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Pat Sandora has worked 23 years in strength and conditioning dating back to his classes and internship at West Virginia University, starting in 1993. He spent 18 years in professional baseball including positions with the Texas Rangers, Philadelphia Phillies, and Boston Red Sox minor league teams before becoming the Head Major League strength coach of the Boston Red Sox in 2012. 

Baseball was always Sandora’s love; he played throughout high school. When he was ready to launch his career, he searched for positions and saw that teams were looking for minor league strength coaches. 

Lindsey Blom, EdD 2005, sport and exercise psychology, has been named a Fellow for the 2016 Journey Executive Leadership program recognizing Indiana leaders in youth development. Blom, SEP associate professor at Ball State University, manages the “Soccer for Social Change” program alongside the Indiana Soccer Association. 

Blom has introduced the program in multiple countries worldwide. She plans to study the effects of sport, specifically soccer for youth development in Liberia. Prior to receiving the Fellowship, Blom has helped youth in countries such as Jordan and Tajikistan learn life lessons through the game of soccer. 

Reggie Scott, a CPASS athletic training graduate, has received the 2015 NFL Athletic Training Staff of the Year award. Scott is director of sports medicine and performance for the Los Angeles Rams. Prior to this position Scott served as head athletic trainer for the Rams for five years. 

The Professional Football Athletic Trainers Society presents the NFL Athletic   Training Staff of the Year award for excellence within the athletic training profession. This is the first season that the Rams have earned the honor. 

Caity Mallet CPASS sport management graduate, has been accepted as a Queen Elizabeth Scholar for the spring 2016 semester. The internship position includes a cost of living stipend and will allow Mallet to continue her studies within sport management.

“It’s truly an honor to be selected as a Brock University QE Scholar. I’m looking forward to working in a developing nation to bring the sports management knowledge I learned from both Brock University and WVU to them,” Mallet explained. 

A Sport and Exercise Psychology doctorate student is poised to have her research article published in a well-known athletic journal, thanks to the mentoring of West Virginia University professors. 

Sae-Mi Lee’s research entitled “Cultural Competence Development in Sport and Exercise Psychology Graduate Programs” will be published in the Athletic Insight this February in Volume 7, Issue 3.

Students in the Physical Education Teacher Education program continue to excel in a nationally required teaching exam in their first attempt. PETE students have posted a 97 percent first-time passing rate during the past five years on the Praxis II exam. During that time, students averaged a score of 159, with more than 160 students taking the test. Students have an overall 100 percent passing rate, along with the 97 percent first-time passing rate.

The Praxis II subject-specific teaching exam is an important part of the licensing and certification process for students who aspire to teach, according to Valerie Wayda, associate professor and department chair, Coaching and Teaching Studies at CPASS. This process is required by more than 40 states as well as many professional licensing agencies. 

Faculty connections have opened doors for a WVU Athletic Coaching Education student. Tariq Walcott has landed a position with the prestigious U.K. Elite soccer club. Walcott will coach all age levels during his initial assignment, ranging from six-year-old age groups through high school students. 

CPASS ACE faculty members Dr. Kristen Dieffenbach, associate professor, and Dr. Roch King, teaching assistant professor, referred Walcott to the soccer club. Walcott’s original contract will run from July to November. Walcott hopes to extend his assignment and continue his work with them. 

While there have been many advances in the detection and treatment of athletic-related concussions, WVU graduate student Megan Byrd says less has been done to try to understand the emotional impact.

Byrd, in her fourth year in the Sport Exercise Psychology doctoral program at WVU’s College of Physical Activity and Sports Sciences, has received a one-time research grant from the NCAA to help fill that gap.

A first year Athletic Coaching Education master’s student will coach at the 2016 International Bowl for USA Football. This the second year that Williams has been selected to coach at the bowl game.

Williams will serve as the defensive backs coach and oversee all instruction, evaluation and performance by the cornerbacks and safeties. He expects to coordinate the passing game defensive strategy and coverage as well as other collateral duties, most likely having a significant role in coordinating the special teams.

The College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences is teaming up with Adventure WV and the School of Public Health for a faculty led study abroad trip to South Africa.

During summer 2016 study abroad, students will trek across two thousand miles of South Africa, Swaziland and Lesotho lands. Students will explore, hike, climb, bike and lead service projects to support local initiatives while learning about the social, psychological and cultural aspects of physical activity and health in these diverse, developing nations. From the oldest game reserve in Africa to the top of the second highest waterfall in the world and from the Sani Cave paintings to the Otter Trail, Table Mountain and Robben Island, travelers will experience   an in-depth exploration of the sites, sports, health issues, cultures, wildernesses and histories of Swaziland, Lesotho and South Africa.