KPE Newsletter

Professor Arthur-Cameselle had another busy and fulfilling year in the KPE program. In fall of 2021, she took professional leave to conduct a study on the effects of various dosages of mindfulness on basketball free-throw shooting performance under pressure. Despite hurdles thrown at them by the pandemic, the research team (Arthur-Cameselle, Professor Linda Keeler and graduate research assistant Becca Pierce) completed the in-person study of 45 competitive basketball players all in one quarter – whew! An additional research highlight for Arthur-Cameselle was publishing her first study on eating disorders in male athletes. She was thrilled to be a member of a research team that investigated prevention in this under-studied population. The most exciting part was that the prevention programming worked to reduce several ED risks in male athletes. In April, Arthur-Cameselle led a workshop for professionals on athletes’ body image and ED prevention at the Association for Applied Sport Psychology’s (AASP) Pacific Northwest Regional Conference at Seattle University. In addition, she and Keeler mentored four current graduate students who presented their thesis research proposals at the conference, receiving rave reviews from attendees (see photo). Certainly though, the biggest highlight of this year was returning to in-person teaching after far too much time on Zoom. Arthur-Cameselle felt her energy tank restored by students’ thoughtful, engaging participation in the (real life!) classroom.

This year, after both in-person and online instruction in response to the pandemic, a return was made to research. Professor Brilla coauthored an article, “Isometric, Eccentric, and Concentric Strength in Trained and Untrained Older Adults: A Pilot Study,” published in the International Journal of Kinesiology & Sports Science; two former graduate students were also coauthors. Maxx Antush, former grad student, presented part of his thesis at the Northwest Biomechanics Symposium in May. Brilla presented a paper at the Sixth International Fascia Research Congress in Montreal this September. She continues to mentor former graduate students to prepare their thesis research for article publication.

Brilla continues to serve as graduate program coordinator for the Kinesiology Program, with assistance from Professor Linda Keeler. Through the pandemic, the Adult Fitness Program, which she directs, went online. Over the past year, it became hybrid with the intention of bringing it back on campus in the fall of 2022. She is also on the university’s Research and Creative Activities Council.

Professor Gordon Chalmers continues to lead the Kinesiology and Physical Education Program as its coordinator. He is thankful for the hard work of the faculty this year as most classes moved in the direction of historical normalcy and for the adaptability of students to the challenges experienced this past year. He was pleased to see kinesiology students graduate and continue to move towards their life goals despite the challenges presented in the past two years. Chalmers is continuing his research of the neurophysiology of balance control by examining how the sensory nervous system in the legs allows people to balance under challenging conditions such as with their eyes closed or when they must move in the dark.

Although the return to on-campus activity during an active pandemic was stressful, Professor Keeler was happy to be back in the classroom in 2021-22 as there really is no substitute for in-person learning and connecting to students. She felt like mission control at times, teaching in person to students in the classroom while managing students accessing the class remotely, all while adjusting to using new microphone and camera equipment. In fact, she may take up DJing now given her new multi-tasking technology skills. Keeler, along with Professor Arthur-Cameselle, welcomed a new grad cohort in the fall of 2021 and supported them in their first conference presentations at PNW AASP at Seattle University in April of 2022. She also welcomed the opportunity to teach sport psychology majors and minors in KIN 420 (Seminar in Sport Psychology), in what was some students’ only in-person sport and exercise psychology class before they graduated. Thankfully, Keeler was able to lead a modified version of the team-building facilitation unit in the class, after missing it the previous year. She also enjoyed collaborating with Arthur-Cameselle on two brief experimental studies, one on basketball and mindfulness and the other on golf-putting (still ongoing). Keeler looks forward to seeing alums at the national AASP conference this fall and supporting members of the 2019-2021 graduate cohort as they present their thesis projects at the conference.

Professor Buddhadev was very happy to resume in-person teaching during the 2021-22 academic year and enjoyed interacting with and engaging students in his classes. For his research, he is preparing to apply for sabbatical next year. He intends to extend his research on gait adaptations in older adults by examining the role of foot mechanics in depth using a multi-segment foot model. His graduate mentee, Mariel Relyea, is collecting data on her thesis project examining the effects of long COVID on balance confidence in older adults.

This year, Buddhadev served on the Western Coalition for Integrity Committee, the Academic Honesty Board, the CHSS Professional Leave Committee, and the CHSS Computer Advisory Committee. In addition, he volunteered to represent CHSS and HHD at the Admitted Students Day event. In this event, students who were accepted to WWU attended mock lecture classes by faculty from different colleges and departments. Buddhadev gave a mock lecture at this event with the goal of attracting these incoming students to CHSS and HHD. His lecture was very well attended and received by the incoming freshman students. Many of these students expressed keen interest in joining the HHD majors (KIN, PEH, RML and PH).

