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Leigh Skvarla (formerly Bryant), has blended her passion for research and performer wellness, leading her to receive an NCAA grant. Skvarla, along with Mary Jo Loughran, submitted the topic, “The development of a web-based program to assist coaches as they support the mental health needs of student-athletes,” which has been funded by the NCAA.

Skvarla, SEP 2017 PhD graduate, is an adjunct professor at Chatham University, Pittsburgh, PA. Additionally, she serves as a mental skills trainer and peak performance consultant at KPEX Consulting in Pittsburgh.

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.

Jesse Michel earned his Ph.D. in Sport and Exercise Psychology in 2013. Michel, who is from Los Angeles, went straight to work for the military as the lead master resilience trainer, performance expert at the Comprehensive Soldier and Family Fitness (CSF2) Training Center in Honolulu, Hawaii. The mission of CSF2 is to teach resilience, sport and performance psychology skills to U.S. Army Soldiers, family members and Department of Army civilians around the world. 

“While with CSF2, I provided hands-on mental training and self-development tools so that members of the Army family were better able to cope with adversity, perform better in stressful situations and thrive on and off the battlefield,” Michel explained.  

Nine students and one faculty member from the CPASS Sport Management program attended the first annual Curt Roberts Step Up to the Plate event hosted by the Pittsburgh Pirates. The event celebrated diversity and inclusion while also honoring the late Curt Roberts who was the first African-American baseball player drafted by the Pirates.

Frank Coonelly, president of the Pittsburgh Pirates, welcomed the CPASS delegation and emphasized the importance of diversity in the workplace. After the president’s keynote, students participated in a panel with nine members of the Pirates front office. Speakers offered career advice and spoke about diversity. The panel consisted of individuals from a variety of departments including marketing, community relations, sales, IT, analytics and baseball operations.  

The College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences offers numerous resources to help students transition smoothly into their first year at West Virginia University. From online courses, to accelerated learning and leadership building programs, CPASS stands out by enhancing the first year experience for students.

The college’s Early Start Program allows incoming freshman students the unique opportunity to get a jumpstart on their coursework by taking an online summer course at in-state tuition rates. Students who take advantage of the Early Start program will also receive early registration for fall courses, an early fall move-in date and additional academic support services. The multiple benefits of the Early Start Program are hard to surpass.

Caleb Fierbaugh has always enjoyed a passion for sports. His decision to turn his zeal into a career will soon take him across the globe to begin a new position with the Kaiwen Academy in Beijing, China.

As a senior at South Charleston (W.Va.) High School, he made the decision to go into coaching through the encouragement of his summer league coach. As a fan of West Virginia University football and basketball, Fierbaugh knew that WVU was the best choice for him.

Faculty from the West Virginia University College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences will host a workshop focused on sport and coaching science and long-term athlete development. WVU faculty will conduct the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) West Virginia State Clinic on the WVU Morgantown campus in early February. 

Strength and conditioning coaches and educators will provide scientific and applied based presentations and roundtable discussions on February 3, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. in the WVU Mountainlair Gold and Blue rooms. The Center for Applied Coaching and Sport Science at CPASS will sponsor the event. 

In his first year as a head coach, College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences alumnus Dan Stratford used what he learned as a student and assistant coach to lead his team to the NCAA Division II Men’s Soccer National Championship. 

Stratford, who first earned a bachelor’s degree in Physical Education Teacher Education in June 2009 and then a master’s in July 2015, both from CPASS, says consistent messaging kept the players at the University of Charleston focused. 

Donnie Platt, ACE master’s graduate, serves as director of operations for USA Baseball 15U national team. “My role consists of running one of the largest baseball events in the country, the National Team Championships,” said Platt.

According to Platt, he oversees staffing for more than 200 employees, meals, travel, scheduling, awards, media and creating a Scout Task Force, among other operational responsibilities. Read more about Donnie and USA Baseball in the following CPASS Q&A series.

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.