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A CPASS faculty member is evaluating ongoing efforts of a mini-grant program that funds projects across the state with an emphasis on obesity and chronic disease prevention and management.

Peter Giacobbi, associate professor, CPASS sport and exercise psychology, is a co-investigator on two West Virginia Prevention Research Center (WVPRC) contracts. Giacobbi is Affiliated Faculty with the WVPRC and is a contributor on the two evaluation contracts with the West Virginia Bureau for Public Health (WVBPH). In addition, Neel Rao, CPASS alumnus, was hired as program assistant on the two recent contracts. The purpose of the first contract is to evaluate mini-grants supported through the WVBPH’s Division of Health Promotion and Chronic Disease (HPCD).

Thanks to an innovative partnership with the Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute and collaborations with WVU Athletics, CPASS students are getting hands on experience.

The new CPASS program in coaching and performance science sprang from the cutting edge of both high-performance athletics and recreational sport. One of the only undergraduate programs of its kind in the country, coaching and performance science offers students three areas of emphasis: coaching and leadership, strength and conditioning and applied sport science. “That is incredibly unique,” says Guy Hornsby, assistant professor of athletic coaching education. “I am not aware of such a push to do this at the undergrad level anywhere else.”

The Steelcase Active Learning Center at WVU, created thanks to a $67,000 grant initiative offered by Steelcase Education, was intended to support educators and students by creating an environment that fosters connection, creation and engagement. One year after its launch, the Center is well on its way to fulfilling those goals, says Sean Bulger, associate dean for graduate and online education at CPASS.

“Across the initial year of the Steelcase Active Learning Center, we evaluated student and faculty use of the facility and observed a range of favorable outcomes,” he says. “Students reported positively on movement and communication indicators, including re-arranging furniture into new layouts, moving to work with others more often, using classroom tools to communicate and presenting ideas to their peers. Students also described that the new environment enabled them to be more engaged in their learning and group activities.”

CPASS graduating students celebrated 2020 Mountaineer Graduation Day on May 16, 2020, with all the same excitement and future expectations of previous graduates, with one notable difference. Their experience was entirely virtual. Everyone was invited — graduates, families, current and future students, alumni, faculty, staff and friends of the University. And all came to honor our outstanding seniors.

Upon reflecting on their experiences at WVU, four CPASS students — Garrett Lord, Alisha Barnes, Lucas Facemire and John Foster — shared their achievements.

The 2019 WVU Day of Giving was an important effort for CPASS, raising nearly $25,000 for the College, while West Virginia University generated more than $11.3 million. The third annual event, held November 13, 2019, encouraged students, faculty, staff and friends of WVU to provide critical funding to ensure the continuation of numerous opportunities for growth within the WVU community.

During the 24-hour online timeframe, CPASS received 100 donations. Interestingly, CPASS received 100 donations last year as well. In comparison to academic colleges, CPASS finished in 9th place, ahead of units such as nursing, education, pharmacy and dentistry. Read the full story here. 

Three well-established and highly respected professionals within the College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences have retired from their respective positions this past spring semester. Carol Straight, Theresa Scafella and Robin McKinney share the common threads of loyalty, reliability and commitment, as noted by their colleagues. Between them, they represent decades of service at CPASS.

“With the retirements of Robin McKinney, Theresa Scafella and Carol Straight, CPASS is losing three long-term employees who have served the college extremely well for more than 75 years total. Their positive influence and efforts have certainly helped CPASS continually evolve into a better college over the years. We wish them happiness in the next phases of their lives,” said Jack Watson, dean and professor, CPASS.

The WVU College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences honored four graduates and named its Outstanding Alumnus and Distinguished Service award recipients during its 2019 Hall of Fame Ceremony, last November. The 2019 Hall of Fame inductees are Linda K. Burdette-Good, Jerry A. Koloskie, Jack J. Marucci and Barbara J. Zimmer. The College recognized Paul D. Grace with the Outstanding Alumnus and Sharon M. Sisler with the Distinguished Service awards.

