Professor Mary Jo Kane, School of Kinesiology faculty and director of the Tucker Center, weighs in on Brittney Griner's future in the WNBA and the kind of influence she is capable of having on the league.

In the article titled, "W.N.B.A. Hopes Griner Can Change Perceptions, as Well as Game Itself," Kane explains, "A decade ago, W.N.B.A. officials might have been reluctant to celebrate as a standard-bearer of the league someone who did not conform to conventional standards of femininity." She continues to note, "You cannot ignore her athleticism, and the W.N.B.A. has not tried to isolate or marginalize Griner."

Dr. Zan Gao, assistant professor in the School of Kinesiology, was co-author on an article in the Asian Journal of Exercise and Sports Science. The article titled "Instructional choices and student engagement in physical education" examines the relationship between instructional choices made by physical education teachers and the level of engagement from students.

Maureen Weiss, professor of kinesiology, spent two weeks at the Centre for Human Performance Sciences at Stellenbosch University, South Africa, collaborating with colleagues on physical activity interventions with adolescent girls to promote leadership skills, positive self-perceptions, and healthy behaviors.

Girls and women are marginalized and victimized populations in South Africa, and sport/physical activity connotes a context in which personal and life skills can be taught that can be transferred to academic, family, and community domains.

Dr. Diane Wiese-Bjornstal, associate professor of kinesiology, will be giving a talk titled, "Sports Medicine Psychology: Psychological and Social Dimensions of Sport Injury." Wiese-Bjornstal will be giving this talk on Saturday, April 12, at 1:00 p.m. at the Northland Chapter of the American College of Sports Medicine spring tutorial meeting in St.Cloud, MN.

Lead author and kinesiology doctoral student Patrick Wilson, along with kinesiology doctoral student John Fitzgerald, and their advisor Stacy Ingrahm, Ph.D., lecturer in the School Kinesiology, are to publish in the International Journal of Cardiology.

The journal has an impact factor of 7.08 and is the 7th ranked cardiology journal worldwide. The article, "Relationship between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D status and cardiorespiratory fitness: findings from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey," examined whether serum vitamin D status was predictive of cardiorespiratory fitness amongst healthy individuals in the general population.

John Lisec, School Kinesiology Ph.D. student, was the recipient of the Red Pockets Scholarship. This scholarship is given to University of Minnesota students who are pursing an educational or research based experience as part of their academic or professional track. Lisec received $1,000 which will help support his studying abroad this summer in China. The Red Pockets Scholarship is funded through the University of Minnesota China Center.

Dr. Nicole LaVoi, teaching faculty in the School of Kinesiology and associate director of the Tucker Center, weighs in on why there has been an increase in females that participate in sport but a decrease in females coaching.

In the article titled, "As more girls play sports, fewer women have coaching jobs," LaVoi notes, "When jobs become more desirable and they become better-paid, the men will start infiltrating those jobs and that's exactly what we've seen with coaches of specifically girls basketball." LaVoi continues to explain that in order to change stereotypes there needs to be more women in powerful positions such as head coaching.

Dr. Beth Lewis, associate professor in the School of Kinesiology, is an associate editor in a new book titled, "American College of Sports Medicine's Resources for the Health Fitness Specialist."

Lewis and doctoral student Katie Schuver have also published a chapter, "Theories of Behavior Change," in the book.

Dr. Zan Gao, assistant professor in the School of Kinesiology, recently traveled to Taiwan and delivered a presentation at the National Taiwan Normal University in Taipei. Gao presented and discussed research regarding school-based physical activity interventions, such as exergaming. His talk was titled, "Promoting Physical Activity and Health through School-based Exergaming Interventions."

CEHD Alumni Relations, along with the CEHD Alumni Society, have highlighted twenty-three outstanding alums as part of the CEHD 23: Rising Alumni initiative. Representing all of CEHD's eight academic departments, these alumni have achieved early distinction in their careers, demonstrated outstanding leadership, or shown exceptional volunteer service in their communities.

Of the twenty three alumni recognized, three are graduates from the School of Kinesiology: Jack Brewer, Alex McKinney, and Angela Ruggiero.