Alyssa Trad, Ph.D., is an assistant professor in the department of Kinesiology at the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire, where she teaches core classes in physical education teacher education (PETE), adapted physical education (APE), and adventure education. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the State University of New York at Brockport, her master’s degree in APE from the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse, and her Ph.D. from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 2025. Her goal is to create a safe and open learning environment that encourages students to deeply engage in class work while also practicing social and emotional skills to better understand themselves and others around them. Dr. Trad’s research explores PETE students’ social and emotional development, APE teacher socialization and workplace experiences, and community-based volunteer engagement. Feel free to connect with her via email at trada@uwec.edu!
Dr. Youngjoon Kim is an Assistant Professor of Kinesiology at California State University, Fullerton. Dr. Kim graduated from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 2025 with a PhD in Kinesiology. Dr. Kim’s research focuses on physical educators’ motivation, well-being, and workplace experiences, with particular emphasis on how these factors influence teaching effectiveness and student motivation and learning.
Dr. Nicolette Smith-Suchon is an Assistant Professor of Kinesiology at the University of Wisconsin La Crosse. Dr. Smith-Suchon graduated from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 2025 with a PhD in Kinesiology, and her research focuses on the lives and experiences of PETE faculty, and how they were socialized into the field.
Dr. Gabrielle Strittmater is a 2025 graduate of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and is a current Assistant Professor at University of Wisconsin La Crosse. Dr Strittmater’s research interests surround topics such as cultivating joy through movement, meaningful physical education (MPE), and teacher preparation.
Shelby Ison (she, her, hers) recently joined the LiveWell team at Coastal Carolina University during the summer of 2024 and has been loving the Chant life ever since! Prior to her role at CCU, she was a faculty member at Northern Illinois University, Heartland Community College, and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where she also received her Ph.D. in Kinesiology. Shelby started working in higher education in 2013 at Indiana University, where she received her M.S. in Physical Activity, Fitness, and Wellness, and worked within the departments of Campus Recreation and Health Education. Originally from Pennsylvania, Shelby is a first-generation college student who received her undergraduate degree at East Stroudsburg University in Health and Physical Education. Shelby is passionate about breaking down barriers to living a healthy lifestyle through education, programming, and research. In her free time, you can find her walking her mini-aussie, Bloom, running, biking, memorizing lyrics on Spotify, and going to the movies.