Dr. Jasmin Ma was awarded a second year of UBC Teaching and Learning Enhancement Funding to develop a curricular pathway for students to pursue a career as a clinical exercise physiologist or kinesiologist.
After the BC Ministry of Health’s recommendation surrounding the implementation of Clinical Exercise Physiologists in healthcare settings, the project was initiated in January 2024 to address missing competences within the current curriculum and support faculty to use pedagogical best practices.
Through the project, student will have a defined pathway for pursuing a career as a Clinical Exercise Physiologist and broaden their scope of employment opportunities post-graduation.
Congratulations to Dr. Jasmin Ma on this achievement!
On Friday April 4th, we celebrated the incredible contributions and achievements of our many student leaders at the School of Kinesiology’s annual Student Leadership Breakfast. Students were invited to attend based on their involvements across orientations, outreach programs, the Kinesiology Undergraduate Society, PARC, BSS, KPAC and more. This event recognized the hard work our students put into the student experience and community engagement.
Student Engagement Officer, Emily Speidel hosted the event, featuring an address by the School’s Director, Robert Boushel.
These awards celebrate the exceptional contributions of Kinesiology students throughout the academic year, honouring their commitment to exceeding expectations in their roles. Recognitions are divided into three categories:
Community Engagement Award: Recognizing students who have invested significant time and effot into roles that positively impact the health and well-being of the individuals and communities they serve,
Student Experience Award: Recognizing students who have dedicated themselves to enhancing the holistic undergraduate experience within Kinesiology.
Qwasen Graduating Student Leadership Award: Recognizing graduating student leaders who have shown outstanding dedication and leadership through their roles within the School of Kinesiology or the KUS during their time at UBC.
A special thanks to alumni speaker, Kat Cureton, for her valuable insight and meaningful address to our students.
Congratulations to all recipients! View the full list of award recipients.
Dr. Dana Sinclair, a distinguished alumna of the UBC School of Kinesiology, continues to make an impact in the field of performance psychology. Previously featured on our website, Dr. Sinclair has now expanded her reach with the release of her latest book, Dialed In, a 2024 The Globe and Mail bestseller.
As a performance psychologist, Dr. Sinclair has worked with a diverse range of clients, including professional athletes, business executives, surgeons, actors, students, parents, and even IndyCar drivers. Her work has also extended beyond traditional performance settings, as she engages in unique initiatives like leading book clubs in prison institutions. Through these experiences, she has discovered that regardless of one’s profession or background, everyone can benefit from simple yet effective strategies to perform under pressure.
I wrote Dialed In so anyone and everyone could learn how to show up when it matters most.
“We all want results, we all want to be good at what we do, but getting the most out of ourselves isn’t always easy,” Dr. Sinclair explains. “I wrote Dialed In so anyone and everyone could learn how to show up when it matters most.”
The book provides readers with actionable tools to excel in high-pressure situations—whether presenting in a critical business meeting, taking an important exam, or competing in sports. Dr. Sinclair emphasizes the importance of planning over perfection and process over results. She also challenges common myths surrounding performance, such as the belief that self-criticism leads to improvement or that striving for perfection is the key to success.
Publishers Weekly praises Dialed In, highlighting its down-to-earth guidance and practical strategies. The review notes Sinclair’s empathetic approach and valuable insights on overcoming negative thought patterns, handling fear, and understanding the role of confidence in performance.
Dr. Sinclair’s ability to translate complex psychological principles into accessible and effective techniques makes Dialed In a must-read for anyone looking to perform at their best—no matter the arena.
Follow Dr. Dana Sinclair on Instagram (@drdanasinclair) and LinkedIn to stay updated on her latest insights and work.
The School of Kinesiology is excited to highlight the work of Dr. Gabriel Zieff, a postdoctoral fellow funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Killam Trusts. Dr. Zieff has been conducting interdisciplinary research that bridges kinesiology and clinical psychology, demonstrating the far-reaching impact of movement sciences in understanding mental health and well-being.
Currently, Dr. Zieff is based in the Fitness, Aging, and Stress (FAST) Lab within the School of Kinesiology and is co-supervised in the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Lab in the Department of Psychology. This dual affiliation allows him to explore research questions that go beyond traditional disciplinary boundaries, particularly in the realm of stress, self-compassion, and early life adversity.
