Exercise Science Alumni

"Serving as the president of the Exercise Science Club was very helpful when applying to graduate schools. It displayed that I was passionate for being involved and volunteering, and that I can act as a team leader with my peers. The Honors Society and Exercise Science Club are great examples of how getting involved helps you maximize your undergraduate experience. It also was a great way to connect with faculty and peers. My advice to current students is to get involved in as many ways as possible. Maximizing your resources and time within the program will only help when you apply for graduate schools and your career. Looking back, I am so glad I went beyond my comfort zone to apply for leadership positions, volunteer, and get involved."

Charlotte is currently a graduate student at the Northwestern University Prosthetics-Orthotics Center.

"I was involved in a research project in which we implemented a structured walking program at a local senior activity center. It was a such a valuable experience to work with a population that I had not previously. Seeing improvements in our participant's quality of life because of our project was awesome. Aside from the rewarding experience of the project itself and the ability to present said research at a regional conference, the opportunity to conduct undergraduate research has benefited me after I graduated from Shippensburg. It has come up in every job and graduate school interview I have had since leaving school and has really made my resume stand out to prospective employers and schools."

Joe is currently earning a doctorate of physical therapy at DeSales University in Philadelphia, PA.

"My high school experience in field hockey, track and field, power lifting, and weightlifting inspired me to study Exercise Science and become a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist with the NSCA. Through my research experience at Ship I met someone who knows South Africa very well and they opened my eyes to the opportunity of coming to study here. This project brought me closer to a family that impacted my life choices and led me to decide to conduct research in South Africa. What I learned at Ship gave me insights that were helpful for the research I am now doing for my master’s thesis. My future plans include starting a field hockey program here in South Africa to provide a safe place for youth in the Khayelitsha Township to study, train, and grow with their community."

Carenna is a Field Hockey and Conditioning Coach and is currently earning a master's degree in Sport Sciences in South Africa.

Andrew double-majored in Exercise Science and Biology (Secondary Education) and minored in Coaching. While at Ship, he was the founding President of the Exercise Science Club, the department’s first student worker, and involved with numerous on- and off-campus organizations. Andrew also presented his research about creatine supplementation at two conferences, the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance and the Mid-Atlantic Regional Chapter of the American College of Sports Medicine. Andrew graduated summa cum laude in 2010 and was the 2017 recipient of Shippensburg University' Outstanding Young Alumnus Award.

Andrew currently teaches biology, chemistry, and physics at the Conestoga Valley Middle School while also designing and implementing sport conditioning programs for the school district.

"Ship’s Exercise Science program built my educational foundation. It helped me create a professional perspective by changing my point of view about training. It allowed me to look at physical adaptation to training and stress under a more complex but concise magnifying glass. I started analyzing movement patterns, administering athletic performance protocols, and developing programming with a greater fundamental understanding of exercise physiology, biomechanics, and psychology. This program also gave me the necessary time to begin becoming self-aware and get the wheels rolling on what I wanted to pursue after my college experience was complete. I had a desire to help people. It does not matter if your goal is to increase your vertical leap to 40” or make standing up out of a chair easier, you need to get excited about the process. It makes you switch your focus from seemly daunting goals to making the process and journey the enjoyable part. When this happens, your focus on daily change and progression turns into achieving your performance goals."

Frank is the owner of Frank Donley Training and Anti-Frail Apparel.

Jennifer began her career working for Dr. Kenneth Cooper (the “Father of Aerobics”) as a Clinical Exercise Physiologist. She led patients through comprehensive preventive physicals at the Cooper Clinic. She administered hydrostatic and caliper body composition analysis, spirometry, audiometry, vision, glaucoma screenings, and cognitive assessments. Additionally, Jennifer she became certified in Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), allowing her to conduct treadmill and bike exercise stress tests on high profile clientele. Jennifer also became the Wellness Program Representative for the Cooper Clinic employees. It was here that she promoted and encouraged employee health by conducting biometric screenings and program execution through the means of incentive plans.

Jennifer is currently employed as a Health Specialist at Viverae, Inc., where she coaches people across the United States on lifestyle behaviors and health goals.