What's New
at K-State's Community Health Institute

New CHI Faculty Associate Scientist

Dr. Melissa Bopp, Assistant Professor in the Department of Kinesiology, joined CHI in August 2005 as a new Faculty Associate Scientist. She received her B.S. degree in Kinesiology from the University of New Brunswick and M.S. degree from East Stroudsburg University. Her doctoral work was in the Health Aspects of Physical Activity in the Department of Exercise Science and School of Public Health at the University of South Carolina. She has received the prestigious Paffenbarger Fellowship award for epidemiological research from the American College of Sports Medicine. Most recently, she has been involved in the development, implementation, and evaluation of a CDC funded faith-based initiative promoting physical activity through African Methodist Episcopal churches.

New CHI Staff

Ric Rosenkranz joined CHI in January 2005 as a graduate research assistant. Ric received his undergraduate degree from KU in psychology. He earned his master's degree in human development and family life from the University of North Dakota, and a master's degree in kinesiology from K-State. Most recently he has been director of youth development for U.S.A. Triathlon at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. Ric is working on his Ph.D. in human nutrition.

Karly Geller is a Graduate Research Assistant at CHI. She received her undergraduate degree with a double major in Psychology and Criminal Justice from the University of West Florida. Her master's degree work was in sports and exercise psychology at the University of Virginia where she completed her thesis on a family intervention targeting nutrition and physical activity promotion. She was a graduate assistant on the PALS project, which is a scientifically-based phonological awareness and literacy screening project that is used by over 14,000 teachers in Virginia and schools in 42 states and 6 countries. Karly is pursuing her Ph.D. in human nutrition.

Kristin Trost is the Communications Coordinator/Laboratory Manager for the Community Health Institute. She received her B.S. in Journalism from Oregon State University. She has had experience in both communications and data management. Her past experience includes being research assistant on a large NIH funded physical activity intervention study involving children and adolescents.

Active Living Research Conference

The 3rd Annual ALR Conference will be February 16-18, 2006, in Coronado, California. For more details, go to www.activelivingresearch.org.

Upcoming Guest Speaker

Dr. Russell R. Pate, Professor of Exercise Science and Associate Dean for Research in the School of Public Health at the University of South Carolina, will visit K-State on March 30, 2006 to speak on physical activity and public health. More details will be available soon.