Tom Stoffregen's Affordance Perception-Action Laboratory (APAL) research on motion sickness is featured in an article on the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES) Web site, sponsored by the National Science Foundation. The video clip in the article is one of only five currently listed, and one of only 32 in the history of the HFES program.

Kevin Burns, Kinesiology doctoral student advised by Professor Don Dengel, has been awarded an American Heart Association Pre-doctoral Fellowship Award for his project, "Chronic Effects of Right Ventricular Pacing on Left Ventricular Torsion." Only 26 percent of applications for this prestigious award receive funding. Kevin's percentile ranking was 4.3 percent, which is exceptionally high for this award. Kevin is the fourth student from the School of Kinesiology to receive the AHA award, joining Aaron Kelly (Ph.D., 2004), Tom Olson (Ph.D., 2005), and Ulf Bronas (Ph.D., 2007).

Christie Pelzer, School of Kinesiology, has been granted an Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) award for $1,700. Ms. Pelzer is in the Undergraduate Honors Program and is a member of the Affordance Perception-Action Laboratory (APAL), formerly the Human Factors Research Laboratory (HFRL). The UROP award will fund her summer Honors Project “The Effects of Target Size on Postural Activity in Social Coordination.”

Maureen Weiss, professor in Kinesiology, was named Chair of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports Science Board for 2008. The board’s activities include review and input on the long-standing President’s Challenge program as well as many other initiatives related to physical activity and health across the lifespan. The board includes ten scholars who were selected due to their significant contributions to the research and science of physical activity, fitness, health, and sports.

Rayla Allison, J.D., lecturer, CEO of the newly formed Sport Business Institute, has been making the School of Kinesiology proud this November. She was inducted into the Honor Wall of Fame honoring Distinguished Alumni at the University of Texas at Arlington on November 6. She was a guest speaker for the Horizon 100 organization at the Minneapolis Woman's Club on November 14 on the topic, "We've Come a Long Way, Baby," a legal review of the implementation of Title IX in athletic settings. Allison was also interview by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal for an article on the Sport Business Institute published November 16.

Mallory Dzubay, a kinesiology senior, has been awarded a UROP grant to support her research in Professor Tom Stoffregen's Affordance Perception-Action Laboratory (APAL).

Emily Schroeder and Allison Klumpp, undergraduate students in the Human Sensorimotor Control Laboratory directed by Professor Juergen Konczak, have both won UROP awards.

Diane Wiese-Bjornstal, sport psychology, was quoted in an October 20 Star Tribune article on high school chapters of the Fellowship for Christian Athletes, an organization promoting a faith-based approach to athletic competition.

Lisa Kihl, assistant professor in the School of Kinesiology, presented her paper titled "A Theory of Sport Organizational Stakeholder’s Suffering and Dealing with Corruption" at the Play the Game 2007 International Conference, "Creating Coalitions for Good Governance in Sport." This year's conference was held October 28 through November 2 in Reykjavik, Iceland.

Maureen Weiss, professor of kinesiology, gave a keynote presentation at the 10th anniversary meeting of The First Tee on November 3 in Jacksonville, Florida. In her presentation titled, "More than a game: Impact of The First Tee life skills programs on positive youth development," Weiss shared results from three years of longitudinal data documenting the effectiveness of this youth development program on life skills learning and developmental outcomes. In addition, Weiss's grant for this research was renewed by Philip Morris Youth Smoking Prevention Programs for next year, bringing her four-year grant total to over half a million dollars.

The fall 2007 issue of Connect! features two articles on Kinesiology students and their research experiences: Research programs give undergrads a boost for the future and A sporting chance.

Joe Popelka, School of Kinesiology masters student in outdoor education and recreation under advisor and associate professor Keith Russell, is quoted in Verde magazine on October 24 in an article entitled "Into the Wild". The article describes one father's decision to send his son into a wilderness therapy program designed to address teenage behavioral problems.

