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A former linebacker for the Florida Gators who earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in sport management is now a passionate educator and middle school math teacher in his hometown of Belle Glade, Florida. Hygens Succes reinvests in the community that shaped him because his journey as a first-generation college student was supported by the Machen Florida Opportunity Scholarship (MFOS).
Listen to the Unstoppable Minds, Season 2, Episode 5, Podcast >
"Inclusion, diversity, equity, and access (IDEA) are values embraced by the entire HHP community," said Dean Michael Reid in an email to college faculty and staff in December. "Implementation of these values is a responsibility shared by us all. Accordingly, efforts to increase IDEA are being distributed more broadly in 2021. Separate initiatives will be driven by each of the departments as well as the college administration."
A Chomp For HHP Donors and Scholars: Last year our college awarded a record breaking $200,000 in student scholarships. Students are invited to apply for a scholarship today.
Be sure to check out “A Gator Guide to a Greater 2021” featuring Joslyn Ahlgren, Ph.D., master lecturer in applied physiology and kinesiology. She shares “Three Tips to Jumpstart a New Exercise Program.”
Congratulations to Demetra Christou, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Applied Physiology & Kinesiology, for earning the 2020-2021 HHP Dissertation Mentoring Award.
The annual award encourages and rewards excellence, innovation and effectiveness in mentoring doctoral students through their final dissertation.
Happy Holidays from all of us in the University of Florida College of Health & Human Performance!
On Saturday, December 19, the College of Health & Human Performance awarded seven Ph.D.'s, 49 master’s and 110 bachelor’s degrees to the Fall Class of 2020.
Congratulations to Meredith Berry, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Health Education & Behavior. Dr. Berry was awarded the B.F. Skinner Foundation New Researcher Award in Basic Research from Division 25 of the American Psychological Association (APA).
The award recognizes innovative and important research in behavior analysis conducted within the first 10 years of receiving a doctorate.
We’re grateful for our college community – especially how they rallied this fall to support our region through the annual University of Florida Campaign for Charities. As a college, faculty and staff raised more than $14,000 with more than 30 percent of faculty and staff participating.
Congratulations and thank you to Susie and Curtis Weldon! In total, the couple has worked a combined 70 years for University of Florida, the majority in the College of Health & Human Performance. This fall, they celebrate their retirement – Curtis as the engineer and Susie as the office manager – both in the Department of Applied Physiology & Kinesiology.
Join HHP and UF in celebrating our first-generation Gators in advance of the National First-Generation College Celebration held annually on Nov. 8. At UF, first-gen students make up 11 percent of the student body. Learn more about resources for our trailblazing, first-gen Gators.
Nominations are open for Teacher of the Year, Adviser of the Year, Outstanding Young Alumni, Alumni Hall of Fame and the B.K. Stevens Award. Consider nominating a member of the UFHHP community today!
Catch up on the latest news about recent publications, awards, grants and other updates in our fall edition of the Gator Good.
New research by Thomas Clanton, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, and a team of collaborative researchers across UF, shows exertional heat stroke lays down epigenetic memories on DNA that may have long-term impacts on immune function. The study was released in the Journal of Physiology.
As part of our ongoing efforts to strive for excellence in the college, we are asking that you complete the HHP 2020 Climate Survey for undergraduate and graduate students. The survey will remain open until Monday, October 19 at noon.
Celebrate the Department of Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management by posting on social media with #IAMWITHTHEM between September 28 and October 11. Learn more about prizes and the opportunity to win a special-edition "I am with THEM" t-shirt.
The nomination period for the 2020-2021 College of Health and Human Performance (HHP) Teacher/Adviser of the Year is now open. If you know a HHP Professor or Adviser who goes above and beyond and has a superior capacity to inspire and challenge students to reach their full potential, please take the time to nominate the person for this very prestigious award.
Today we celebrate Dr. Ruth Alexander, retired emeritus professor in the Department of Exercise and Sport Sciences and former chair of the Department of Physical Education for Women, on receiving the 2020 Nike Lifetime Achievement Award. Ahead of Title IX, Dr. Alexander obtained the approval and processes to establish the “Lady Gator Athletics” program. Before this, no opportunities existed for women to participate in intercollegiate athletics.
Showcasing our outstanding student scholars, generous donors and loyal friends, the college celebrates the 2020 Scholarship Convocation online by awarding 138 student scholarships totaling more than $200,000 – a new record for us.
