Welcome to our summer 2017 Department of Kinesiology newsletter. It is packed with news and information about graduate and undergraduate academic programs, students, faculty, research and alumni.
It has been my pleasure to serve as department head for the past three years. After 20 years with the department, I am both amazed and thrilled to see the growth and positive changes that have occurred in the department. We have truly extraordinary faculty committed to providing our nearly 700 undergraduate and 40+ graduate students with an excellent education. Our faculty’s research seeks to discover new knowledge related to physical activity and health and translate this knowledge to improve people’s lives. Both faculty and students are creative and industrious as they successfully work together to achieve this goal. Continue reading “From our department head”
Carl Ade, assistant professor in the kinesiology department and member of the Johnson Cancer Research Center, earned his doctorate in physiology from K-State’s College of Veterinary Medicine. Upon graduating, Ade joined the faculty at the University of Oklahoma in 2013 and began studying the peripheral vascular responses to exercise in cancer survivors previously treated with adjuvant chemotherapy. While at the University of Oklahoma, he became a member of the Stephenson Cancer Center.
Commonly known as the Trasey Twins, Michelle Stirewalt-Hutton and Kristie Stirewalt-Winter are co-owners of TwinFitness, a female-centered, private personal training studio in Overland Park, Kansas. Founded in 2003, TwinFitness has a goal of inspiring every woman to be her very best. From their two locations and alongside their 13 employees, Hutton and Winter offer comprehensive personal training, nutrition coaching and preparation for fitness, figure and bikini competitions.
BJ Lehecka, DPT, is an assistant professor in the College of Health Professions and Physical Therapy at Wichita State University in Wichita, Kansas. At WSU, Lehecka teaches coursework concerning the hip and spine regions, posture, gait, proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation, musculoskeletal evaluation and the treatment of musculoskeletal pathology. In 2016, he was awarded the WSU Rodenberg Award for Excellence in Teaching due to his outstanding work in the classroom with students.
Kelsie Carpenter is a senior in kinesiology and pre-physician assistant from Overland Park, Kansas. She plans to graduate from K-State in May of 2018 and attend Physician Assistant Graduate School at Wichita State University the following June. Her involvement at K-State includes: events director and president of the Kinesiology Student Organization, kinesiology ambassador, kinesiology student advisory board and Open House volunteer. Kelsie has been recognized with an Outstanding Senior Leadership Award, the 2017 American Kinesiology Association Undergraduate Scholar Award, an Achievement Award, a departmental scholarship and multiple private scholarships. Her favorite summer activity is slalom skiing at Table Rock Lake and she enjoys squats and pushups for a good workout.
Shane Hammer is in the master’s program in kinesiology, with an undergraduate degree in kinesiology in 2015 from K-State, and he has been accepted into K-State’s doctoral program. He studies muscle-oxygen transportation interactions during exercise and the mechanisms that determine fatigue in Dr. Barstow’s Human Exercise Physiology Laboratory. Shane is the recipient of multiple travel awards, a Ruth Hoeflin Home Economics scholarship and the 2017 American Kinesiology Association Master’s Scholar Award. He is originally from Cherryvale, Kansas, and sees his wife and daughter as sources of support. Shane enjoys running during his downtime.
Stephanie Kurti, recent PhD graduate in kinesiology, is originally from Naperville, Illinois. She earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from University of Mary Washington and a master’s degree in exercise science and health promotion from Florida Atlantic University. At K-State, Stephanie focused her research on understanding how age, sex and lifestyle may impact biomarkers that are associated with the development of respiratory diseases, such as asthma. Recently, she accepted a tenure-track assistant professorship at James Madison University. Stephanie has been awarded a college outstanding graduate student of year, a departmental distinguished doctoral student of the year, an Alumni Association graduate student with excellence in academics and the Presidential Award of Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching. She is a purveyor of iced coffees and loves to play tennis when she gets the chance.
K-State’s kinesiology department recently recognized students who have earned departmental scholarships for the 2017-2018 academic year at its annual scholarship celebration.
Brad Behnke is an associate professor in the Department of Kinesiology and a member of the Johnson Cancer Research Center at K-State. He earned his doctorate in physiology from K-State’s College of Veterinary Medicine and became a postdoctoral fellow in cardiovascular physiology at Texas A&M University and at the West Virginia University School of Medicine. In 2008, Behnke joined the faculty at the University of Florida and began studying integrative cancer physiology, with a focus on systemic manipulation of the tumor microenvironment to enhance treatment outcomes. While at Florida, he was a member of the University of Florida Cancer Center and Hypertension Center.
