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Faculty Promotions

The Board of Regents, State of Iowa, approved tenure and/or promotions for numerous faculty members on May 1.  Twenty-six faculty members were promoted to the rank of professor, including Dr. Warren Franke, Kinesiology.  Thirty faculty members were promoted to the rank of associate professor with tenure, including Dr. Jason Gillette.  Congratulations to both, from your friends and colleagues.

	Dr. Warren Franke	Dr. Jason Gillette

http://www.provost.iastate.edu/faculty/advancement/docs/pt-2008.html

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Marian Kohut

Kinesiology Faculty Member Honored for Research Achievements

Dr. Marian Kohut, faculty member in Kinesiology, was presented the 2008 Mid-Career Achievement in Research Award by the College of Human Sciences.  The Iowa State College of Human Sciences aims to use research to improve the health and wellbeing of Iowans and people everywhere. Dr. Kohut has been perfecting that practice for the last decade.
Kohut’s multidisciplinary research into the effects of exercise and aging on the human immune system has earned her national and international recognition. The significance of her work is highlighted by the fact that she was the first to demonstrate the beneficial effects of exercise on vaccine responses in older adults. In addition, she is currently serving as a co-investigator on a Botanical Center Grant aimed at determining the impact of herbal extracts on influenza. The integrative nature of her work is evidenced by her collaborations with immunologists, physiologists, nutritionists, virologists and clinicians at Iowa State.
Kohut has published more than 30 papers in outstanding peer-reviewed journals and garnered more than $4 million of funding as a principal investigator. Much of her research funding has come from The National Institutes of Health, a highly selective agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. She has also engaged in grant-supported collaborative work totaling more than $8 million.
Colleagues consistently remark on the innovation and relevance of her work, with one describing it as “timely and of great public health importance.” Her sterling reputation among the research community seems primed to grow even brighter as she continues to delve deeper into the interactions of exercise, aging and disease.
This story was reprinted from the College of Human Sciences news archive.

http://www.hs.iastate.edu/awards/facawards/2008/mkohut.php

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	Michelle Ihmels

Kinesiology Graduate Student Earns Award for Outstanding Research

David Holger, Associate Provost, is pictured here presenting a plaque to Michelle Ihmels for earning the 2008 Karas Award for Outstanding Dissertation in the Behavioral Sciences from Iowa State University.

Michelle Ihmels, who received her Ph.D. in kinesiology in December, has received the Karas Award for Outstanding Dissertation in the Behavioral Sciences from Iowa State University.  Ihmels' dissertation, entitled Creation and Validation of the Family Nutrition and Physical Activity (FNPA) Screening Tool, focused on obesity in children. She designed and tested a tool for identifying children who are at risk for becoming obese. She also developed strategies to help them maintain healthy weights.

With guidance from Dr. Greg Welk, her major professor, Ihmels worked with more than 2000 first graders in 37 schools within the Des Moines Schools system and developed longitudinal analysis for measuring risk and efficacy of interventions. One year later, follow-up data were also collected to examine physical BMI changes in the children over time and the predictive utility of the FNPA.  Her program has since grown to encompass all Polk County Schools.

Ihmels' award represents the second time that a kinesiology Ph.D. student has been honored by Iowa State for research at the highest level. The Ph.D. program in kinesiology was approved by the Board of Regents, State of Iowa in 1999 and granted its first Ph.D. in 2002. That year, Greg Brown (Ph.D.  HHP 2002) received the Zaffarano Prize, for his published biological research.

"Not many departments have the scope to win awards in both the behavioral sciences and the biological sciences, yet we have won both and we have only been graduating Ph.D.s [since 2002]," said Jerry Thomas, professor and former Department Chair of Kinesiology.

http://www.grad-college.iastate.edu/news/Karas2008.html

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	Lesley Hawkins

Congratulations to Lesley Hawkins

The ISU 25-Year Club recently honored those ISU employees who have reached 25, 35, 45, or 50 year milestones of service to ISU.  Lesley Hawkins was honored for her 35 years of loyal service.  Dr. Phil Martin, Professor and Department Chair of Kinesiology, recently wrote, “Please help me congratulate Lesley for all of her efforts on behalf of Kinesiology and Iowa State University”.  Thank you for your dedication and service.

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	Grand Master Yong Chin Pak

Grand Master Pak Advanced to Senior Lecturer

Dr. Phil Martin, Professor and Chair of the Kinesiology Department announced that Grand Master Yong Chin Pak has been approved for reclassification as a lecturer and advanced to the senior lecturer rank effective August 2009.  Master Pak has carried the title of adjunct instructor since his initial appointment at Iowa State in 1973.  In his announcement to the department, Dr. Martin stated, “In addition to his long and dedicated leadership and outstanding instruction in the martial arts in our department, Master Pak is internationally recognized for his expertise.  He has earned the highest possible distinctions in Judo, Hapkido, and Taekwondo.  He is also frequently asked to share his expertise with student, community, and professional organizations locally, nationally, and internationally and is highly respected for his many service and outreach contributions.”  

Please join us in congratulating Master Pak for his achievements, his many contributions to the department over the past 36 years, and his new appointment status.

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Kinesiology Student Chosen as Graduation Marshall
For 2008 Summer Ceremonies

Lindsay Wiesner represented the College of Human Sciences as a marshal at the all-university summer 2008 graduation ceremony. A graduating senior in kinesiology and health in the option of exercise science, human medicine, Wiesner graduated magna cum laude. While attending Iowa State, she worked with Dr. Ann Smiley-Oyen and Dr. Tim Derrick, studying the motor mechanics of Parkinson’s patients and runners. Outside of the classroom and biomechanics lab, she has served as captain of the Iowa State Swimming Team. She has also been active on the Student-Athlete Advisory Council, served as a co-leader in the Freshman Honors Program, traveled on a medical mission trip to Central America, and volunteered at the Special Olympics.

	Lindsay Wiesner

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Former Department Chair Keynoted for 2008 Summer Graduation

Dr. Jerry Thomas, professor and former Chair of Kinesiology, delivered the keynote address at the summer 2008 College of Human Sciences Graduation Celebration.  Dr Thomas’ address was one of his final duties at Iowa State before he became Dean of the College of Education at the University of North Texas. Thomas’ research focuses on research in motor development, with a special emphasis in cognitive factors and gender differences in the motor skills of children. An author of over 200 research and professional publications, he has served as a visiting scholar at institutions in Australia, Korea, China, Thailand and Hong Kong. Thomas serves as the first president of the recently organized American Kinesiology Association. He received the Distinguished Scholar Award from the North American Society for Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity in 2003.

http://www.coe.unt.edu/Deanwelcome.php

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