Exercise can increase brain connectivity related to memory and may help older adults at risk of Alzheimer’s disease, according to a new study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease led by J. Carson Smith at the University of Maryland. 

In May, women's lacrosse player and Kinesiology undergraduate Grace Griffin ('21) was one of 28 students in the BIG10 conference to receive the Big Ten Medal of Honor. This prestigious award recognizes both academic and athletic excellence to students in the graduating class at each university in the BIG10 conference. As reported by Maryland Athletics:

The negro health problem is one of the “white man's burdens,” and it is by no means the least of those burdens. […] It is undoubtedly true that the negro race has deteriorated physically and morally since slavery times. In some ways, he is perhaps more intelligent, but freedom has not benefited his health, nor improved his morals. There is more sickness and inefficiency and crime among them now than before the war.

Please join us in congratulating Mia Caminita for her selection as a 2021 Women in Sports Tech Fellow (WiST)! For her fellowship, Mia will work with the Stanford University Children's Hospital Motion Analysis and Sports Performance Lab. 

Please join us in congratulating Liz Bell who recently received a Graduate Student Grant-In-Aid Program award from the American Society of Biomechanics (ASB). These grants are distributed on a competitive basis and are intended to offset the costs directly associated with conducting research. Visit the ASB website to learn more about the award. 

Congratulations, Liz!

The University of Maryland will be holding its campuswide Spring 2021 Commencement in person on Friday, May 21, 2021. In order to accommodate all graduates while practicing safe physical distancing, the ceremonies will be held at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. at Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium. The School of Public Health's designated ceremony time is at 4 p.m. 

Congratulations to our Spring 2021 graduating cohort of Kinesiology Honors students. On Friday, May 7th, students presented their Honors Thesis on Zoom. From exercise physiology to active transportation, our students examined a variety of kinesiological topics, all while adapting their projects due to COVID-19 limitations. We are especially proud of this adaptable and resilient group of students!

Danielle Livingstone: Effect of Oral Contraceptives on Heart Rate Variability Compared to Naturally Menstruating Women

Please join us in celebrating our Kinesiology students graduating with their Masters of Arts in Kinesiology and Doctor of Philosophy in Kinesiology this May. Congratulations!

Monica Nelson, MA: Weighing the Body: Olympic Weightlifters' Negotiations of Weight Class and Body Ideals

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Shannon Jette

Kirsten Peterman, MA: The Impact of COVID-19 on Anxiety within NCAA Student Athletes Compared to Non-Athlete University Students

On Wednesday, May 12, faculty, staff and SPH leaders convened for the virtual spring assembly where faculty and staff were honored for their outstanding service and commitment to the school.

View the PowerPoint slides from the 2021 SPH Spring Assembly.