School of Kinesiology and Recreation

School Highlights   

Nationally Accredited / Recognized Academic Programs

  • The Athletic Training program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education.
  • The Exercise Science program prepares students for certification through nationally recognized professional organizations such as the American College of Sport Medicine and the National Strength and Conditioning Association.
  • The Physical Education Teacher Education program is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education, in conjunction with the National Association for Sport and Physical Education.
  • The Recreation and Park Administration program is accredited by the National Recreation and Park Association Council on Accreditation.

Student Accomplishments

  • Jordan Macy (B.S. Exercise Science, 2008) was named a Bone Scholar for 2007-2008.
  • Ryan McGovern (B.S. Recreation and Park Administration, 2006) was selected to represent the School of Kinesiology and Recreation for the Illinois State Future Alumni Leader award. Ryan has served in leadership roles for recreation and park related organizations at the university (Park and Recreation Society vice president), state (Illinois Park and Recreation Association student branch director), and national level (National Recreation and Park Association student branch board member). 

Alumni Accomplishments  

  • Laura Grasso-Drzonek, B.S. Physical Education-Teacher Education, was named the 2007 Outstanding Alumnus for the School of Kinesiology and Recreation.

  • Physical Education-Teacher Education candidates within the program scored 22% higher on the State Content Area Certification Test for 2006-2007 than the respective state passage rates for all Illinois test takers.

  • Oralethea Davenport (B.S. '00, M.S. '02), CPRP, recreation supervisor Lan-Oak Park District. Davenport received the 2005 externship award by the American Academy for Parks and Recreation. She currently serves on the Illinois Park and Recreation Association (IPRA) Board of Directors, and is the president-elect for the Ethnic Minority Section of IPRA for 2006.
  • Darlene Kluka B.S. 1972, M.S. 1976 is a full professor and director of the Center for International Women's Leadership and Sport Development at Kennesaw State University, just northwest of Atlanta.
  • Dr Rene Revis-Shingles M.S. ‘86 is associate professor in the Athletic Training program at Central Michigan University. 

  • Eric Nason M.S. '97 is a certified athletic trainer employed by RehabWorks at the Kennedy Space Center. He provides care for shuttle astronauts. Nason also volunteers his athletic training expertise to the Professional Rodeo Circuit Association and works on many weekends traveling to NASCAR events to provide services for professional race car drivers.

Kinesiology and Recreation Faculty Accomplishments

  • Sandra Klitzing won the university FOCUS Initiative Award which recognizes outstanding service learning experiences that support the ideals of the American Democracy Project at Illinois State.
  • Emeriti professor J. Robert Rossman spent a month in Bangkok, Thailand, at Srinakharinwirot University (SWU) to teach in the new leisure and recreation management major within the International College for Sustainability Studies.
  • Dale Brown and Karen Dennis, Kinesiology and Recreation, along with Robert Cullen, Family and Consumer Sciences, have been awarded nearly $500,000 in research grants over the past five years for the "My PE Project".  This project is working with local schools in the Bloomington-Normal area to enhance daily physical education with health-related components of fitness and life-long activities being taught. 
  • Robert McAdam, emeritus faculty in Kinesiology and Recreation, became the national, international, and world racquetball champion in the 80 and above age group in 2002, earning a ranking of No.1 by Racquetball magazine in his division.