Steven Copp, an assistant professor in the Department of Kinesiology, studies how the autonomic nervous system and the cardiovascular system respond to exercise. Specifically, he is interested in understanding how the adjustments of those systems produce increases in blood pressure during exercise and why that increase is exaggerated in many forms of cardiovascular and metabolic disease. An exaggerated blood pressure response to exercise increases an individual’s risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke.
Emily Diederich is a pulmonary and critical care physician at the University of Kansas Medical Center. She serves as director of simulation for the Zamierowski Institute of Experiential Learning, a training center for health care students and professionals from the University of Kansas Hospital and KU Medical Center. She received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from K-State in kinesiology, followed by a medical degree from the University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania and a fellowship at the KU School of Medicine. She is board certified in internal medicine, with sub-certifications in pulmonary diseases and critical care medicine. Diederich serves as co-chair of the American College of Chest Physicians Difficult Airway Simulation Course.
Brett Bartholomew is a strength and conditioning coach at Unbreakable Performance Center in Los Angeles, California. He is also a partner in the company and director of performance, overseeing the programming and coaching for athletes across all sporting domains. Bartholomew has worked with Olympic, professional, amateur, collegiate and high school athletes in more than 23 sports worldwide, including Canadian and Chinese Olympic athletes, world championship rugby teams, members of the U.S. Special Forces, NFL players from all 32 teams, UFC fighters and amateur boxers.
Dylan Bassett is a senior in kinesiology, exercise physiology, and pre-physical therapy from Salina, Kansas. He plans to attend the physical therapy school at the University of Kansas in Kansas City. His involvement at K-State includes: vice president of the Kinesiology Student Association, director of university projects of the Mortar Board Senior Honor Society, Theta Xi Fraternity, Cadaver Team Practicum, and a volunteer with the Boys and Girls Club. Dylan has earned the 2016 American Kinesiology Association Undergraduate Scholar Award and the Dane Hansen Award. In his spare time, Dylan enjoys boxing and taught himself to juggle.
Katelyn Gilmore is in the Master of Public Health program with an emphasis in physical activity. She has bachelor degrees in kinesiology and nutrition from K-State. Currently, Katelyn studies functional training, exercise behaviors, built environment and nutrition in Dr. Heinrich’s lab. From Aurora, Colorado, Katelyn hopes to return to Colorado and teach, research and conduct community outreach. She is currently involved in the American College of Sports Medicine, the Kansas Public Health Association and the National Restaurant Association. Katelyn has been awarded the 2016 American Kinesiology Association Masters Scholar Award and the Green Action Fund award. She is currently learning Spanish, French and Italian and has visited over 25 countries. Katelyn enjoys rowing, in and out of water.
Joshua Smith is a kinesiology doctoral candidate from Fishers, Indiana, and he works in Dr. Harms’ lab researching how the cardiopulmonary system limits exercise. He earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Indiana University and a master’s degree in kinesiology from Kansas State University. He has been awarded the 2016 American Kinesiology Association Doctoral Scholar Award, the 2015 Kinesiology Department Outstanding Doctoral Student Award and the 2014 Joint Commission on Sports Medicine and Science second runner up Graduate Fellow. Josh’s future plans include marrying his fiancée Bethany in October, graduating in May 2017 and either post-doc work or a tenure track position. He enjoys running and Hogan’s Heroes.
The scholarship winners in the Department of Kinesiology were recognized at a banquet April 14, 2016. The following students were awarded scholarships: Brittany Ziegler, Pauline Compton Scholarship; Alexandra Herrmann, Ito Family Scholarship; Katelyn Bell, Eva Lyman Memorial Scholarship; Mary Donnelly, Barbara Moses Memorial Scholarship; Lindsey Unrein and Madison Epp, Mary Lois Rynders Sykes Scholarship; Kelli Stallbaumer, Darlene J. Meisner Peniston Memorial Scholarship; Evan Kempf, Larry Noble Fitness Promotion Scholarship; Danielle Kastner, T.M. Mickey Evans Outstanding Freshman; Bradyn Nicholson, Kenneth D. Mosely Scholarship; Stephanie Kurti, Outstanding Graduate Doctoral Student; Trenton Colburn, Outstanding Graduate Master’s Student; and Katlyn Smith, Kelsie Carpenter and Vanessa Turpin, department scholars.