Kinesiology Celebrates Its 60th Anniversary
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The Department of Kinesiology celebrated its 60th anniversary with a conference and celebration on June 14-16, 2026. The event, held in the new SPHHS Hub adjacent to the department's home in the Totman building, drew over 100 alumni, faculty, and graduate students.
Founded in 1965-66 as the nation’s first Department of Exercise Science (now Kinesiology), the department has led the way under the leadership of visionary researchers and academicians in the field as they seek a greater understanding of human movement and the role it plays in our health and wellbeing. It was a legacy that Richard van Emmerik, professor and chair of kinesiology, and Ned Debold, a longtime professor in the department, decided it was time to celebrate.
“I pitched the idea to Richard of a scientific conference where former and current graduate students could present their research,” notes Debold, who chaired the event organizing committee. “I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to celebrate the occasion.”
“Our department has been a research leader in human movement for over 60 years, with internationally recognized faculty and graduate alumni,” adds van Emmerik. “We felt that a large number of them would be excited about the idea to return to campus and share their work.”
A two-day scientific conference showcasing the research accomplishments of current and former graduate student trainees served as the foundation of the anniversary event. The organizing committee – which grew to include faculty members Katherine Boyer and Amanda Paluch and staff member Alice Frydryk – established the idea of four symposia representing each of the pillars of kinesiology: exercise physiology, biomechanics, motor control, and physical activity.
Distinguished alumni Charles Matthews, Timothy Derrick, Anita Christie, and Monica Hubal presented keynote lectures named after distinguished professor emeriti Patty Freedson (physical activity), Joseph Hamill (biomechanics), Gary Kamen (motor control), and the late Priscilla Clarkson (exercise physiology) in each of these four areas, respectively. Each keynote was followed by sessions focused on these topics, and featured a series of shorter research presentations, with talks from alumni, junior faculty, and graduate students. A research poster session also showcased the work of current graduate students and alumni.
“The high quality of our graduate education was apparent from the presentations at the conference, showing that our former and current students and faculty are at the cutting edge of research in kinesiology,” says van Emmerik. “The broad reach of expertise was evidenced by presentations that included, among many other topics, the molecular mechanisms of heart disease, brain and spinal cord control of muscle function, the biomechanical foundations of locomotion, balance and sensory function in people with multiple sclerosis, and the role of physical activity in health and well-being.”
The 60th anniversary celebration kicked off with an evening of open house tours of current faculty research labs in Totman and the Life Sciences Laboratories, home to the Institute for Applied Life Sciences and its facilities that are used by a number of kinesiology faculty. A cocktail hour followed, with welcoming remarks from Dean Anna Maria Siega-Riz, van Emmerik, and Debold, offering ample opportunities for alumni to reunite with one another and their faculty mentors.
The department also hosted a dinner in the campus’ Marriott Center on the event’s second night, which included a historical overview provided by retired faculty members Joseph Hamill and Gary Kamen. During the dinner, the department also recognized several of its current graduate students with a scholarship and awards presentation.
“We had high expectations going in, but this event surpassed them in every way possible,” says Debold. “It was wonderful to see old colleagues and friends back together again. And the high quality of the science that our current and former students are doing was amazing. Any of our sessions would stand up as a powerhouse lineup that you’d find at an ACSM [American College of Sports Medicine] meeting.”
“The attendees, coming from as far away as Australia, were immensely pleased with the event and highly impressed with the quality of research going on within the department,” adds van Emmerik. “All of them expressed an interest in repeating this event in the coming years and were eager to maintain or rekindle their relationship with UMass Kinesiology.”
Related Links:
- View event photos on the SPHHS Facebook page here.
- Visit the conference website for more information, including a full breakdown of presentations and to order 60th anniversary merchandise.