Mary Jo Kane, professor and director, School of Kinesiology, is quoted extensively in the October 8, 2007, NCAA News article "Scholarly Colloquium Attracts Research Focus." Kane will be presenting at the inaugural Scholarly Colloquiums on College Sports January 10 and 11 in conjunction with the NCAA Convention in Nashville. The Colloquiums seek to offer scholars the opportunity to further inform the reform movement in intercollegiate athletics and stimulate research to elevate faculty involvement with college sports.

Professor Emeritus Eloise Jaeger, a pioneer in women’s physical education at the University of Minnesota and the first woman to have administrative authority over a men’s and women’s physical education department, passed away Monday, October 8. Jaeger was a steadfast force behind women’s physical education and the establishment of women’s intercollegiate athletics, and was instrumental in increasing girls’ and women’s participation in all aspects of sport and physical activity. A funeral is tentatively scheduled for October 20.

On Monday, October 15, from 4 to 5 p.m., Don Shelby of WCCO (Channel 4) will be interviewing Professor Maureen Weiss regarding her Tuesday, October 16 Distinguished Lecture titled "Health Minds, Healthy Bodies: Barriers and Solutions to Girls' Physical Activity Participation" in which Weiss will examine patterns related to girls' participation in sport and physical activity. More information at the Tucker Center Web site.

Nicole LaVoi, lecturer in kinesiology and associate director of the Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport, along with colleagues David Shields and Brenda Bredemeier (University of Missouri-St. Louis) and Clark Power (University of Notre Dame), has a manuscript accepted for publication in the Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology titled "Predictors of poor sportspersonship in youth sports: An examination of personal attitudes and social influences" due out in print in early 2008. This research was commissioned by the Citizenship Through Sports Alliance and received in-kind support from the Office of Research of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

Professor Jürgen Konczak has been awarded full faculty member status in the interdisciplinary Center for Cognitive Sciences. Konczak previously served as an affiliated faculty member. As full member he will serve on the Center's executive committee.

Professor Arthur S. Leon has been invited to present at the International Atherosclerosis Society's Workshop on Structure, Protective Functions, and Therapeutic Applications October 8-12 in Santorini, Greece. The topic of his presentation is "HDL Response to Supervised Exercise Training."

Professor Tom Stoffregen has been approved to become a Senior Member of the Graduate Program in Neuroscience.

Dr. Sarah Leberman, senior lecturer in sport management and coaching in the Department of Management at Massey University in Palmerston North, New Zealand, has been awarded a Fulbright Senior Scholar Award to conduct research on women in sport at the Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport beginning in October. Dr. Leberman will begin two research projects during her four-month stay: mothers in coaching, and gender equity of women in decision-making positions in Olympic sports.

Associate Professor Keith Russell and Ph.D. candidate Nevin Harper recently published an article in Child and Youthcare Forum (with Nevin as lead author) titled “Catherine Freer Wilderness Therapy Expeditions: An exploratory case study of adolescent wilderness therapy, family functioning, and maintenance of change.” Dr. Russell has also had a paper accepted by the Journal of Groups in Addictions and Recovery titled “Adolescent substance abuse treatment: Service delivery, research on effectiveness, and emerging treatment alternatives.”

Kinesiology Ph.D. student Kristen Pickett and her adviser Professor Jürgen Konczak submitted an abstract, "Passive motion sensitivity in late childhood and adolescence," for the Society for Neuroscience’s 2007 Annual Meeting November 3-7 in San Diego. Their abstract was among 700 selected from over 16,000 submissions to be included in the Neuroscience 2007 Press Book.

Don Dengel, associate professor, and Luke Carlson, masters student, will be speaking on “Super Sizing Our Kids: Problems and Solutions for Childhood Obesity” at the Twin Cities Marathon Target Health and Fitness Expo, Oct. 6, 2007.  The talks are free and open to the public.

Harvey Feldman, teaching specialist, kinesiology, has been elected into the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration. Harvey was informed by the Academy that he was chosen because of exemplary leadership within the profession and his willingness to contribute to the sharing of knowledge. Harvey's professional involvement "demonstrates his desire to go above and beyond to further the parks and recreation profession and its impact upon the individuals, communities, states and nation." Harvey will be formally inducted at the 2007 National Recreation and Parks Association Congress in Indianapolis, IN, September 25-29, 2007.

