Kelley receives Chairs' Faculty Teaching Award

Dr. Mark Kelley, assistant professor of exercise science, will receive the Chairs' Faculty Teaching Award during Honors Convocation April 13.

The convocation will be held at 11 a.m. in the Bromeley Family Theater in Blaisdell Hall. Dr. Livingston Alexander, president, will be the keynote speaker. The public is welcome.

Kelley directs Pitt-Bradford's exercise science program and was nominated for the teaching honor by Dr. Mary Mulcahy, associate professor of biology and chair of the Division of Biological and Health Sciences.

In her nomination, Mulcahy praised Kelly's high teaching evaluation scores and heavy workload advising 60 or more students.

This academic year, Kelley established an “Exercise is Medicine” program on campus, organizing a successful Exercise is Medicine Week in October. During the week, students, faculty and staff worked together to achieve goals in miles walked, pushups completed, step-ups and jumping jacks.

Kelley also became the advisor this year for a new club on campus, the Student Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Club, more commonly known as the “Sprainiacs.”

In 2014, Kelley led a curriculum change in the program as well as a name change from sports medicine to exercise science. Under his direction, the program has grown to 70 students, and two years ago, he led a successful search and hired Zac Stark to fill a second faculty position in exercise science.

“The success of students graduating from the program is very impressive,” Mulcahy noted, citing six seniors who have already been accepted into doctoral programs for physical or occupational therapy.

Kelley is also conducting research to survey collegiate athletic trainers about their job satisfaction and takes part in professional organizations.

When he is not working or running himself, Kelley serves as the head girls' cross-country coach at Bradford Area High School, where he is also an assistant coach for the boys' track team.

Kelley and his wife, Barbara, live in Bradford.