Department of Kinesiology

Kehly

Kate

Kehly and Kate are preparing for careers in physical therapy, using the Exercise Science-Pre-Physical Therapy track.  Both started in Biology, met another student who was a Kinesiology major and it sounded like a better fit for their career. The focus is “human” and also “movement” based and is excellent preparation for physical therapy.

Kehly works with Dr. Ann Smiley-Oyen in the motor control lab. She is helping to analyze gait (walking patterns) in three groups – healthy older adults, older adults with Parkinson’s disease and will then compare gait patterns to health younger adults. After taking the Motor Control course (Kin 372) with Dr. Smiley-Oyen and with her time in the research lab, it has made her even more interested and committed to becoming a physical therapist.

Kate’s goal is pediatric physical therapy and she has focused on gaining field experience relevant to children. She has worked with Y Pals as a youth mentor and enjoys volunteering with America Reads/America Counts program, assisting young people with math and reading skills. She works with a wheel chair-bound senior citizen by providing weekly activity and exercise. She is also working at ChildServe (Ames), assisting special needs children, who are mentally and/or physically challenged, with activities which improve their movement skills.