Mary Jo Kane, School of Kinesiology director and director of the Tucker Center, is extensively quoted in a recent series of articles on Title IX by the Hartford Courant's John Altavilla. Title IX is the groundbreaking amendment to the Higher Education Act passed on June 23, 1972, stating "No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance." This year is the 35th Anniversary of Title IX. The lead article in the series is "Enduring Title Role: In 1972, The Rules Changed: Six Who've Seen The Impact Tell Their Stories"; the article featuring Dr. Kane in particular is "The Expert: Mary Jo Kane"

Tom Stoffregen, kinesiology, has been elected by his peers as an Active Fellow in the American Academy of Kinesiology and Physical Education (AAKPE). This most prestigious award is by member nomination only and is given for significant contributions to the fields of kinesiology and physical education. Stoffregen will be inducted into the Academy this coming October, 2007, at the AAKPE Annual Meeting in Savannah, Georgia.

Rayla Allison, kinesiology, is featured in the May 16-29, 2007 issue of the Minnesota Women's Press. Allison is on the board of directors of Foundation IX, a local group of women who want all girls to have access to playing sports. Read more at womenspress.com.

Teens Outside, a pilot program headed by Professor Keith Russell, School of Kinesiology, has just received a $5,000 grant from REI, national outdoor gear and clothing retailer. Teens Outside, a collaboration of the National Recreation and Parks Association and the Outdoor Industry Foundation, partners undergraduate degree programs in parks and recreation with community park and recreation departments. The program’s goal is to be a national model for expanding outdoor recreation opportunities that foster youth development and promote healthy lifestyles through parks and recreation.

Kailee Stoughton, graduate of the BA program in Kinesiology, was featured in a Star Tribune spot “How I Got My Job” on June 1, 2007, as a professional personal trainer at the downtown Grand Hotel's LifeTime Fitness club. Stoughton credits her scholastic preparation in exercise physiology, sports, and rehabilitation for her success.

Kailee Stoughton, graduate of the BA program in Kinesiology, was featured in a Star Tribune spot “How I Got My Job” on June 1, 2007, as a professional personal trainer at the downtown Grand Hotel's LifeTime Fitness club. Stoughton credits her scholastic preparation in exercise physiology, sports, and rehabilitation for her success.

Mary Jo Kane, School of Kinesiology director and director of the Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport, will be interviewed the morning of Friday, June 22, by KSTP television for the evening news. In addition, she will be on MPR Mid-Morning from 11am-12pm also on June 22 speaking with Mike Edgerly. She will be talking about the 35th anniversary of Title IX.

Mary Jo Kane, School of Kinesiology director and director of the Tucker Center, is extensively quoted in a recent series of articles on Title IX by the Hartford Courant's John Altavilla. Title IX is the groundbreaking amendment to the Higher Education Act passed on June 23, 1972, stating "No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance." This year is the 35th Anniversary of Title IX. The lead article in the series is "Enduring Title Role: In 1972, The Rules Changed: Six Who've Seen The Impact Tell Their Stories"; the article featuring Dr. Kane in particular is "The Expert: Mary Jo Kane"

Tom Stoffregen, kinesiology, has been elected by his peers as an Active Fellow in the American Academy of Kinesiology and Physical Education (AAKPE). This most prestigious award is by member nomination only and is given for significant contributions to the fields of kinesiology and physical education. Stoffregen will be inducted into the Academy this coming October, 2007, at the AAKPE Annual Meeting in Savannah, Georgia.

Rayla Allison, kinesiology, is featured in the May 16-29, 2007 issue of the Minnesota Women's Press. Allison is on the board of directors of Foundation IX, a local group of women who want all girls to have access to playing sports. Read more at womenspress.com.

Christie Pelzer, School of Kinesiology, has been granted an Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) award for $1,700. Ms. Pelzer is in the Undergraduate Honors Program and is a member of the Affordance Perception-Action Laboratory (APAL), formerly the Human Factors Research Laboratory (HFRL). The UROP award will fund her summer Honors Project “The Effects of Target Size on Postural Activity in Social Coordination.”

