Happy New Year! While the first half of 2022 was quite busy for the Kinesiology Department, the second half proved to be equally as busy for the department. While we did not add any new faculty or staff this year, we have seen some transitions in the department with the Kinesiology Department Chair, Dr. Sarah Shultz taking a one-year leave of absence to fulfill an interim dean position at Monmouth University in their School of Nursing and Health Sciences. During Dr. Shultz’s leave of absence, Dr. Erica Rauff has been serving as the Acting Chair of the Kinesiology Department. Additionally, after 16 years with the Kinesiology Department at Seattle University, Sean Machak has left his position as the Human Performance Lab Supervisor. Sean was offered a graduate assistantship to pursue his PhD at Canterbury Christ Church University. While Sean has taught countless students how to operate the equipment in our human performance lab and has been an invaluable member of the Kinesiology program, we are all very excited for Sean!
The focus for AY22-23 has been on rebuilding our Kinesiology community now that all classes are back to being fully in-person and campus activities have resumed. We have been providing students with monthly events for them to connect with each other, the faculty and staff in the department, and to strengthen our Kinesiology community. Students, faculty, and staff have been busy since the academic year began in the classroom, in their research, and planning events! Read on for more details about the amazing extracurricular events available for our students and the community. Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram so that you can stay up to date on all our events and activities.
Faculty Highlights
Student Highlights
Alumni Highlights
Science in the Classroom
Pets & Pumpkins
Charlie Brown Thanksgiving
Gingerbread House Competition
Coffee & Donuts Drop-Ins
2022-2023 Professional Development Fund Application
New Year, New Me Podcast
Social Links
Dr. Erica Rauff published an article in the Journal of the American College of Health titled Physical activity motives and self-efficacy to overcome physical activity barriers in first-year undergraduates: Do they differ based on physical activity levels? Monet Kumazawa, a former undergraduate student in the Kinesiology program co-authored this paper with Dr. Rauff. Monet graduated from Seattle University in June of 2020 and is currently completing her Master of Science in Pathology Assistant degree from Drexel University.
Dr. Brittany Heintz Walters received a summer faculty fellowship, and she presented the preliminary findings from this research at the Faculty Research Lightning Talks in October of 2022. Dr. Heintz Walters’ research talk was titled Kinematic assessment of a soft robot for hand rehabilitation: Preliminary data in young adults.
Tom Topinka passed his Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) exam through the International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA) on October 14th! Tom's future goal is to become a physical therapist and get his DPT.
MSK student, Katie Landwehr presented research at the Society of Neuroscience under the advisement of Dr. Heintz Walters titled Altered visual strategy during the Trail Making Test in adults with versus without ADHD.
If you are a current student and would like to be featured in a future newsletter or share any accomplishments with us, please consider filling out this form and we will be sure to highlight your achievements in our next newsletter!
Cady Seavey, BS Kinesiology Student, with supervisor Brittany Heintz Walters, PhD, placed in the top 10 people's choice for the Brain Awareness Video Contest hosted by the Society for Neuroscience with the video titled, Who's in Control: Insights into Movement Coordination.
Cady also presented research at the Society of Neuroscience under the advisement of Dr. Heintz Walters titled Age-related bimanual dexterity impairments depend on dual task type in older adults.
BSK alumnus, Andy Ho was accepted to and will be attending the University of Puget Sound’s DPT program starting in the Fall of this year. Following the program, he hopes to become an orthopedic clinical specialist and practice physical therapy for performing artists.
MSK alumnus Allan Sinfuego officially passed the ACSM-CEP and is now working as a CEP for Evergreen Health.
MSK alumnus Tyler Mansfield, started a new job as a Research Assistant at Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Center in Worthington, OH! In this role, she manages subject recruitment and IRB related tasks for all ongoing research projects, communicates with study sponsors and primary and skaters on all ongoing studies, and monitors information regarding recently published research studies, certifications, and licenses for research staff and doctors.
If you are an alumnus and would like to be featured in a future newsletter or share any professional updates with us, please consider filling out this form and we will be sure to highlight your accomplishments in our next newsletter!
Top left and middle: EMG reflex lab.
Top right: Motor control 3D printed hand prosthesis final project.
Bottom left: ultrasound of radial and ulnar arteries.
Bottom middle: VR heart experience.
Bottom right: MSK student and Graduate Assistant Arden Wong posing with the lab skeleton.
In October, we hosted a Pets and Pumpkins Event where students gathered to paint miniature pumpkins and interact with the pets of their peers and faculty.
In November, students gathered together and watched A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving and enjoyed snacks inspired by the movie!
On December 1st, we had a Gingerbread House Building Competition! Students formed their own teams and went head-to-head to see who could build the best gingerbread house! Over 400 people voted via Instagram polls, and in the end, Jasmine, Sydney, and Amanda (pictured left) prevailed as winners of gift cards to Chipotle!
During the Fall, we launched a quarterly Coffee & Donuts Drop-Ins as a recharge to the start of classes.
In Winter Quater 2023, the Department launched the 2022 - 2023 Professional Development Fund Application for Kinesiology students with a $1,000 allocation from the Get Up and Move Funds to promote Student Professional Development through qualified independent research initiatives and professional formation through attendance and/or participation in professional conferences. Several students have taken advantage of this opportunity. Applications were emailed to all current students and will be live on our website soon, Students can email the Kinesiology Department with any questions about this new funding mechanism at kinesiology@seattleu.edu
In the month of January, graduate student Saya Brown and undergraduate student Jacquline Gani produced a three-episode mini-series on wellness in the new year, titled New Year, New Me. The episodes were less than 15 minutes each, focusing on goal setting, working out, and hydration. In the coming weeks, the podcasts will feature interviews with students, staff, and faculty. At the beginning of February, Saya also conducted a farewell interview with Sean Machak before his final day at Seattle University. A second interview podcast was also uploaded a week later with Sara Janosik, the assistant director of marketing and events at URec, to discuss their annual event, Project Positive which focuses on self-acceptance and overall wellbeing.
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