Thank you, donors! Congratulations, students!
At the UF College of Health & Human Performance (HHP), we’re excited to welcome new Gators to the college. This fall, the college enrolled a record number of students and hired new faculty across all four departments.
The University of Florida’s plan outlines how UF will strive to create a safer, healthier campus environment and continue its research and education missions using screening and testing, enhanced protective measures, comprehensive communications and other tools.
University of Florida faculty earned a record $900.7 million in research funding in fiscal year 2020, despite many activities being paused for more than two months by the pandemic. HHP's research funding awards are up 33 percent from last year to $12M, a new record for the college.
Congratulations to Daniel Rogers in the Department of Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management for earning a 2020 UF Superior Accomplishment Award. Rogers was one of eight individuals across the UF campus who received this special recognition for outstanding and meritorious service, efficiency and contributing to the quality of life for our community.
Many thanks to our alumni, parents and friends of UF and HHP for another successful year of extraordinary philanthropy. With your support, we’re able to address some of humankind’s biggest challenges.
Welcome back, #UFHHP Gators! Join us as we reward participants in our Welcome Back Photo Challenge which kicks off on Monday, August 24. Each day, submit your interpretations of the day’s theme for a chance to win a UF HHP t-shirt.
New research published today in The Journal of Physiology shows that nitrate improves function in the diaphragm, the muscle involved in coughing and breathing, by improving power. The study done in old mice, if replicated in humans, could provide a strategy for helping elderly people clear the lungs more effectively and avoid infection.
Catch up on the latest news about recent publications, awards, grants and other updates in our summer edition of the Gator Good.
The virtual commencement for summer graduates will be held Saturday, August 15 at 1 p.m. Tune in to hear addresses from Benny Vaughn, BSHSE '85, and Blake Hutchins, BSAPK '20.
Explore elite athletes’ engagement of social justice causes, including history, effectiveness, impact on careers and recent increases in activity around racial injustice. The five-part series begins Wednesday, August 19.
Congratulations to the mentors and trainees of UF's Predoctoral Interdisciplinary Training in Movement Disorders and Neurorestoration program, which received a five-year funding renewal from NINDS Brain for Life. Led by Drs. Dawn Bowers and David Vaillancourt of the Colleges of Public Health and Health Professions, HHP and McKnight Brain Institute, the program trains doctoral students to become independent researchers whose work will lead to new treatments for Parkinson’s disease, dystonia, tremor and ataxia.
Learn what really goes on beyond the closed doors of sports teams and league offices with the 12 session podcast featuring the UF Sport Management Program on the “Life in the Front Office Podcast.”
The Gator series gets started with Lonnie Phillips, the chief customer officer at Fanatics and a UF Sport Management Master’s alum. Tune in every-other-week for a new episode including sessions with Misty Brown at the SEC and Adam Zimmerman at the Atlanta Braves.
After nearly 30 years of service, the College of Health and Human Performance bids a fond farewell to Stephen Dodd, Ph.D., interim chair in THEM. Learn about his service to the college community and research in applied physiology and kinesiology.
Congratulations, Dr. Dodd! We wish you all the best in your retirement!
Meet Rachel J.C. (Chen) Fu, Ph.D., the inaugural chair of the Department of Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management.
Dr. Fu begins her appointment on August 1. Welcome, Dr. Fu!
Learn about the ways UF HHP is embracing #NoWallsTeaching when it comes to instruction that extends beyond the confines of a traditional classroom. From leading the dissection of a sheep brain to working with students to develop an integrated community health plan, our faculty remain committed to excellence in education, even from a distance.
Congratulations to Terence Ryan, Ph.D., assistant professor in Applied Physiology & Kinesiology, who received a UF 2020 Excellence Award recognizing outstanding tenure-track assistant professors. The award grants a one-time allocation of $5,000 in support of research which can be used to fund travel, equipment, books, graduate student stipends and other research-related expenses.
Join us on Saturday, August 15 at 1 p.m. for the HHP Summer Virtual Commencement. We encourage you to join the celebration by posting with the #UFHHPgrad and #UFgrad hashtags.
Joslyn Ahlgren, PhD, master lecturer in the Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, shares recommendations on how to support the #LGBTQ+ community.
This summer, Dean Michael Reid announced several updates within the leadership in the Office of Faculty and Staff Affairs.