Mary Jo Kane, director, School of Kinesiology and the Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport, is quoted extensively in a Sports Illustrated online article "Sex sells? Not so fast: Women's sports need substance, not pretty pictures." Kane cites recent research results from a Women's Sports Foundation pilot study run with Tucker Center graduate student Heather Maxwell.

John Brian "JB" Becker and Jonathan Sweet, kinesiology staff members, have each won a College-wide Civil Service/Bargaining Unit Award for Outstanding Service. Becker’s award, in the "Cost Reduction/Operation Improvement" category, was for his work in technology to get current, clear information to our undergraduates. Sweet's award, in the "Quality and Quantity of Job Outcome" category, was for his work on a University-wide project that required an extensive commitment of time and energy over and above his regular job responsibilities. Congratulations to our outstanding staff members!

The Tucker Center is proud to announce the winner of the 2007 Eloise M. Jaeger Scholarship for Students in the Tucker Center award. This year the $2,000 scholarship is awarded to Jens Omli, Ph.D. student in Sport Psychology with adviser Diane Wiese-Bjornstal. Jens will use the scholarship to extend his research in youth sports for a project titled "Kids Speak: Youth Sport Coach and Parent Behavior of East African Children" when he travels to Uganda this summer.

Jürgen Konczak (Kin) has published an experimental research paper in the April 10 issue of Journal of Neurology on "The perception of passive motion in Parkinson's disease." He and his colleagues found that patients with Parkinson's disease are less sensitive in perceiving motion of their own limbs. The finding is intriguing, says Dr. Konczak, because PD patients usually complain about motor, not perceptual, problems. Since the perception of our own body and its motion is essential for controlling our movements, a connection between the observed slowness of movement in PD and an altered body awareness becomes very likely.

Mary Jo Kane, kinesiology, is quoted in a New York Times article "In Recruiting Season, Mistrust Is Raised at L.S.U." by Jere Longman on April 19, 2007, about homophobia in women's sports.

Chelsey Rodd, Kin graduate student, and adviser Nicole LaVoi, Tucker Center associate director, were awarded a research grant from the Melpomene Institute for Women’s Health for the project "Unequal Opportunities, Unequal Outcomes: Reducing Physical Inactivity in Populations of Ethnic Minority Girls." The study will identify barriers that prevent and limit ethnic minority girls’participation in physical activity in their communities. Results will be used to make policy recommendations to community members and organizations with the goal of increasing awareness of and opportunities for physical activity for girls.

Professor Mary Jo Kane, sport sociology, Tucker Center, was featured in a radio interview with Michelle TaFoya on WCCO Radio (830AM) March 14. She discussed the upcoming Tucker Center Distinguished Lecture panel on April 17, “Sex vs. Athletic Competence: Exploring Competing Narratives in Marketing and Promoting Women's Sports,” and her presentation at Stanford University Law School's commemoration of the 35th anniversary of the passage of Title IX this month.

Professor Thomas Stoffregen, human factors/ergonomics, has been appointed member of the International Committee for the First International Symposium on Visually Induced Motion Sickness, Fatigue, and Photosensitive Epileptic Seizures. The symposium will be held at the Hong Kong University of Science & Technology, December 10-11, 2007.

“Getting sick for science,” an article featuring Professor Tom Stoffregen's research on motion sickness, appeared in the March 2007 issue of Yes magazine. Yes is a science magazine targeted at children ages 9 to 14.

Dr. Carol Leitschuh, research associate, was named Visiting Scholar for the Erasmus Mundus Program of the European Commission, a four-university consortium of universities in Belgium, Ireland, the Czech Republic, and Norway. Dr. Leitschuh gave a presentation on movement science and assessment in early childhood development in March at Palacky University, Olomouc, Czech Republic.

The Minnesota Coalition of Women in Athletic Leadership recognized the Tucker Center for its contributions to women's sports at the 21st Annual Minnesota National Girls and Women in Sports Day February 7 at the State Capitol in St Paul.

