Olympic fever was everywhere this past summer—and the School of Kinesiology was no exception, with four connections to the Summer Olympics in London. Alumni representing the School were former Gopher star and current Minnesota Lynx guard Lindsay Whalen (B.S., sport management, 2004); triple jumper Amanda Smock (Ph.D., exercise physiology, 2010); and Olympic Committee Member Angela Ruggiero (M.Ed., applied kinesiology, 2010). In addition, Roberto Sobalvarro, instructor for PE 1031 Sabre Fencing and PE 1033 Foil Fencing in the School of Kinesiology, was the head coach of the bronze-medal-winning Women's Epee U.S. Olympic Team. Whalen also brought home a medal as the U.S. women's basketball team won its fifth-straight gold.
Recently in ALUMNI Category
Jack Brewer earned his B.S. (2001) and his M.Ed. in Sport Management (2002) from the University of Minnesota's School of Kinesiology while playing NCAA Division I college football for the Golden Gophers. The School invited Jack to be its Keynote Speaker at its first-ever annual Spring Student Celebration. Addressing students, faculty, and staff, Jack challenged the audience to set meaningful and ambitious goals for themselves.
Known as an exceptional special teams player and versatile defensive back,
he established a reputation as a true leader during his five-year tenure
in the National Football League (NFL), including captain on three NFL teams.
Jack is the Founder and CEO of The Brewer Group, a diversified global advisory
firm specializing in corporate advisory, asset management, specialty finance and
longevity solutions, as well as the Founder and Executive Director of The Jack
Brewer Foundation (JBF Worldwide), a 501(c)(3), which uses various initiatives
to offer educational opportunities and economic development to underprivileged
individuals around the world. Jack has recently been appointed as a Senior
Advisor to the President of Malawi, Joyce Banda. He also holds prestigious
positions on a number of international philanthropic organizations, including
Chairman of the MDG Awards Athletes and Artists Committee, Chairman of Peace
and Sport USA, and is the only male member of the United Nations Foundation's
Executive Committee for the "Girl Up" campaign.
