Background & Future Career Goals 
I am in my junior year, majoring in kinesiology with a minor in chemistry. I am also pre-dental, and applying to dental schools this summer!

PKL Experience (role in PKL)
This is my second semester in the PKL! I have been working with Paul M, where I transcribe the interviews he conducts and ensure there is no personal information about the participants in the transcriptions.

How has the PKL helped you professionally? 
The PKL has given me a great foundation for future research! It helped me analyze data, think critically, and adapt to new challenges. I have also developed strong organizational and time-management skills while balancing my research commitments with my coursework.

Fun facts!
Coffee or tea? 
Tea

Favorite Movie?
Tangled

What do you like to do in your free time?
In my free time, I like to try new matchas around campus, hang out with friends, and go swimming at the ARC!

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go (and why)?
If I could travel anywhere in the world, I would go to the Swiss Alps! I love hiking, traditional mountain views, and adorable villages. I’ve also never been to Europe and would love to explore.

Words from Mentor: Paul Malinowski

What initially stood out about this student? 
Sophie’s proactiveness and attention to detail.

How has this student grown since joining the PKL? 
Sophie’s scholarly competence has grown through her engagement with research projects involving physical educators and students of all ability levels.

What strengths do they bring to the lab? 
Sophie is very responsible and works diligently to support research projects in the PKL. Her steadfast commitment to scholarly activities has helped the PKL maintain a strong reputation within our field and university.

Background & Career Goals
I am a third-year doctoral candidate at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Before joining the PKL, I earned a bachelor’s degree in Health and Physical Education (PE) from Canisius University and a master’s degree in PE from the University of Wyoming. I also spent one year studying under Dr. Wilson at the University of Utah. Through my teaching, research, and service, I aim to enhance PE programming for students of all ability levels.

PKL Experience (role in PKL)
As a PKL member, I have contributed to research exploring the experiences of adapted physical activity doctoral students, adults with visual impairments, physical educators, and K–12 students. My work in the PKL has also involved mentoring Sophie Finke and several other exceptional undergraduate research assistants over the past few years.

Explain your research and what has been most exciting so far? 
My research explores how students of all ability levels respond to alternative pedagogical approaches in PE programs. These approaches invite students to fulfill leadership roles in PE and it is very exciting to see how this can energize teaching and learning activities. My research has also created opportunities for me to visit several neat cities in the United States, which I am particularly grateful for.

How has the PKL helped you professionally? 
The faculty and students in the PKL are very insightful and passionate about the PE profession. They are great collaborators and their support has helped me become more thoughtful in my research and teaching.

Fun Facts
Coffee or tea?
Tea

Favorite movie?
Space Jam. My honorable mentions are The Mask and I Robot.

What do you like to do in your free time? 
I enjoy anything that is physically active, especially soccer, pickleball, and cornhole.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go (and why)? 
Australia. I’ve heard the beaches and parks are really nice there.

Words from Mentor: Wesley Wilson

What made you want to recruit this student? 
Paul Mal completed his master’s with one of our colleagues, and former PKL graduate student, Dr. Ben Kern. Ben often bragged about how clean a writer Paul was as a master’s student. I recruited him to University of Utah, where I worked at the time, and he followed me to Illinois where he has continued to develop as a strong writer and emerging researcher.

What strengths do they bring to the lab? 
As I mentioned earlier, Paul has brought a propensity for writing and an ambition to publish. Through his time in the PKL he has included several other graduate and undergraduate students on manuscripts that have been since published in peer review journals.

Any additional comments? 
He is currently collecting data for his dissertation out of state!

Future Career Goals
I am a chemistry major with aspirations to go into medicine.

PKL Experience
I am an undergraduate research assistant for Tanner Wheat. This is my third semester working with Tanner.

How has the PKL helped you professionally?
PKL has helped me professionally in developing a multitude of skills that I can apply across my professional life.

Fun Facts
Coffee or tea?
Tea

Favorite movie?
Too many to choose from

Favorite hobby?
I enjoy playing/watching soccer and tennis

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go (and why)?
Santorini as it is a place I’ve never been to and would like to see personally.

Words From Mentor: Tanner Wheat

What initially stood out about this student?
When Max joined the lab, he was somebody who was clearly ambitious and had substantial goals for himself.

How has this student grown since joining the PKL?
Max is somebody who has proven to be very reliable, and also very flexible. Other lab members will specifically ask if they can work with him for a small amount of time because they know he will do a good job, and meet any and all timeline expectations.

What strengths do they bring to the lab?
Dependability, flexibility, strong collaborator, positive attitude.

I have no doubts that although Max has set himself some very ambitious goals, he will have no issue achieving them.

Background & Career Goals
I am a fourth-year Ph.D. student in the Department of Recreation, Sport, and Tourism and have been fortunate to find my intellectual home in the Pedagogical Kinesiology Lab within the Department of Health and Kinesiology. My research interests are informed by my experiences as a Paralympic athlete and focus on understanding the grassroots experiences of disabled athletes in high school sport settings. Professionally, I hope to pursue a student-facing role where I can support and mentor undergraduate students in higher education.

Explain your research and what has been most exciting so far?
My dissertation research explores the experiences of disabled high school athletes and the factors that influence their opportunities to participate in school sports. I examine how policies and social environments can either support or limit inclusive athletic participation. The goal of this work is to better understand how schools can create more equitable sport opportunities for disabled students and to challenge stakeholders to support a more positive disability sport experience for disabled athletes.

How has the PKL helped you professionally?
My time in the Pedagogical Kinesiology Lab has been the pinnacle of my graduate school experience. The collaborative nature of the Lab has allowed me to ask questions about research processes and learn directly from peers and faculty while engaging in ongoing research projects. This space has continued to fuel my professional curiosities that has significantly shaped my development as a scholar. My most valuable experience in the PKL includes the opportunity to be an undergraduate student mentor. This role helped me discover a strong passion for working with and supporting undergraduate students on campus.

Fun Facts
Coffee or tea?
Coffee

Favorite movie?
The Grand Budapest Hotel

Favorite hobby?
In my free time, you’ll usually find me spending time outdoors, enjoying quality time with my husband and daughter, or working out!

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go (and why)?
Japan! I’ve traveled to Japan several times for professional sporting events and have always enjoyed the country’s incredible food, breathtaking landscapes, and unique cultural experiences.