to read the complete article.

Barr-Anderson featured as a panelist on “Healthy Out-of-School Time” webinar

March 18, 2015

Dr. Daheia Barr-Anderson Assistant professor Dr. Daheia Barr-Anderson, Ph.D., was a panelist on a recent webinar, “Supporting OST (Outside of School Time) Organizations in Low-Income Communities,” hosted by the Alliance for a Healthier Generation.

Conclusions and advise from all three national experts on the panel are available on the Alliance for a Healthier Generation blog.

Hoffman, Maples present at 2015 Tate Conference

March 12, 2015

Brandi Hoffman (Director of the Physical Activity and Academic, Personal, and Professional Success Programs) and Alyssa Maples (Academic Advisor) presented at the 2015 Tate Conference . Hoffman and Maples were joined by CEHD advisor Don Riley in their presentation, “Toolkit for Success: Developing Academic, Personal, and Professional Success at the U of M.”

The CEHD APPS program was developed 18109_10152645357032441_1611673479307362286_n and launched by Hoffman, with Riley and Maples as regular instructors. The program features 1-credit courses, ranging in topic from effective interviewing to preparing for graduate school, all focused on student success now and after graduation.

The Tate Conference is an annual professional development opportunity for advisors and student service professionals and an occasion to celebrate the role of advising on all University of Minnesota campuses.

CHINA CHAMPIONS visit new new Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine Center

March 12, 2015

On March 10, the CHINA CHAMPIONS program participants toured the new Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine Center at Mayo Clinic Square and Minnesota Timberwolves & Lynx training facilities. The tour was arranged by Chris Wright, President of the Timberwolves & Lynx.

The CHINA CHAMPIONS will also attend the Timberwolves’ April 13 game against New Orleans and take a behind the scenes tour of the Target Center prior to the contest.

CHINA CHAMPIONS lunch with Governor Dayton at residence

March 12, 2015

On April 24, the University of Minnesota CHINA CHAMPIONS were luncheon guests of Governor Mark Dayton at his St. Paul residence. Also attending were Minnesota Office of Higher Education Commissioner Larry Pogemiller, his wife Jill Griffiths, a member of the U of MN China Center Advisory Board, professor Li Li Ji, Director of the School of Kinesiology, and Sandy Wang, a doctoral student serving as the secretary of the CHINA CHAMPIONS Program (CCP).

Governor Dayton expressed a great interest in the CCP and chatted with the athletes about their educational experiences at the University of Minnesota and lives in the Twin Cities. Dayton shared fond memories with the group of his seven previous visits to China, as well as photos and souvenirs from these trips.

Van Iterson awarded Best in Abstracts Scholarship from American Thoracic Society

March 11, 2015

Erik Van Iterson, a doctoral candidate under the mentorship of assistant professor Eric Snyder, Ph.D., has received the prestigious Best in Abstracts Scholarship award from the American Thoracic Society.

He will attend and present three oral presentations based on work conducted in Dr. Snyder’s Clinical Exercise Physiology Laboratory at the American Thoracic Society International Conference in Denver, CO, this spring.

Inoue to publish article on sport and disaster relief

March 6, 2015

A paper led by assistant professor Yuhei Inoue, Ph.D., has been published in Disaster Prevention and Management: An International Journal. The article, “Sport and disaster relief: A content analysis,” explores disaster relief activities implemented by high-profile sport organizations and athletes through a content analysis of news stories published between 2001 and 2011. The results identify 11 different forms of such activities, revealing the extensiveness and uniqueness of sport’s contribution to post-disaster recovery.

The full reference is as follows:

Inoue, Y., & Havard, C.T. (in press). Sport and disaster relief: A content analysis. Disaster Prevention and Management: An International Journal.

APAL alumni, Jor’dan and Chen, to publish

March 3, 2015

A paper, “Dementia alters standing postural adaptation during a visual search task in older adult men,” has been accepted for publication in Neuroscience Letters with Dr. Azizah Jor’dan as the lead author.

Dr. Chen Fu Chen’s paper, “Perception of object length via manual wielding in children with and without developmental coordination disorder,” has been accepted for publication in Journal of Motor Behavior.

Both Dr. Jor’dan and Dr. Chen are recent doctoral graduates of the School of Kinesiology and the Affordance Perception-Action Laboratory (APAL) and were advised by Dr. Michael Wade.

CEHD News Kinesiology

CEHD News Kinesiology