Meet Our Majors

 

Logan Rooney

Hometown: Chatham, NJ
Major: kinesiology

What was your motivation to major in kinesiology?

I actually entered Occidental as an English major. During my time as a college athlete, the athletic trainers and physical therapists that I encountered left a positive impression on me. After taking the time to think about my intended career path, I made the decision to switch majors.

Can you describe your working relationships with kinesiology professors? Are there any standout classes you’ve taken?

Because of the intimate class size for some courses (around 10-12 students), I have had the opportunity to form close-knit relationships with a number of my professors. Especially within the kinesiology department, you have the opportunity to take multiple classes with the same professors, which helps students and teachers get on a first-name basis. In particular, my personal standout classes are Biomechanics, which I took with Prof. O’Connell, and Motor Learning with Prof. Bentzen. All of the professors help to make a challenging yet fun learning experience, especially during the labs.

Especially within the kinesiology department, you have the opportunity to take multiple classes with the same professors, which helps students and teachers get on a first-name basis.

Have you taken part in any student research opportunities through Oxy?

I have had the opportunity to co-lead the Muscle-Bone Project using peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) as part of Occidental’s Kinesiology Research Group. Because of the freedom given to research students, the course has offered me valuable hands-on lab experience, aided my communication skills, and allowed me to learn how to operate complex machinery.

What are your ambitions post-Oxy?

Post-grad, I will be pursuing a doctorate of physical therapy at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine.

What is the vibe of the kinesiology department?

The kinesiology department is an expansive learning environment with enthusiastic professors, amazing research opportunities, and overall positivity.

 

Julia Larson

Hometown: Wilmette, IL 
Major: kinesiology  Minors: public health, Comparative Studies in Literature & Culture

What was your motivation to major in kinesiology?
I grew up being very aware of movement, the body, and health. I have been a dancer my whole life, and in my senior year of high school I got my 200-hour yoga instructor certification, which is where I think my interest really took off. Movement has always been an extremely important part of my life, and I truly think it’s the one thing that can connect human beings across the globe. The wonderful thing about kinesiology is that even though many students are athletes, you don’t have to be one in order to study or have an interest in it. The field is so vast and adaptable that I think there’s something for everyone within it. 

Can you describe your working relationships with kinesiology professors? Are there any standout classes you’ve taken?
The professors in the kinesiology department are all incredible and come from such different backgrounds that make the department so well-rounded and diverse. I have recently gotten to know Prof. Yingling, who is incredibly passionate about the field and who has inspired me to pursue my interests beyond what is taught in our classes, thereby also deepening my love for the subject. A class that really stands out to me is Motor Learning and Control with Prof. Bentzen because he is so passionate and excited about the topic and pushed us to become better learners. Without him, I don’t think I’d be anywhere near as good of a writer and student as I am today.

Research is one of my favorite parts of being a part of the kinesiology department. There are so many different research options to choose from, ranging from bone health to science communication.

Have you taken part in any student research opportunities through Oxy?
Yes! Research is one of my favorite parts of being a part of the kinesiology department. There are so many different research options to choose from, ranging from bone health to science communication, which I am a part of. I work with a small group of other students to research, analyze, and create deliverables on current topics that are shared on both Open Science Framework and Instagram in order to spread reliable and easily digestible health and kinesiology related information to the public. This has been an extraordinary experience and has opened up new pathways and interests to me that I otherwise wouldn’t have known about or thought to pursue. 

 

Daniel Major

Hometown: San Jose, CA 
Major: kinesiology  

What was your motivation to major in kinesiology?

I have always been someone who was inspired by the healthcare field and how they are able to treat people. Playing a sport, I really wanted to learn more about the human body and how it works. As I plan to pursue a career in the healthcare field, I could not be happier with my decision to major in kinesiology. 

Can you describe your working relationships with kinesiology professors? Are there any standout classes you’ve taken? 

The student-teacher relationship in the kinesiology department is amazing. It is such a tight knit group. Every kinesiology professor truly cares and takes the time to not just teach the students but know them on a more personal level as well. I feel highly confident that in the future I can always reach out to any of the professors for questions, or advice, or just to check in and they will be happy to respond. A standout class for me would be Motor Learning with Prof. Bentzen. It's a super interesting topic, and he makes the class very fun with interactive labs that engage you to understand the concepts more thoroughly. 

I feel highly confident that in the future I can always reach out to any of the professors for questions, or advice, or just to check in and they will be happy to respond.

