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From the court room to the ticketing office, and now armed with a new degree, Morgantown native Leighann Sainato has gained a fresh perspective in her young professional career.

Starting as a community relations intern with the West Virginia Black Bears in August 2017, Sainato worked closely with Jackie Riggleman, then the assistant general manager and a CPASS Sport Management masters graduate. Now, two years later, the Black Bears have announced the promotion of Sainato to ticket operations and public relations manager.

The Friday Adapted Physical Education Program (APE), a CPASS initiative which provides weekly developmentally appropriate physical activity programming for more than 80 school-aged children with disabilities from Monongalia County Public Schools, received a generous donation from Dustin and Damon Casseday in April.

Damon Casseday, WVU Recreation, Parks and Tourism student, and his son, Dustin, have always had a close bond. Until the age of five, Dustin was nonverbal. It wasn’t until he started in the “Son-Rise” program, designed to help Monongalian County parents encourage their children to learn, that Damon saw progress as his son exploded with excitement to learn.

West Virginia University will expand its commitment to innovative education with an active learning classroom that will support instructors and students by creating an environment that encourages engagement, collaboration and creativity.

The classroom in the Health and Education Building, valued at $67,000, will be ready by the Fall 2019 semester and will be a varied, flexible setting designed to facilitate the hands-on experimentation and problem-solving that 21st century learning demands.

Dean  Dana Brooks will retire from the  College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences June 30, 2019, after more than four decades as a passionate Mountaineer committed to promoting diversity and student success at  West Virginia University. Upon Brooks’ retirement, professor of  Sport, Exercise and Performance Psychology  and interim associate dean  Jack Watson will serve as interim dean of the College.

Brooks began his WVU career as a graduate teaching assistant in the 1970s. His subsequent positions, which involved progressively increasing leadership responsibilities, included instructor, minority recruitment and retention coordinator, acting graduate coordinator, acting chairperson and associate dean.

Join us as we explore the past semester and look ahead to the New Year. Learn more about how faculty, students, staff, alumni and donors share the same passion, determination and hope to build the future of the College and offer opportunities for current and prospective students.  

Provost Joyce McConnell visited with CPASS faculty and staff this fall to discuss the future of the College. The provost explained that WVU will work toward updating the overall University strategic plan. The University’s strategic plan will play a major role in the future of the college, as it will help to identify the focus of WVU moving forward. The Provost stated that the destiny of CPASS starts with the faculty, staff, alumni and students. 

The term ‘accountability system’ is a popular topic. In 2015, a new act, Every Student Succeeds Act, allowed each state more freedom and flexibility to impact the quality of wellness and health of every student through physical education.  

PE is part of a well-rounded education. The Department of Education has opened the doors to incorporate physical education as a part of critical subject areas in schools. This is a perfect opportunity for PE to become a focus again.

West Virginia University is seeking applicants for a U.S. State Department Sport for Social Change exchange between the U.S. and Mexico. The program will involve an eight-day trip to Mexico with the goal of using the sport of soccer to promote leadership and empowerment among young women in Mexico. The U.S.-based participants will later interact with participants from Mexico during a 13-day exchange in the United States to build on lessons learned in Mexico.

Team coordinators are seeking 20 participants from West Virginia, Virginia or Pennsylvania to take part in this program. The team will select approximately 10-12 professionals and 8-10 students (at least 15 years old) to travel to Mexico in late April 2019 (exact dates depending upon airfare) to participate in a soccer exchange with Mexican youth and adults. 

Dr. R. Scott Kretchmar, one of the top sport philosophers in the country, will visit campus on October 10, 2018 at 7 p.m. to discuss improving youth sport. The Bolton Center for Sports Ethics will host the lecture at the Evansdale Crossing building (EVC-E 414). This event is free and open to the public.

In his upcoming lecture, Kretchmar will discuss the value of youth sports.

West Virginia University will host The Long-Term Athlete Development Playground on September 15 at the WVU Evansdale Residential Complex, Morgantown, WV. The workshop, opening at 9 a.m., will focus on growing and improving the quality of physical sport activity for current and future youth programs in schools, recreational clubs and private programs.

Coaches, physical activity teachers, sport club directors and recreation leaders may attend.

CPASS faculty are continuing an international partnership to build the capacity of sport and sport related businesses within Zimbabwe. Executives and Board of Directors of the Sport Leadership Institute of Zimbabwe (SLIZ) see the collaboration as a way to improve the quality of life and sport opportunities in their country.

During a visit to the WVU campus this past spring, much of Maradza Mhiribidi and Clara Mukononyanga’s time involved the design and expansion of professional development and short courses related to sport management, athletic coaching, physical education teacher education and sport and exercise psychology disciplines. Long range efforts will incorporate creating a certificate program from a mobile or online platform.

Killeen Schlegel, program assistant, CPASS Office of Student Success, is one of four WVU academic advisers honored with the Nicholas Evans Award for Excellence in Advising. This annual award, established by the Office of the Provost, is given in honor of Dr. Nicholas Evans, a lifelong proponent of the importance of undergraduate advising at WVU. Each year two faculty and two staff are recognized for their work advising and mentoring students. 

Schlegel was nominated by 10 co-workers, supervisors and students. Sean Bulger, supervisor for the CPASS Office of Student Success, wrote, “Students characterize Killeen as well-informed, organized, personable, proactive, enthusiastic and knowledgeable. The faculty say that she is highly sought out by students based on the reputation for excellence that she has established.” A student wrote, “I can be a difficult student sometimes, but Killeen never gives up or loses spirit.  She has also been a crucial piece of the puzzle to getting me on the correct track to graduation.”

Dana Voelker, Sport and Exercise Psychology assistant professor, joins the ranks of six West Virginia University faculty members who were selected for the 2018 Foundation Award for Outstanding Teaching, which honors exceptional professors who go above and beyond to inspire their students.

In addition to Voelker, this year’s honorees include: Malayna Bernstein, director, Learning Sciences Programs; Edward Flagg, assistant professor, Physics and Astronomy; Todd Hamrick, teaching associate professor, Fundamentals of Engineering; David Martinelli, professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering; Carrie Rishel, professor and director, Integrated Mental and Behavioral Health Training Program. 

Sixty-one students and one CPASS faculty member descended upon Indianapolis, Indiana in early March to attend the Sport Management Worldwide Football Career Conference and NFL Scouting Combine. The weekend event gave students an in-depth view of the National Football League.

Students representing all CPASS majors enjoyed the scenic six-hour drive across four different states. Once in Indy, students attended a networking social sponsored by Sport Management Worldwide (SMWW). Students had the opportunity to meet people from across the country and make connections with industry professionals.

A unique major now available through the West Virginia University College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences focuses on the importance of regular physical activity in promoting health, reducing risk for chronic disease and improving quality of life.

Students in the Physical Activity and Well-being major will complete specialized training in movement sciences, personal training and physical activity instruction. The students will choose an area of emphasis to further customize degrees in adventure and outdoor learning, aquatics, recreational sport or well-being.

Omur Dugan, from Turkey, is a visiting scholar at CPASS, working with Gonzalo Bravo, associate professor in sport management. Her research areas include ethical and gender issues in sport management, with a focus in career development and barriers for women in sports. Dugan focused on gender issues in senior management in Turkish sport organizations during her doctorate degree. 

While at WVU, Dugan will develop the project "Glass Ceiling Syndrome and Career Development of Women in NCAA" with Bravo. “I've known Dr. Bravo from his international publications and the international sport management network we have. I will also collaborate in a project with one of Dr. Bravo's graduate students on a similar topic.