In today’s job market, an internship is a foot in the door. But how do students find these opportunities during a global pandemic? Campus internships are just one way students are building the connections and experiences they need to be successful outside the classroom. From working with Big 12 teams to learning the ropes alongside facilities pros, our students will be well prepared for their next big step — lifelong careers.

West Virginia University celebrates our values each year through the WVU Values Coin program. This past year, selected staff from the College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences were recognized with Pay It Forward and WVU Values Coins. Pay It Forward Coins are awarded by previous CPASS WVU Values Coin recipients. Congratulations to our newest award recipients.

Patty Weston-Anderson – awarded by Stephanie Martin

As a new director of development for the West Virginia University Foundation, Will splits his time between the College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences and the College of Education and Human Services. He has attended Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College, where he received an associate of science degree; the United States Sports Academy, where he earned his bachelor’s in sports science; the University of Washington, where he earned a master’s in Education and, finally, the University of Iowa, where he began his doctor of education program.

It was the tumult of the pandemic that convinced Will to seek new horizons. “I came here from Iowa, where I was in a PhD program, and decided during the pandemic that it was time for me to move in another direction,” he says. “What attracted me to WVU and CPASS was the people. During the interview process, it was refreshing to encounter so many great people. I felt that it was an instant match from the beginning.”

Graduates in the college’s sport and exercise psychology program have traditionally embraced leadership roles in their careers. Three WVU CPASS sport and exercise psychology alumni are paving the way within groups that bring together psychologists and exercise and sport scientists who share a passion for research, teaching, service, diversity, education and training.

Meet Lindsey Blom, president-elect of the Association for Applied Sport Psychology, Brandonn Harris, incoming president of APA Division 47 and  Jamie Shapiro, current president of the American Psychological Association Division 47.

As faculty and students continue to navigate the pandemic, a grant from the WVU Office of Global Affairs will help foster a two-way cross-cultural partnership with Halmstad University in Sweden and the College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences. Scott Barnicle, sport and exercise psychology teaching assistant professor and program coordinator, plans to use the Virtual Exchange Award toward technology to enhance the project’s global perspectives and ability for further international collaboration.

“Our working relationship with Halmstad University in Halmstad, Sweden, places an emphasis on virtual education. Whether shared via Zoom-recorded lectures or online discussion boards, our emphasis has been on joint student learning outcomes between WVU and Halmstad University,” Barnicle said. “I hope to utilize these funds to explore new technological resources for enhanced student learning and outcomes, in addition to strengthening our partnership with Halmstad University.”

A new study will explore the experiences of international and domestic female faculty members in Physical Education Teacher Education.

CPASS has launched a study unique to the College, one that will take a deep dive into the real-world experiences of female faculty who work in the field of physical education teacher education and who hail from Japan and the US. “We decided to focus on this field because sports and exercise are the places where gender stereotypes, such as masculinity and femininity, are still pervasive, and physical education teachers have enormous power to impact children and adolescents relative to gender equity,” says Emi Tsuda, assistant professor of physical education teacher education and one of the leaders of the study.

FiT Publishing is the premier publisher in producing books, eBooks, academic journals and digital products in sport management, sport and exercise psychology, physical education, coaching education and sport and cultural studies. FiT Publishing has announced new titles written by current WVU and emeritus faculty.

FiT Publishing is showcasing four books authored by or including chapters written by CPASS faculty. 

A CPASS senior is using flexibility within his studies to gain useful experience outside of the classroom. Caden Roberts is pursuing his love of sports through a Bachelor of Science degree in sport management with a minor in scholastic coaching. He is scheduled to graduate in May 2021. 

Roberts, from Martinsburg, W.Va., credits his CPASS degree for equipping him with the vital tools he needs to become a successful coach and sport manager. “I chose CPASS because they provided curriculum and opportunities to grow as a basketball coach. Adaptability within the major has allowed me to continue to pursue relevant work and experience in the field,” he said.