FACULTY EXCELLENCE

Our faculty are leaders in a diverse range of fields that fall under the wide kinesiology umbrella. They are probing researchers and principal investigators who work to solve the pressing issues of our time. They are passionate educators who challenge students to think critically and dream big. And they support communities through programs that put beneficial research findings into practice.

Recruiting and retaining the best and brightest faculty helps ensure that our research, curriculum, and community programs stay on the cutting edge, and helps foster school- and university-wide collaboration and innovation.

GOAL#1: in newly endowed, named faculty professorship and chair positions

$6 MILLION

$5 MILLION

GOAL#2: in newly endowed research cluster funds

GOAL #1: RAISE $6 MILLION

IN NEWLY ENDOWED, NAMED FACULTY PROFESSORSHIP AND CHAIR POSITIONS

• These positions provide long-term funding directed specifically toward the hiring and retention of faculty. Generally, endowed positions focus on specific areas of scholarly interest, but they can also serve more broadly by providing annual funding that can be utilized to recruit and retain top new teaching or research talent. Funds can be utilized to enhance salary packages or provide additional research and programming funds.

• These positions help move innovative ideas forward, helping to support novel research ideas while also helping to enhance our reputation and classroom impact.

If what moves you is attracting and retaining the brightest educators and most innovative researchers to our school, naming an endowed faculty line is a way to do just that.

GOAL #2: RAISE $5 MILLION

In Newly Endowed Research Cluster Funds

FUND 1: HARNESSING THE POWER OF SPORT TO INSPIRE SOCIAL CHANGE

Sport and physical activity have the power to effect change. From the collective, equalizing experience of cheering on our favorite teams to experiencing the community that develops within a recreational sports program, sport has the power to connect our global community. And research shows that a wide variety of social determinants of health can impact longevity, physical health, emotional well-being, and other aspects of our lives. Expanding access to physical activity and sport regardless of age, socioeconomic status, education level, or other factors can vastly improve long-term health and well-being in our community.

This fund supports projects that impact communities, investigate sentiment, change policies and procedures, and move minds through the collective power of sport and physical activity.

FUND 2: MOVEMENT AS MEDICINE

Scientific evidence is showing that exercise and movement can vastly improve health outcomes and, in some cases, slow the progression of disease. From reducing pain during hospital stays to faster recovery after cancer treatment, movement can be medicine.

This fund supports projects that investigate the role of movement and exercise in enhancing longevity, slowing the onset of disease, managing pain, and deterring the onset of health issues related to chronic illness or repeated injury.

FUND 3: THE SCIENCE AND ECONOMICS OF SPORT AND HUMAN PERFORMANCE

Humans can achieve great heights, elite athletes can seem superhuman at times, and the professional sports market generates tens of billions of dollars within the global economy.

With growing professional player salaries, there is an increased desire for exercise and training prescriptions that help athletes train better, harder, and faster, while mitigating risk of costly injuries.

This fund supports projects that investigate and provide data regarding the impact of sport on bodies, in communities, and in global economies.

FUND 5: BIG IDEAS FUND

FUND 4: ATHLETE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING

Participation in youth sports is expected to double over the next 10 years and athletes can now get paid for playing collegiate sports, so the time is right to research both the short- and long-term impacts. From the need to decrease concussion risk, to the management of injuries like anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears, to the increased attention on athlete mental health, research on athlete health and wellbeing is critical now more than ever.

This fund supports projects that investigate the well-being of athletes at all ages and levels, including their physical, emotional, intellectual, social, and financial health.

In our efforts to drive innovation and encourage collaboration, this fund will support interdisciplinary projects on novel or advanced concepts in movement, exercise, disease management, sport management, and more.

If moving the needle on research that has real human and community impact moves you, please support one or more of these new synergistic research funds.