Kinesiology doctoral student Patrick Wilson has been awarded a Hauge Fellowship for 2013-2014 from the College of Education and Human Development. The $11,500 award recognizes the academic achievement of graduate students enrolled in any department or program in CEHD. Wilson’s advisers are Dr. Stacy Ingraham and Dr. Li Li Ji.
School of Kinesiology hosts inaugural Kinesiology Research Symposium
The School of Kinesiology hosted its first-ever Kinesiology Research Symposium on April 19, in the Aquatics Center Lobby (in the University Recreational Center). This event was designed to spark engagement between the community and students, while highlighting the impressive research taking place in the school. Graduate and undergraduate students created presentations and posters to showcase their work.
A committee of graduate students devised and implemented the event, lead by co-chairs, Reed Steele and Ayanna Franklin. They are joined on the organizing committee by Jessica Albers, Eric Haaland, Maya Hamilton, Karen Heggernes, Jessica Holst, Lana Huberty, John Lisec, and Tianou Zhang.
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Alumna receives NASPSPA Outstanding Student Paper Award
School of Kinesiology alumna Azizah Jor’dan, Ph.D., was recently selected by the North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity (NASPSPA) to receive the Outstanding Student Paper Award in the Developmental Perspectives: Motor Control, Coordination, Rehabilitation (DP:MCCR) topic area. This award recognizes meritorious research by student members of NASPSPA.
As NASPSPA’s 2013 recipient, Jor’dan will be recognized at the annual business meeting during this year’s conference in New Orleans. Along with the distinction of this award, Dr. Jor’dan will receive a plaque, a $350 award, the opportunity to present her research at the Canadian Society of Sport Psychology and Psychomotor Learning (SCAPPS), and funding for her travel to SCAPPS.
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Kinesiology B.S. featured as Learning Abroad Center’s “Major of the Month”
The kinesiology B.S. program is featured as the University of Minnesota’s Learning Abroad Center’s “Major of the Month” for April. Details about the kinesiology undergraduate program are being highlighted in Learning Abroad Center monthly publications and media displays.
Assistant professor Stephen Ross, the School of Kinesiology’s Director of Undergraduate Programs, is quoted in the monthly newsletter. “Studying and living in a different culture will help you see the world from a different perspective,” said Dr. Ross. “Most students return with a different worldview, new perspective on their own communities, and a greater understanding of the true interconnectedness of the globalized society in which we live. Learning abroad not only enhances your awareness of the world and your academic learning, but is also essential to setting yourself apart from the crowd.”
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Gao receives NIH subaward to study exergaming
Dr. Zan Gao, assistant professor in the School of Kinesiology, recently received a National Institute of Health (NIH) subaward totaling from $127,915 over three years from Texas Tech University. Gao secured this three year NIH grant ($432,225) as principal investigator in June 2012 when he was on faculty at Texas Tech University. The project is titled, “Impact of Interactive Video Games on Underserved Children’s Health.” The goal of this project is to determine the effectiveness of an interactive video games intervention in promoting underserved children’s motor skills, perceived competence, physical activity levels, and health-related physical fitness. Gao will continue to oversee the project and coordinate data collection in area public schools.
Kane comments on Brittney Griner’s impact on the WNBA in the New York Times
Professor Mary Jo Kane, School of Kinesiology faculty and director of the Tucker Center, weighs in on Brittney Griner’s future in the WNBA and the kind of influence she is capable of having on the league.
In the article titled, “W.N.B.A. Hopes Griner Can Change Perceptions, as Well as Game Itself,” Kane explains, “A decade ago, W.N.B.A. officials might have been reluctant to celebrate as a standard-bearer of the league someone who did not conform to conventional standards of femininity.” She continues to note, “You cannot ignore her athleticism, and the W.N.B.A. has not tried to isolate or marginalize Griner.”
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Gao publishes in the Asian Journal of Exercise and Sports Science
Dr. Zan Gao, assistant professor in the School of Kinesiology, was co-author on an article in the Asian Journal of Exercise and Sports Science. The article titled “Instructional choices and student engagement in physical education” examines the relationship between instructional choices made by physical education teachers and the level of engagement from students.
Weiss conducts, presents research at Stellenbosch University in South Africa
Maureen Weiss, professor of kinesiology, spent two weeks at the Centre for Human Performance Sciences at Stellenbosch University, South Africa, collaborating with colleagues on physical activity interventions with adolescent girls to promote leadership skills, positive self-perceptions, and healthy behaviors.
Girls and women are marginalized and victimized populations in South Africa, and sport/physical activity connotes a context in which personal and life skills can be taught that can be transferred to academic, family, and community domains.
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Wiese-Bjornstal to speak at the Northland Chapter of the ACSM meeting
Dr. Diane Wiese-Bjornstal, associate professor of kinesiology, will be giving a talk titled, “Sports Medicine Psychology: Psychological and Social Dimensions of Sport Injury.” Wiese-Bjornstal will be giving this talk on Saturday, April 12, at 1:00 p.m. at the Northland Chapter of the American College of Sports Medicine spring tutorial meeting in St.Cloud, MN.
Wilson to publish as lead author in the International Journal of Cardiology
Lead author and kinesiology doctoral student Patrick Wilson, along with kinesiology doctoral student John Fitzgerald, and their advisor Stacy Ingrahm, Ph.D., lecturer in the School Kinesiology, are to publish in the International Journal of Cardiology.
