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CPASS welcomes three new faculty members to campus this fall. Patrick Hairston, sport management teaching assistant professor, Peter McGahey, coaching and performance science teaching assistant professor, and Brent Oja, sport management assistant professor, bring a clear vision, specialized expertise and strong industry connections to support student success.

Hairston, McGahey and Oja will focus on challenging students to enhance their critical thinking skills, develop best practices, engage in research and discover their passion as they prepare for viable career options.

Members of the Center for ActiveWV and the College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences at West Virginia University have launched a new online professional development resource for teachers, administrators, program coordinators, parents and others with an interest in promoting physical activity among youth.

“This free Active Academics® Training was created to help reach members of our West Virginia and broader communities with a resource to learn about physical activity recommendations and benefits, as well as tips for integrating physical activity in the classroom and throughout the day,” Eloise Elliott, Ware Distinguished Professor at CPASS, said.

A College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences graduate has landed a remarkable position at Facebook Inc. in Menlo Park, Calif., leveraging his doctoral training and experience in health care and user design.Spencer Ingels, PhD, Sport, Exercise and Performance Psychology (2018), serves as a new user experience researcher (UXR) on the health team at Facebook. Ingels, whose hometown is Berkeley, CA, says he is focused on conducting research to inform and improve how products, tools and features are used to support better health.

“Currently much of this work is focused on understanding our users’ experience with Covid-19 and evaluating interventions to support prevention behaviors and vaccination,” Ingels said. “I am most excited to start work focusing on understanding how Facebook's tools as an online support network can be used to support better health outcomes.”

Johannes Raabe, assistant professor, Sport and Exercise Psychology at the West Virginia University College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, was recognized by a national group for his research exploring the perceived challenges and coping mechanisms of female NCAA Division I strength and conditioning coaches. Raabe, who serves as a faculty member in both the CPASS undergraduate and doctoral SEP program, received the 2021 Young Investigator Grant from the National Strength and Conditioning Association Foundation.

“It is a true honor to be recognized with this prestigious award, which will allow me to expand my work on the coach-athlete relationship to investigate coaches’ own psychological functioning,” Raabe said. “These efforts will help coaches to not only facilitate athletes’ development but also cope with the challenges of the profession, experience well-being and perform at a high level in their own right.

Valerie Wayda, West Virginia University College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences associate professor and associate dean for undergraduate and academic affairs, will serve as a mentor during the fall 2021 semester as part of the National Association for Kinesiology in Higher Education Leader Mentor program.

The program pairs aspiring administrators with experienced kinesiology chairs, deans or higher-level administrators for a one-week “shadow” experience to build future leaders through hands-on mentoring and real-world scenarios.

A College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences graduate received the 2021 Mid-American Conference Outstanding Faculty Award for Student Success. Dr. Lindsey Blom, professor of Sport and Exercise Psychology at Ball State University, was recognized for her dedication to student fulfillment.

The annual award recognizes outstanding efforts by faculty at schools within the MAC who support students, enhance the collegiate experience, establish and support inclusive environments, prepare students for success after graduation and promote lifelong learning.

The singular desire to help people achieve their potential has remained the driving career force for Aaron Goodson, College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences graduate. Goodson explains that sport and exercise were avenues for him that contributed to his physical, mental and emotional growth and development.

“I realized early on how significant the institution of sport is in our lives. College sports have always been part of my life, but I wondered what happened to those young people once we no longer saw them on television or watched them compete. That curiosity, in combination with my own experience as a former college student-athlete, fuels my passion for the work that I do.”

A College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences graduate’s career grew from humble beginnings as a young teenager while writing for a local newspaper and serving as a DJ for a radio station. Since then, Jonathan Norman, CPASS Sport Management Master’s degree (1999), has climbed the career ladder to his current position as Director of Partnership Development for Tepper Sports and Entertainment (TSE), the parent company of the Carolina Panthers, Charlotte FC and Bank of America Stadium.

“As someone who grew up in a small town in North Carolina, to now working for my hometown franchises in Charlotte, it’s been a dream come true. I am truly fortunate to be a part of what we’re building in the Carolinas,” Norman said.

Throughout his career, Jonathan Gibson, WVU Sports Management Master’s degree, has served in marketing leadership roles across a variety of industries in and out of sports. Gibson says that most of the companies are globally recognized for their brand health, innovation, reputation and performance.

Gibson has always had a zeal for marketing and brand building. “Seeing it through this lens was a passion of mine throughout my college and graduate school experiences. Coming to WVU was a great decision as it allowed me to gain real work knowledge while I was in school and build relationships that I have kept throughout my career,” he said.

The CPASS Office of Student Success welcomes Lyndasia Jones as the new program assistant. Jones will support recruitment and retention efforts, development and delivery of student newsletters and help with NCAA certification processes.

Jones, originally from Wilmington, Del., earned her RBA from the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences in 2019, with an emphasis in advertising and a minor in sport and exercise psychology. She is currently studying for her Master’s in Sports Management at Wilmington University.