This month, Dr. Zieff will be presenting his latest research at the Society of Behavioral Medicine’s Annual Meeting in Seattle, WA. His work focuses on how self-compassion influences biological and psychological responses to acute stress in adolescents. Additionally, he is investigating how exposure to early life adversity—such as neglect and abuse—may shape this relationship.
Dr. Zieff’s research has the potential to inform interventions that enhance resilience and stress management strategies among young individuals. His work contributes to a growing body of literature that underscores the importance of mental health as a protective factor against stress-related health outcomes.
We look forward to Dr. Zieff’s upcoming presentation and the continued impact of his work in both the kinesiology and psychology communities. To learn more about his presentation at the Society of Behavioural Medicine’s Annual Meeting, visit the conference website.
Click the links below to read Dr. Zieff’s ‘Research Recaps’:
Dr. Daniel Gamu was selected to receive an abstract award from Physiological Genomics journal at the 2024 Integrative Physiology of Exercise conference held by the American Physiological Society. The award recognizes his research on “The Homologous Lysine Acetyltransferases CBP and p300 are Required for Adult Mouse Brown Fat Homeostasis.”
Additionally, his December publication in AJP-Endocrinology and Metabolism, titled “Maintenance of Thermogenic Adipose Tissues Despite loss of the H3K27 Acetyltransferases p300 or CBP” was named a top original research article. More details are available at PubMed.
Dr. Erica Bennett has recently been awarded the 2024 North American Society for Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity (NASPSPA) Early Career Distinguished Scholar award. NASPSPA gives awards to scholars in recognition of contributions to research areas represented within NASPSPA and in recognition of significant contributions to the development and growth of NASPSPA.
Congratulations to Dr. Erica Bennett for this well-deserved recognition!
Active Kids is set to embark on an exciting and impactful term, with over 100 kinesiology students contributing as coaches, volunteers, or in administrative roles. This term promises a host of initiatives and events designed to support our participants, community, and academic partnerships.
This term, we will honour the contributions of our student leaders at the annual Kinesiology Leadership Breakfast in April, an event recognizing the dedication and efforts of our team. Additionally, our coach training workshops will provide participants with the tools and knowledge needed to continue delivering exceptional programming.
With an anticipated 700 weekly visits to our recreational gymnastics programs at the Osborne Center, we are delighted to foster active participation within the community. Our High School Competitive athletes, numbering 25 this term, will compete in local events with aspirations of representing their schools at the provincial tournament.
Active Kids continues to promote health and fitness across the community by offering soccer, basketball, and multi-sport physical literacy programs at the Wesbrook, Dunbar, Acadia Park, and Musqueam Community Centers. Through our collaboration with the Vancouver School Board, we are also proud to provide after-school physical literacy programs at Norma Rose, General Wolf, Emily Carr, and Bayview Elementary Schools.
In partnership with the University Neighborhoods Association, Active Kids will host an open house as the first significant step toward establishing the Newcomers to Canada Physical Activity Program. This initiative reflects our commitment to fostering inclusivity and promoting physical activity within diverse communities.
We are thrilled to collaborate once again with Dr. Jasmin Ma, offering Kin 351 students the opportunity to engage with Active Kids programming as part of their coursework. This partnership bridges academic learning with practical experience, enhancing the educational journey of our students.
Active Kids remains a proud partner in facilitating research within the kinesiology field. Faculty members and graduate students are encouraged to connect with us to explore opportunities for research participation within our vibrant community. For inquiries, please contact us at info.activekids@ubc.ca.
Updated Contact Information and Office Hours
To better serve our participants and the community, Active Kids has revised its office hours and updated contact information:
Dr. Eli Puterman recently became a 2024 Peter Wall Legacy Award Recipients. In collaboration with other UBC faculty members, the award of $200,000 was granted for the project, Human-centered design for sustainable transportation in British Columbia: An inclusive approach to infrastructure design based on diverse experiences of walking and cycling.
Wall Legacy Awards are awarded to a wide array of scholarly programs that will generate meaningful solutions to major sustainability challenges in BC and around the world.
Dr. Guy Faulkner has received a Highly Cited Researcher 2024 Award in the field of Social Sciences, marking the fifth consecutive year that he has received this award.
With an impressive 522 publications and a total of 19,176 times cited, this award signifies that Dr Faulkner’s work has been frequently referenced by peers, indicating substantial impact and contribution to his area of research.
Highly Cited Researcher Awards are awarded to one in every 1000 of the world’s population of scientists and social scientists.
Congratulations to Dr. Faulkner on this well-deserved recognition!