The School of Kinesiology was selected to be one of 20 pilot sites nationwide for Teens Outside, a collaboration between the National Recreation and Parks Association and the Outdoor Industry Foundation. Professor Keith Russell, outdoor education/recreation, will be heading the one-year program, which partners undergraduate degree programs in parks and recreation with community park and recreation departments. T. Grant Lewis, Ph.D. student in education-recreation, park, and leisure studies, will be assisting. The program’s goal is to develop a national model for expanding outdoor recreation opportunities that foster youth development and promote healthy lifestyles through parks and recreation.

Professor Russell also received a contract from the Minnesota Department of Corrections to evaluate the objectives and success of the Thistledew Program, a wilderness correctional program for incarcerated youth. Mike Walsh, Ph.D. student in education-recreation, park, and leisure studies, is working with Dr. Russell on the contract.

Mary Jo Kane, kinesiology professor and director, is quoted extensively in the Minnesota Daily in a two-part article on Robert H. Bruininks, president of the University. To read the articles, see www.mndaily.com/articles/2007/02/28/70962 and www.mndaily.com/articles/2007/03/01/70986.

The Minnesota Coalition of Women in Athletic Leadership will recognize the Tucker Center, kinesiology, for its contributions to women's sports at the 21st Annual Minnesota National Girls and Women in Sports Day, this Wednesday, February 7, noon-1:00pm, at the State Capitol in St Paul. For more information, contact Amanda Daninger, 763-566-7722, amanda@visitminneapolisnorth.com

Dr. Jürgen Konczak, associate professor in biomechanics/neural control, will present his research on Body Awareness in Basal Ganglia Disease Thursday, March 1, at 4 p.m. in the Cognitive Science Center, N 119 Elliott Hall. His findings shed new light on the discussion about the role of perceptual information for action and about the role of the cerebro-basal in processes of sensorimotor integration.

"Getting sick for science," by Yolanda Brooks, will appear in the March 2007, issue of *Yes* magazine. The article features Professor Tom Stoffregen's, kinesiology, research on motion sickness. "Yes" is a science magazine "for adventurous minds" targeted at children aged 9 to 14.

Dr Carol Leitschuh, kinesiology, has been named Visiting Scholar for the Erasmus Mundus Program of the European Commission. The Program is a four-university consortium from universities in Belgium, Ireland, the Czech Republic, and Norway. In March 2007, Dr Leitschuh is invited to present on movement science and assessment in early childhood development. This will be held in the Czech Republic at The Palacky University, Olomouc.

Mary Brandl, teaching specialist and a long-time self defense instructor for kinesiology's Physical Activity Program (PAP), was interviewed by KSTP last week.

Thomas Stoffregen, professor, kinesiology, has been appointed as a member of the International Committee for the First International Symposium on Visually Induced Motion Sickness, Fatigue, and Photosensitive Epileptic Seizures. The symposium will be held at the Hong Kong University of Science & Technology December 10-11, 2007.

Dr. Keith Russell, associate professor in outdoor education/recreation, is in the news! The School of Kinesiology was selected to be one of 20 pilot sites nationwide for Teens Outside, a collaboration between the National Recreation and Parks Association and the Outdoor Industry Foundation. Dr. Russell will be heading the one-year program, which partners undergraduate degree programs in parks and recreation with community park and recreation departments, and T. Grant Lewis, Ph.D. student in education-recreation, park, and leisure studies, will be assisting. The program’s goal is to develop a national model for expanding outdoor recreation opportunities that foster youth development and promote healthy lifestyles through parks and recreation.

Dr. Russell’s team also received a contract from the Minnesota Department of Corrections to evaluate the objectives and success of the Thistledew program, a wilderness correctional program for incarcerated youth. Mike Walsh, Ph.D. student in education-recreation, park, and leisure studies, is working with Dr. Russell on the contract.

Dr. Russell has been chosen to evaluate the outcomes of the Säjai Wise Kids™ Program, developed by the Säjai Foundation and sponsored by the National Recreation and Park Association and St. Paul Parks and Recreation. The pilot program, which will be tested in five cities prior to a national launch, is designed to teach children about the importance of healthy eating and activity.  Ph.D. student Genevieve Marchand is assisting Dr. Russell.

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