Former Students

Previous Health and Well-Being (IPARC) Fellows

camillaCamilla Hodge (Advisor – Kanters)
PhD Graduate (2014)

Dr. Hodge worked on IPARC team projects including the USA Hockey Study and HIFE program. Dr. Hodge’s dissertation examined the relationship between family leisure behaviors and various elements of family life such as the strength of family relationships, communication, and affective involvement. Dr. Hodge is currently an Assistant Professor at the University of Utah  in the Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management Department.

 

rsm2_001Robert Sayre-McCord (Advisor – Bocarro)
Master’s Graduate (2014)

Rob was a research assistant with IPARC and worked on funded projects related to youth sports and the Community Transformation grant focused on shared use of school facilities. His thesis examined the long-term effects of specialization on elite youth athletes. Rob is currently a recreation supervisor for the Town of Central Falls in Rhode Island.

 

 

Kelly McFadden (Advisor – Henderson)McFadden_photo
Master’s Graduate (2013)

Kelly was a research assistant with IPARC. Her primary area of research focused on understanding extrinsic motivators and inhibitors for adults’ engagement in physical activity with a focus on group and outdoor adventure activities. Kelly currently works as an instructor at Green Mountain College in Vermont.

 

LianaforIPARCwebsiteLiana Dern (Advisor – Bocarro)
Master’s Graduate (2012)

Liana was a research assistant with IPARC and North Carolina Senior Games. Liana’s master’s thesis examined children’s perceptions of aging, specifically among children who have physically active grandparents. Liana currently works for the Carteret County Parks & Recreation Department.

 


Candice Bruton (Advisor – Floyd)CBruton3_000
PhD Graduate (2013)

Dr. Bruton was a research assistant with IPARC. Her research interests lie in understanding the relationship between parks, trails, and other public recreation facilities in the built environment and physical activity. Disparities of quality and condition among parks and trails located in low income and minority communities are of particular interest. She also focuses on the use of GIS and spatial analysis to understand these relationships. Dr. Bruton is currently working for the city of Greensboro Parks and Recreation Department after serving as an Assistant Professor at University of North Carolina at Greensboro in the Community and Therapeutic Recreation Department.

 

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Michael Edwards (Advisor – Bocarro/Kanters)
PhD Graduate (2009)

Dr. Edwards was a research assistant with IPARC and a recipient of a Robert Wood Johnson dissertation grant. Dr. Edwards’ dissertation examined institutional and community systems that influence the provision of physical activity opportunities among middle school students. Dr. Edwards is currently an Associate Professor at NC State University having spent 4 years as an Assistant Professor at Texas A&M University in the Recreation, Parks and Tourism Sciences Department.

 

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Ben Hickerson (Advisor – Henderson)
PhD Graduate (2009)

Dr. Hickerson was a research assistant with IPARC and a recipient of an FRPD grant to conduct his dissertation research. Dr. Hickerson’ dissertation examined the individual, social, environmental and organizational factors that were associated with children’s physical activity levels within summer camps. Dr. Hickerson is currently an Associate Professor at University of North Carolina Greensboro in the Community and Therapeutic Recreation Department.

 

witmerLarissa Witmer (Advisor – Bocarro)
Master’s Graduate (2009)

Larissa was a research assistant with IPARC. She was involved with a variety of IPARC projects including the 2008 Active Recreation Counts Summit. Her primary area of interest was leisure and health, and more specifically, physical activity and eating behaviors. Her thesis research involved conducting focus groups with inactive middle school girls to explore their perceptions of physical activity and eating. Larissa is currently the Assistant Dean for Projects and Programs at the University of North Carolina Greensboro after having worked at the Penn State Social Science Research Institute for 7 years.