Message From the Chair
Greetings from the Kinesiology Department!
At the half-way point in my first term as department chair, I can report that time passes quickly, and I enjoy the constant challenge of being chair.
The department accomplished a great deal during 2011-12:
- We hired a new faculty member, Heather Starnes, who is a wonderful addition.
- We purchased new equipment that is already being used for teaching and research, including an Ariel Computerized Exercise System (ACES) for use in biomechanics classes and faculty research. Thank you to Ariel Dynamics for a much-appreciated discount on this important piece of equipment.
- We began work on a five-year development plan for the department based on the positive evaluation we received during the program review process.
Last year was a banner year for our STRIDE (Science through Translational Research In Diet and Exercise) research team who brought in more than $6 million in research funding and completed data collection on more than 2,000 Cal Poly students for the FLASH college health study. Working with STRIDE, our students have the opportunity to apply what they're learning in their academic coursework to real-world problems in the community.
Recently the founding director of STRIDE, Professor Ann McDermott, moved back to the East Coast. We wish Ann much success and happiness and are grateful for the remarkable legacy she left behind.
Professor Aydin Nazmi from the Food Science and Nutrition Department will succeed Ann as STRIDE's interim director. Aydin will work with our collaborators across the university to develop an advisory board, establish a comprehensive strategic plan, and begin to build an endowment for STRIDE.
In addition to my duties as department chair, I continue to run the "Activity for All" program. Through labs, community-based learning, and multi-disciplinary senior projects, my students and I provide and promote physical activity for people with disabilities. Our ongoing collaboration with the College of Engineering continues to thrive, allowing students from multiple disciplines to transform projects from a concept on paper into a piece of equipment that puts a smile on someone's face. This work is funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation.
As alumni, your college days might be over, but your education is still in full swing. Learn by Doing is more than our motto at Cal Poly — it's a strategy for building your career and enriching your life, and we hope it brings you a wonderful 2013.
If you know kinesiology graduates interested in receiving future newsletters, they can update their contact information online.
Thank you for your support of the department and Cal Poly, and keep in touch!
Cheers,
Kevin Taylor