On June 17, 2020, Provost Joseph Glover announced four faculty members earned promotions. Congratulations!
Dr. Meredith Berry, assistant professor in the Department of Health Education & Behavior, discusses her research into substance use and misuse in the latest UF CARE podcast with host Dr. Oliver Grundmann in the UF College of Pharmacy.
Thank you to the many members of the HHP community who attended our recent town hall focused on the tragic killings of George Floyd, David McAtee, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and so many others from the African American community.
Learn more about ways you can support the work of inclusion, diversity, equity and access, visit the incusion webpage and stay tuned for future events.
UF Sport Management alumnus and acclaimed chef Edouardo Jordan chose to respond to the COVID-19 crisis by feeding others currently out of work in the Seattle restaurant community. Chef Jordan’s first restaurant, Salare, recently partnered with a local group to begin a community kitchen which provides meals for free to those in the hospitality industry. “We won’t turn away anyone who needs a meal,” says Jordan.
HHP experts offer tips and guidance to help navigate the coronavirus crisis.
Elisabeth Barton, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Applied Physiology & Kinesiology, was one of 33 faculty members across campus named as UFRF Professor for 2020 by the University of Florida Research Foundation. The recognition acknowledges faculty who have a distinguished current record of research and a strong research agenda that is likely to lead to continuing distinction in their fields.
What are the risks that go with increased physical activity during the coronavirus pandemic? It is difficult for science to weigh in with specific guidance because of the many variables involved, says Scott Powers, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor in Applied Physiology & Kinesiology.
“If you’re in an environment where the virus exists, your risk of inhaling viral particles goes up because of the increased amount of gas you’re bringing into your lungs during heavy exercise,” said Powers.
Steve Young, graduate student in sport management, talks with Michelle Smith, assistant dean for inclusion, about athlete development for high school students during the coronavirus pandemic.
HHP seniors found their final semester internships cancelled or changed with short notice this spring in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. But the sudden transition didn’t stop students from making the most out of their spring semester immersion experiences — a requirement for the completion of their bachelor’s degrees.
In a new study, APK professor and lead researcher Evangelos Christou, Ph.D., and colleagues (left to right: Drs. Basma Yacoubi, Agostina Casamento Moran and Christou.) at the Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases at UF Health describe using deep brain stimulation to determine the source of the dysmetria in patients with essential tremor, a disorder that causes involuntary shaking. “The results have important implications for the understanding of essential tremor and other cerebellar and tremor disorders,” said Christou.
Hear how Mariel White, a student in sport management, was diagnosed with Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA)—formerly known as Churg Strauss syndrome as a sophomore—and how it left her paralyzed from the waist down.
To all of our #UF24 Gators: Find out more about HHP where we invite you to study, explore and make a profound difference in people’s lives.
For the past two years, HHP has been able to provide more than 100 scholarships because of our generous donors like faculty emeritus and retired dean Jill Varnes who recently made a generous gift to support scholarships. On this Global Giving Day, if you are able, we ask that you consider donating to our students, many of whom are experiencing additional hardships during this pandemic.
Dr. McVay conducts research on behavioral aspects of weight management.
Through their profound dedication to developing creative ways to inspire students and deliver engaging courses, Amber Emanuel, Ph.D., and Diba Mani, Ph.D., have both been awarded the UF Center for Teaching Excellence Rising Star Award. The Rising Star Award recognizes faculty for their commitment to ongoing educational improvements and excellence.
While we won’t be able to gather in person, we did want to take this opportunity to recognize our outstanding Spring Award honorees. Read about them and offer your congrats!
Organizers of the two-day symposium featuring nationally respected women leaders, experts, practitioners and researchers in the field of athlete development moved the event online. More than 80 professionals and students from the U.S. and abroad participated along with 16 speakers and special guests who shared valuable industry knowledge and insight.
On April 6, Lori Pennington-Gray, director of the Eric Friedheim Tourism Institute and professor in the Department of Tourism, Recreation and Event Management held an “Ask Me Anything” forum on Reddit. Pennington-Gray discussed the effects that COVID-19 may have on future travel and answered questions from users of the popular message board.
Health education and behavior senior Amber Donald joins the UF Hall of Fame. Donald said that she has always had a passion for serving the community. She credits her involvement as the president of the Multicultural Association of Pre-Health students, volunteer work in Delta Sigma Theta and participation in the club Black Women in Medicine as essential to her college experience.