Have you taken part in any student research opportunities through Oxy?

I decided to join directed research with Prof. Yingling, and it was one of the best decisions I’ve made. I was a little nervous at first because I had no research experience, but she is super open to new students and makes the environment super stress-free, fun, and engaging. I am now one of the co-leads on a really awesome muscle-bone research study, and have learned so much to prepare me if I decide to do future research. I highly recommend taking directed research for at least one term. 

What are your ambitions post-Oxy and how has the liberal arts approach helped to put you on this path? 

I plan to go into the healthcare field after graduation. Oxy has created such an inclusive and nurturing environment for my studies that has helped me to understand what it means to care for everyone. Likewise, Oxy has helped me to engage more critical thinking and communication skills through the education provided, as well as many other skills critical in the healthcare field. 

I am now one of the co-leads on a really awesome muscle-bone research study, and have learned so much to prepare me if I decide to do future research. I highly recommend taking directed research for at least one term. 

What is the vibe of the kinesiology department? 

The kinesiology department has an amazing vibe, it’s a tight-knit group. Everyone knows each other, and everyone will usually have at least one class with each other. It's super fun to be a part of a major that has a smaller population, where you can truly connect with all of your classmates and other majors. I am certain I will remain in contact with a lot of my friends who are also kinesiology majors for a long time, we have a good bond.

 

Kylie Jones

Hometown: San Diego, CA 
Major: kinesiology  Minor: cognitive science

Can you describe your working relationships with kinesiology professors? Are there any standout classes you’ve taken?

Although I have loved all of my kinesiology classes, Biomechanics and Anatomy are definitely standouts. The passion and enthusiasm Prof. Rugg has for these classes is the reason I fell in love with the major. Additionally, Prof. Bentzen and Prof. Yingling’s dedication to fostering a community within the department has made my experience truly meaningful. 

Have you taken part in any student research opportunities through Oxy?
I spent two years conducting research in the cognitive science department with Prof. Urstadt on a project titled “Mind Mapping the Brain for Withdrawal.” Motivated by my interest in both cognitive science and kinesiology, I chose to complete my senior comps on a cervical spine strength intervention to decrease concussions in women’s soccer.

Did you study abroad? How did it complement and/or enhance your education?
In my junior year, I had the valuable opportunity to study sports and exercise science at the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand. The classes I took there allowed me to apply my knowledge in hands-on practice and be exposed to the research side of the field. 

Motivated by my interest in both cognitive science and kinesiology, I chose to complete my senior comps on a cervical spine strength intervention to decrease concussions in women’s soccer.

What are your ambitions post-Oxy and how has the liberal arts approach helped to put you on this path?

Coming out of this program, I feel more ready than ever to pursue a variety of career paths. I plan to pursue a master’s degree in biomechanics and explore opportunities in either research or sports biomechanics analytics. I also intend to obtain my strength and conditioning certification to pursue on the side.

 

Shane Kawakami-Williams

Hometown: Honolulu, HI 
Major: kinesiology

Can you describe your working relationships with kinesiology professors? Are there any standout classes you’ve taken?

The relationships with my kinesiology professors are awesome as I feel like I can come to any one of them if I have questions about a topic, whether I am currently taking a class with them or not. Prof. O’Connell’s Anatomy I and Biomechanics courses helped me discover my love of the musculoskeletal system, Prof. Bentzen’s Motor Learning course revealed to me the large role psychology plays in human movement, and Prof. Fink’s Nutrition and Homeostasis course inspired me to think about kinesiology applications outside of the classroom and in my own life.

The fact that there are only a few professors in the department has allowed me to really cultivate a personal connection with all of them.

Have you taken part in any student research opportunities through Oxy?

I am currently taking part in two separate sections of directed research under Prof. Yingling and Prof. Fink. It has been an amazing experience thus far. Ironing out the early and middle stages of what it takes to conduct a successful project has been such a great learning experience and in both of my projects we have now entered the data collection phase. It is very fun to explore the wide variety of topics within kinesiology through this research, from biomechanics to nutrition to exercise physiology.

What is the vibe of the kinesiology department?

I love the vibes of the kinesiology department because it really feels like a small academic family. The fact that there are only a few professors in the department has allowed me to really cultivate a personal connection with all of them whether I have had multiple classes with them, just one, or in some cases none. I have taken very similar classes to other kinesiology majors and thus we have all gotten to know each other quite well through sitting in classes, conducting research, and plenty of studying together.

 

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