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Several WVU CPASS faculty and students received awards at the 2017 WVHAPERD Conference in Shepherdstown, WV on October 26.

Eloise Elliott, Ware Distinguished Professor, received the first Dana Brooks Mentor Award. As the recipient, Elliott demonstrated excellence while serving as a mentor to health and physical activity professionals, students and others in fields that promote healthy lifestyles.

A West Virginia University professor’s partnership with a high school robotics team has led to the development of a robot that will enable kids with special needs to kick a soccer ball.

Andrea Taliaferro, associate professor, directs the College of Physical Activity and Sport SciencesFriday Morning Adapted Physical Education Program, a collaborative partnership between WVU and Monongalia County Schools. The clinic provides physical education and activity programing for children with special needs. 

Mykal Manswell checked out numerous universities before selecting the WVU CPASS Sport and Exercise Psychology program.

“The CPASS SEP program is special. The major is not offered in many places in the country. Plus, it allows me to combine my interest in athletics and psychology. This program gives me better understanding of the field and how to successfully interact with athletes,” Manswell said.

An ongoing interest in international, interdisciplinary collaboration across sport management and athletic coaching education took Associate Professor of Sport Management Gonzalo Bravo to Brazil from August 5 to December 3, 2016, for research and teaching.

Bravo visited the Research Center for Sport, Leisure and Society (CEPELS) at Universidad Federal do Paraná (UFPR) in Curitiba, along with three other universities in Brazil to teach guest lectures, work with graduate students and collaborate with faculty on projects of mutual interest.

Luciana Braga, assistant professor of Sport Pedagogy at California State University Chico, is establishing a research foothold in physical activity promotion among children and adolescents.  

Braga, CPASS Coaching and Teaching Studies, Ph.D. (2014), recently received the 2017 early career research grant from SHAPE America. “This is a competitive grant. The award means recognition of the potential of my scholarly work. This is my first externally funded research project as a principal investigator. I am excited to take on this new challenge. I wrote this proposal with Kevin Patton, my colleague in the PETE program at Chico State,” said Braga.  

Ashley Cranney, sport and exercise psychology doctoral graduate, has received Association for Applied Sport Psychology funding as an extension of her dissertation work.

Cranney emphasizes the importance of the grant. “This grant will maximize participant recruitment, expedite transcription, and refine analysis. Getting this grant affirms the importance of this line of research which will be a valuable step toward future grant applications and the development of an instrument of sport overconformity,” she explained.

Recent studies have established the connection between physical activity in the classroom and academic performance. Now, new research by a West Virginia University faculty member identifies the importance of removing barriers and providing training for teachers to ensure success of movement in the classroom.

The study, published in Teaching and Teacher Education, one of the top research journals in the field of teacher education, may help to improve teacher preparation at the university level. James Hannon, CPASS professor and assistant dean of academic affairs and research, says the study points to the importance of providing teacher support.

Elizabeth Janeiro, a sport and exercise psychology student, presented research, in collaboration with Dr. Dana Voelker, as part of her eight week-long summer internship. Janeiro presented her project at the Summer Undergraduate Research Symposium,in late July at the Erickson Alumni Center.

“Elizabeth and I worked collaboratively on this research project at every stage and we plan to continue our work together by submitting a peer-reviewed manuscript with the results,” said Voelker.

A team of CPASS faculty members will lead an effort to study the moral, political, social and applied behavior aspects related to sports ethics.

The Russell “Bud” Bolton Center for Sports Ethics will enhance offerings in athletic coaching education, sport management and sport and exercise psychology programs. The center will promote the use of specialized lectures, case studies, guest speakers and research related to the topics of ethics in sports as integral parts of the courses in each of the programs.

The College of Physical Activities and Sport Sciences hosted 2016 Student Research Day in April at the Evansdale Library. This event allows students to present their research topics and receive direct feedback about their work.

“CPASS has developed a very strong research agenda among the students and faculty. Our students are learning not only how to conduct high quality research, but also how to use this research to develop better practice,” explained Jack Watson, professor and chair, Department of Sport Sciences.

The College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences will host its 2016 Student Research Day on Friday, April 22, 3-4:30 p.m. at the Evansdale Library, second floor. 

The College will present awards to students for best undergraduate and graduate research projects. The event will involve input from students and faculty and feature research presented at state, national and international conferences as well as work performed within the academic year.

After six months of hard work, West Virginia University graduate sports management students were rewarded with a trip to New York to present their research findings. Eleven students in the Sports Marketing Research Methods/Sports Poll class, taught by Dallas Branch, associate professor of sport management at WVU, showcased their work in a presentation for Kantar Media on March 2.

The presentation was a success, with Sports Business Journal deeming the findings from CPASS students worthy of publication in the upcoming edition.  
The project was an opportunity for students to work in conjunction with the advertising and sponsorship company Kantar Media. The students were given access to data from Kantar regarding the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship tournament, including media value for sponsors in the tournament as well as college basketball sponsorship awareness and product usage among sponsors.

 WVU College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences hosted its second annual student and faculty research day on April 24 at the Coliseum, lower level. The event involved input from students, faculty members and the College’s Visiting Committee members who were on campus for their spring meeting. CPASS students and faculty members displayed research that they have presented at state, national and international conferences during the academic year to allow them to share projects with colleagues and guests.