Kim Holton's research and instructional areas of interest include worksite health promotion, stress management, mindfulness, and complementary and integrative medicine.
Though we find ourselves away from campus, we wanted to take the opportunity to say thank you to our graduate students.
Laura J. Barnes, a UF sport management graduate student, considers the athlete-development perspective during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Robert Leeman's research interest is focused on the relationships between various difficulties with self-control and addictive behaviors.
Researchers in the Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, in coordination with the HHP Research Office, have stepped up, donating gloves, face masks, N95 respirators, disinfectant wipes and hand sanitizer, to UF Health.
Congratulations to the Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology and the Department of Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management (THEM). The APK online master’s was ranked #1 in the 2020 Best Online Master’s category for Exercise Science by the Guide to Online Schools. In addition, the APK online exercise science program ranked #13 in affordability by Online U. THEM was ranked #5 for Most Affordable Online Master’s in the category of hospitality management.
On Friday, March 6, 2020, the Southeast Athletic Trainers’ Association (SEATA) recognized two faculty members in athletic training at the annual clinical symposium in Atlanta, Georgia. Patricia Tripp, Ph.D., was inducted in the SEATA Hall of Fame Class of 2020 and Brady Tripp, Ph.D., was awarded the Educational/Administrative Award.
Rachel J.C. (Chen) Fu, Ph.D., will join the College of Health & Human Performance as the chair for the Department of Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management effective August 1, 2020. Dr. Fu joins the college from the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where she is a professor in the Department of Retail, Hospitality, and Tourism Management.
The number of American travelers who said domestic air travel should be avoided increased from 32% to 43% in three weeks, according to a new survey.
Researchers in UF HHP have been closely monitoring the impact of COVID-19 on Americans’ travel plans since the onset of the outbreak in January. These results come from the third round of data gathered in a nationwide online survey of 500 U.S. travelers March 3 and 4, 485 U.S. travelers on February 7 to 9, and 550 U.S. travelers on January 26 and 27.
Dr. Heather Gibson and Dr. Brijesh Thapa, professors in the Department of Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management (THEM) were recognized for their contributions to academe. Dr. Gibson was elected as Fellow in the International Academy for the Study of Tourism. Dr. Thapa was elected as Fellow into The Academy of Leisure Sciences.
The College of Health & Human Performance continues its Motorsports Forum on Tuesday, March 3 with a lecture from Charlie Kimball, American race car driver, from 3-4 p.m. in the Florida Gym, Room 250. The event is open to the public.
On the second annual “Stand-Up and Holler: Gator Nation Giving Day," Gators from around the world donated to various causes across UF and in support of the College of Health & Human Performance. The goals were raised from last year, and Gators came through in flying colors!
Performance Magazine is a place to celebrate the successes of our faculty, students and alumni. We also hope it's a useful tool to keep you updated on the most recent happenings. Click link below to read the current issue:
The group, composed by Dr. Andrei Kirilenko, researcher at the Eric Friedheim Tourism Institute (EFTI), and two Ph.D. candidates, Shihan (David) Ma and Lijuan Su, from the UF Department of Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management (THEM), won the "Best Insights" award at the Expedia X ENTER2020 Data Science Competition held at the University of Surrey in early January.
UF Online rose to the No. 4 spot in the 2020 rankings by U.S. News & World Report for the best online programs in the country, up from No. 5 in 2019. This ranking includes the College of Health & Human Performance online bachelor degrees in Sport Management and Health Education and Behavior.
On Feb. 19, students and employers will take to the courts to discover and discuss internship and career opportunities available within the health and wellness, tourism, hospitality, event management and sport management industries. HHP’s bi-annual Internship and Job Fair will be held in the Florida Gym from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Starting in 2020, UF brings the total number of online UF bachelor’s degrees available via UF Online to 22 with a fully online Bachelor of Science degree in Tourism, Event and Recreation Management (TERM). This is the first online offering of its kind in the entire State of Florida University system. Students will focus on learning the managerial side of hospitality, as compared to other programs that focus on teaching technical skills. The curriculum teaches students how to lead teams and make business decisions relevant to the industry. Professional core courses cover topics such as entrepreneurship, event management, research methods, and more.
Four students in the Department of Tourism, Hospitality & Event Management placed as a top 3 finalist in the PCMA (Professional Convention Management Association) annual student competition which was held on December 2, 2019. The competition featured teams representing universities from around the country.
