The Department of Kinesiology has named Associate Professor Sushant Ranadive the inaugural endowed Burris F. and Margaret C. Husman Professor. Ranadive, who studies how women’s hormonal changes related to menopause affect cardiovascular health and predisposes them to high blood pressure, will receive $20,000 annually for three years to support research activities.
“Dr. Ranadive’s laboratory is unique because it addresses physiological research questions pertinent to public health while also considering the impact of social determinants that affect one’s underlying physiology,” said Professor Michael D. Brown, chair of the Department of Kinesiology. “His laboratory focuses on understanding blood pressure regulation in women and investigating the potential mechanisms leading to higher prevalence and incidence of hypertension in African American individuals. Both are critical public health issues.”
The endowed professorship was created by Burris F. Husman’s family to honor his legacy in the Department of Kinesiology. Husman joined the department in 1949 as a doctoral student. Before coming to Maryland, he completed his BS and MS degrees at the University of Illinois and served during WWII as an artillery officer. Husman received his EdD in 1954 and was appointed as Instructor of Physical Education and freshman basketball coach. He achieved the rank of professor in 1965, was appointed as chair in 1971 and retired in 1980.
He was part of a leading edge of scholars as they transitioned the field from a primary emphasis on physical education to a balanced emphasis on scholarship and professional practice during the 1960’s. Specifically Dr. Husman helped to launch the scholarly study of the psychology of sport with a particular focus on understanding the development and management of aggression in sport.
In addition to women’s health, Dr. Ranadive’s current research includes a study with the UMD Department of Psychology looking at how stress and institutional racism experienced by Black people impacts their arteries and overall health.