The College of Health Distinguished Teaching Award for 2008-2009 has been presented to Rachel Jones of the Division of Nutrition. Ms. Jones has been on the faculty of the Division of Nutrition since 1995, and since that time has consistently approached her classes - large and small - with the view that the study of nutrition should be both fun and a critical life skill. Consequently, she works hard to utilize many strategies to engage each student individually, even when she has enrollments of 200 plus students. Ms. Jones' students appreciate her efforts, calling her classes amazing and life changing!
The College of Health Distinguished Teaching Award for 2008-2009 has been presented to Dr. Robin Marcus of the Department of Physical Therapy. Dr. Marcus has an extensive knowledge of physical therapy and an ability to provide useful examples in her teaching. Dr. Marcus is committed to challenging her students both as individuals and professionals. She also consistently demonstrates her willingness to help students navigate the new and sometimes intimidating material facing new physical therapy students. And perhaps best of all, her students say they will remember Dr. Marcus for her energy, intellect, and constant good humor.
The College of Health Distinguished Mentoring Award for 2008-2009 has been presented to Dr. James Hannon of the Department of Exercise and Sport Science. Dr. Hannon has served as an incredible role model for his students, both undergraduate and graduate, by being an active member of professional organizations and involving his students in attending and presenting at professional meetings. Dr. Hannon has also successfully mentored students through the processes of proposal development, securing funding, data collection, data analysis, and manuscript publication. His students consistently describe him as hard working and committed to their well being. Lastly, they speak enthusiastically of Dr. Hannon's counsel and support.
The College of Health Senior Investigator Award for 2008-2009 has been presented to Dr. Karol Kumpfer of the Department of Health Promotion and Education. Dr. Kumpfer has a consistent and internationally recognized research focus on family interventions for substance abuse prevention and health promotion. Dr. Kumpfer has collaborated with colleagues across the College, the University of Utah, and at other universities across the country. She is active in publishing and presenting her work in scientific venues. Dr. Kumpfer currently has five papers in press and published five more in 2008 and five in 2007. Her Strengthening Families Program has received international recognition by the United Nations and World Health Organization and she has been invited to deliver keynote presentations across the globe. She has consistently published, presented and secured over 26 million dollars in externally funded grants over the course of her career at the University of Utah.
The College of Health New Investigator Award for 2008-2009 has been presented to Dr. Justine Reel of the Department of Health Promotion and Education. Dr. Reel's interests and scholarly efforts exemplify those of a new research inverstigator. Dr. Reel has received funding from a variety of sources, including intramural, professional organization, foundation, and federal. She has an established record of innovative research and scholarship on psychological factors related to eating disorders among male and female athletes, as well as obesity prevention and promotion of healthy lifestyles in low-income preschoolers and their families. She is co-investigator on an R21 study examining the psychometric properties of a computer program to assess physical activities for children, a project which will lead to the comparision of school-based interventions to address physical activity in school-aged children. Dr. Reel has established collaborative relationships with researchers from multiple disciplines and has broadened the depth of her research focus. Dr. Reel is a noted leader in AAHPERD (specifically, the National Association for Girls and Women in Sport). Lastly she is a well respected mentor to several students, both graduate and undergraduate, in Exercise Sport and Science and in Health Promotion and Education.
The College of Health Student Researcher Award for 2008-2009 has been presented to Brian McGladrey of the Department of Exercise and Sport Science. Brian is a doctoral student with an emphasis in Sport Pedagogy, and has taken on a very challenging project for his dissertation. Brian has been working to develop a knowledge exam designed to assess the minimal knowledge that youth sport coaches and teachers should possess to safely and effectively instruct youth in a weight room setting. Brian assembled an impressive group of experts to help him develop the exam using the Delphi Technique. He piloted the exam using a sample of coaches throughout the Western United States and has begun data collection from a nationwide sample of current teachers and coaches, as well as senior year physical education majors at various colleges and universities. In addition, Brian will be traveling across the West to collect data from a sub-sample of students taught or coached by individuals taking the exam to assess student perceptions of their knowledge of strength training. Brian was a finalist for the AAHPERD Student Research Grant and is currently in the review process for the National Strength and Conditioning Association Graduate Student Research Grant. Brian is planning on defending in early August.
The 2009 College of Health Grant Competition Recipients. The College encourages and supports all forms of new and innovative research and scholarly activites through its annual Grant Competition. The College of Health is pleased to announce the 2009 CoH Grant Competition Awarded Submissions: Dr. Louise Dunn (OT), Dr. Maria Newton (ESS), Dr. Dan Williams (ESS), Dr. Kelly Bricker (PRT), and Dr. Tina McNulty (OT). Congratulations to all!
