Career opportunities in the field of exercise and sports science are expanding. Olivet is committed to helping students discover careers that match their interests.
“Many of our students enter our program with the goal of becoming a physical therapist or an occupational therapist,” says Dr. Aaron Thompson, department chair. “We want to introduce them to more potential occupations that might be a better fit for them.”
To help expand that process, Dr. Alissa Underhill joined Olivet’s full-time faculty in fall 2017 and is the University’s first exercise physiologist. Her areas of specialty include disease state prevention, metabolism and weight loss, exercise physiology, kinesiology, exercise testing and prescription, and wellness. Before coming to Olivet, she taught at Moody Bible Institute-Spokane (Washington) for seven years. She also volunteered with a nonprofit organization, Healing Spokane, which hosted regular health information forums for the public.
Dr. Underhill is passionate about the prevention of different health diseases. “Educating individuals on what they can do to slow or reverse diseases is so important,” she says. “We can help them not have to go down certain pathways in their lives.”
“Utilizing Dr. Underhill’s expertise, Olivet can now combine nutrition with exercise science,” says Dr. Thompson. “This is a big plus for our program.”
With a desire to provide additional specialized service opportunities for Olivet students, Dr. Underhill is leading a mission trip to Gualan, Guatemala, during spring break 2018. Working with the mission organization Hearts in Motion, the group will be providing health care services to the community.
Planning for the future, Dr. Thompson wants to add a dedicated lab for student research and experiential learning. Dr. Underhill wants to start more student-based research projects, mentor students as they are doing research and also continue her own research. “Our goal is to prepare students well for the graduate programs they will be entering,” she says.
To learn more about Olivet’s Department of Exercise and Sports Science, contact the Office of Admissions at admissions@olivet.edu or 800-648-1463.