The journal has an impact factor of 7.08 and is the 7th ranked cardiology journal worldwide. The article, “Relationship between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D status and cardiorespiratory fitness: findings from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey,” examined whether serum vitamin D status was predictive of cardiorespiratory fitness amongst healthy individuals in the general population.
Lisec is awarded the Red Pockets Scholarship
John Lisec, School Kinesiology Ph.D. student, was the recipient of the Red Pockets Scholarship. This scholarship is given to University of Minnesota students who are pursing an educational or research based experience as part of their academic or professional track. Lisec received $1,000 which will help support his studying abroad this summer in China. The Red Pockets Scholarship is funded through the University of Minnesota China Center.
LaVoi comments on female coaches in the Daily Chronicle
Dr. Nicole LaVoi, teaching faculty in the School of Kinesiology and associate director of the Tucker Center, weighs in on why there has been an increase in females that participate in sport but a decrease in females coaching.
In the article titled, “As more girls play sports, fewer women have coaching jobs,” LaVoi notes, “When jobs become more desirable and they become better-paid, the men will start infiltrating those jobs and that’s exactly what we’ve seen with coaches of specifically girls basketball.” LaVoi continues to explain that in order to change stereotypes there needs to be more women in powerful positions such as head coaching.
Lewis serves as associate editor in new book
Dr. Beth Lewis, associate professor in the School of Kinesiology, is an associate editor in a new book titled, “American College of Sports Medicine’s Resources for the Health Fitness Specialist.”
Lewis and doctoral student Katie Schuver have also published a chapter, “Theories of Behavior Change,” in the book.
Gao speaks at the National Taiwan Normal University
Dr. Zan Gao, assistant professor in the School of Kinesiology, recently traveled to Taiwan and delivered a presentation at the National Taiwan Normal University in Taipei. Gao presented and discussed research regarding school-based physical activity interventions, such as exergaming. His talk was titled, “Promoting Physical Activity and Health through School-based Exergaming Interventions.”
Brewer, McKinney, and Ruggiero are recognized as outstanding alumni
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CEHD Alumni Relations, along with the CEHD Alumni Society, have highlighted twenty-three outstanding alums as part of the CEHD 23: Rising Alumni initiative. Representing all of CEHD’s eight academic departments, these alumni have achieved early distinction in their careers, demonstrated outstanding leadership, or shown exceptional volunteer service in their communities.
Of the twenty three alumni recognized, three are graduates from the School of Kinesiology: Jack Brewer, Alex McKinney, and Angela Ruggiero.
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Maturi and Turman lecture in China
Joel Maturi, former Gopher athletics director and School of Kinesiology adjunct instructor, and Jim Turman, Ph.D., Director of Recreational Sports, recently returned from a 10-day tour in China. They each gave a lecture at the American Sport Cultural Center at the Tianjin University of Sport (TUS). Maturi’s lecture was titled, “The College Way: Athletics at American Institutions of Higher Learning,” and Turman’s talk was titled, “Recreation Sports in American Universities.”
In Shanghai, they visited Jiao Tong University, and spoke on their respective topics. Additionally, they attended the International Forum of Sports and Physical Education, which was organized by the Shanghai Higher Education Commission.
Pictures from their trip are posted to Flickr, along with galleries from other School of Kinesiology delegation visits to the American Cultural Center for Sport.
Kihl’s work with MLB highlighted in CEHD’s Vision 2020 blog
Lisa Kihl, Ph.D., associate professor of kinesiology, is featured in the CEHD’s Vision 2020 blog for her work as a consultant with Major League Baseball’s Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) program.
RBI is a Major League Baseball initiative with the mission to increase urban and inner city youth participation in baseball and softball by re-introducing, reviving and rebuilding America’s pastime in underserved, inner-city communities. Since 1989, RBI has grown from a local program for boys in South Central Los Angeles to an international campaign encompassing more than 200 cities with as many as 200,000 boys and girls participating each year.
Kipp and Weiss publish on youth physical activity and well-being
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Lindsay Kipp, lecturer at University of Kentucky (Ph.D., 2012, Univeristy of Minnesota), and Maureen Weiss, professor of Kinesiology, published two papers on sport and physical activity as a context for promoting psychological well-being among youth. The refereed article, “Social influences, psychological need satisfaction, and well-being among female adolescent gymnasts,” describes a theory-driven study in which girls’ perceptions of their relationships with coaches and teammates were strongly associated with self-esteem, positive affect, and disordered eating. Perceptions of competence, autonomy, and relatedness served as mediators of this relationship.
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Buysse cited in The Atlantic
The research of 
Jo Ann Buysse, Ph.D., sport management undergraduate coordinator and lecturer in the School of Kinesiology, was recently mentioned in an article in The Atlantic titled, “People Talk About Brittney Griner Like She’s a Basketball Player, Because She Is.” The article highlights the longitudinal work of Buysse (and colleague Melissa Sheridan Embser-Herbert of Hamline) on the photographic portrayals of college athletes in print media guides.
The article uses Buysse and Embser-Herbert’s research as a reminder that, just a few years ago, “universities were still putting a disturbing amount of effort into ‘feminizing’ their women athletes and portraying them as ‘ladies.’ One media guide they evaluated even put its women’s basketball team on the cover in formal gowns with heavy makeup and styled hair.”
Allison discusses buyouts of college coaches’ contracts on evening news
Rayla Allison, J.D., associate director and lecturer in the School of Kinesiology, appeared in a recent KARE 11 segment on contract buyouts in Division I sports. Specifically, Allison commented on the firing of Tubby Smith as the University of Minnesota men’s basketball coach and the buyout of his contract for $2.5 million.
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