Mission Statement

The University of Michigan School of Kinesiology strives to be an international leader in education and research related to physical activity, health and wellness, and sport management.

Core Values

Together, these values will help our school build a culture that is productive, engaging, and which fosters excellence, innovation, and growth.

Collaboration
We value strong relationships and seek to connect and engage with others across our school, university, and beyond.

Creativity
We value curiosity and intellectual growth. We seek to challenge existing knowledge and find innovative and creative solutions to support and advance our mission.

Inclusion
We are committed to creating an environment where people feel a sense of belonging, acceptance, and community. We embrace and celebrate our diverse backgrounds.

Integrity
Our actions are guided and aligned with a commitment to ethics, honesty, accountability, and principled behavior.

Respect
We recognize that words and actions matter. We believe in treating each other with courtesy, empathy, and dignity. We encourage the civil and respectful expression of ideas and opinions.

A Message from the Dean

On July 1, 2016, I was thrilled to officially join the University of Michigan School of Kinesiology as its new dean. As I’ve walked through our halls, classrooms, offices, and labs, everyone I’ve met has spoken in some way about the future of our school – how we’ll craft our strategic vision; evolve our curriculum; grow our programs and research. How we’ll actualize the plans we’ve hatched and dreams we’ve nurtured. Who we will be as a school.

I invite you, the students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends of our school, to collaborate with me on the challenging and fun work ahead of us. Our identity is a shared one. We will all benefit from a strategic vision that incorporates and celebrates the diverse interests, research, coursework, and priorities of our undergraduate and graduate programs.

In turn, our local and global communities will benefit from the ideas, methods, and solutions that result from our teamwork. Our world needs to solve complex problems such as obesity and sport-related injuries, generate innovative ways to create sustainable and healthy communities, and accelerate business growth and urban redevelopment through sport. Our extremely talented faculty, students, and alumni will lead the charge through their intellectual curiosity, hard work, and tenacity.

There’s much to do, and research, and learn, and discuss, and share. I hope you’ll join me in charting our school’s new course. I’m confident that together we’ll build something stronger, bigger, and better than we ever could have imagined by ourselves.

Lori Ploutz-Snyder, PhD
Professor and Dean
School of Kinesiology

Senior Leadership
Under Dean Ploutz-Snyder

Associate Deans

• Kathy Babiak, PhD - Associate Dean, Faculty Affairs
• Pete Bodary, PhD - Associate Dean, Undergraduate Education
• Steven Broglio, PhD, ATC - Associate Dean, Graduate Student Affairs
• Natalie Colabianchi, PhD - Associate Dean, Research

Program Chairs & Faculty Directors

• Ketra Armstrong, PhD - Director, Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
• David Conroy, PhD, FACSM, FSBM - Program Chair, Applied Exercise Science
• Kelli Donahue, MA - Associate Program Chair, Sport Management
• Deanna Gates, PhD - Graduate Program Director, Movement Science
• Sandra Hunter, PhD - Program Chair, Movement Science
• Dae Hee Kwak, PhD - Graduate Program Director, Sport Management
• Brian McCullough, PhD - Program Chair, Sport Management
• Kara Palmer, PhD - Associate Program Chair, Movement Science
• Riann Palmieri-Smith, PhD, ATC - Program Chair, Athletic Training
• Laura Richardson, PhD, RCEP - Associate Program Chair, Applied Exercise Science

Staff Directors

• Lori Helvey, MBA - Executive Director, Finance, Planning, & Operations
• Shannon Hennessey, PhD - Senior Director, Undergraduate Student Affairs & Strategic Engagement Initiatives
• Emily Mathews, MS - Senior Director, Marketing & Communications
• Jacquie Niven, SPHR, SHRM-SCP - Director, Human Resources
• Robin Stock, MBA - Chief Development Officer

Organizational Chart