Professor Suprak completed his fourteenth year as a faculty member at WWU in 2022. He continues to conduct research on shoulder biomechanics and joint position sense, and he recently expanded his scope to include his interest in explosive performance measures. In the spring of 2021, Suprak used his sabbatical to conduct a project with a colleague in Florida that examined the predictors of countermovement jump height and quickness. They completed the project in 2022, and the results were accepted for publication in two manuscripts in different peer-reviewed journals.

Suprak currently serves as the Washington State Director for the National Strength and Conditioning Association, leading the effort to expand the reach of the NSCA within the state, as well as serving its members and the community. He will host this year’s NSCA Washington State Clinic at Western on November 5, 2022.

Dr. Hillary Robey had an exciting and busy fourth year at Western. She spent much of last summer working with Professor Nick Washburn on curriculum changes and updates to the Physical Education and Health (PEH) P-12 Program which began in the fall of 2022. The best part of Robey’s position continues to be working with the awesome PEH majors who make the job so rewarding and enjoyable. One of the highlights of the 2021-22 academic year was the PEH students volunteering at the Bellingham School District All City 5th Grade Track Meet in June (see photo). Robey continues her role as a member of the SHAPE America Emerging Leaders Innovation Committee and is a new member of the editorial board for the International Journal of Kinesiology in Higher Education. Another highlight for her was receiving tenure and promotion—whoo hoo! What kept Robey the busiest this year was her son, Brooks, who was born at the end of fall 2021 quarter. She enjoyed her leave during the winter 2022 quarter with Brooks as she took on her new role as Mom! Robey spent the summer with her family enjoying trips to the mountains to hike and visiting friends and family across the country.

The KPE program was thrilled to return to an in-person awards ceremony for undergraduate award winners who graduated in 2021-22.  The event was held in Carver Gym D on June 10, 2022. Faculty gave speeches at the event to honor the following three undergraduate students:

• Addie Bader (’22) received the Most Inspirational Student in Kinesiology and Physical Education award.
• Allie Howard (’22) received the Most Outstanding Student in Kinesiology award.
• Tatum Dow (’22) received the Most Outstanding Student in Physical Education and Health award. Tatum attended via Zoom; she is already out teaching physical education in public schools and was unable to return to Bellingham.

Additional KPE student award recipients in 2022:

• Ethan Watts (PEH, Fall ’23) was the recipient of the Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE) America Emerging Leader Award this year.
• Justine Nuckols was the recipient of the Outstanding Graduate Student in Kinesiology award (exercise science).

Faculty members from dozens of academic departments and programs select one graduate to honor as the Outstanding Graduate of the Year. Selection is a high honor based on grades, research and writing, service to the campus and community, and promise for the future.

Below are a few employment and graduate school updates from students who graduated recently. Congratulations to these students on their success!

• Clinton Criez (PEH ’21) is teaching high school PE, splitting his time between Sehome and Bellingham high schools.
• Celina Espinoza (PEH ’21) received a full scholarship to complete her master's degree in PE at the University of Wyoming.
• Melissa Mateus (PEH ’21) was recently hired into a PE and Health position at Kulshan Middle School, beginning in fall 2022.
• Brian Quinn (PEH ’21) acquired a full-time position teaching PE and Health at Alderwood Middle School within the Edmonds school district.
• Mandy Warner (PEH ’21) completed her first year of teaching high school PE at Lynden Christian School.
• Zach Willis (MS SEP ’21) gave a well-received presentation at the AASP regional conference at Seattle University in April of 2022. In the presentation, he shared information about the mental training he uses with military populations at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
• Arianna Martignetti (MS SEP ’19) graduated with a Doctor of Education in sport and performance psychology (with additional MS in clinical mental health counseling) from the University of Western States in December of 2021. She is now providing performance enhancement training at Performance Optimal Health, which is based in Connecticut.
• Emily (Herde) Mulholland (KIN ’17, with specialization in sport psychology) finished the PT program at EWU a few years ago and has been helping the Bellingham community with her PT skills at CorePhysio.
• Shawna Troupe (KIN ’17, with minor in sport psychology) earned a Doctor of Physical Therapy from EWU and accepted a PT position in the shadow of the Grand Tetons in Jackson, WY.

As always, we appreciate your support of the Kinesiology and Physical Education programs and the Center for Performance Excellence, which allows us to offer more opportunities to our students. Our KPE Fund covers conference attendance, special events, guest speakers, research, equipment, materials, etc.

Online: Kinesiology and Physical Education Program Support Fund

Center for Performance Excellence

Health and Human Development Foundation Fund

Via phone: 360-650-3027

With a check made payable to the WWU Foundation: Please indicate which fund you are donating to on the memo line of your check. Mail to: WWU Foundation, 516 High St., Mailstop 9034, Bellingham, WA 98225-9034

Thank you for your generosity. We appreciate your support!

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Contact us: HHD website

HHD Main Office

Carver 102

360-650-3105

HHD.Department@wwu.edu