Rocky Mount, NC – April 3, 2025 – North Carolina Wesleyan University proudly hosted its annual Honors Convocation, celebrating the exceptional achievements of its students. The event, held at the Dunn Center for the Performing Arts, recognized students who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, academic excellence, community service, and contributions to the university.
The ceremony included the presentation of various awards from each school within the university:
- School of Math and Sciences: Awards for outstanding achievements in disciplines such as Biology, Chemistry, Exercise Science, Environmental Science, Public Health, and Mathematics.
- School of Business: Recognized excellence in fields like Accounting, Marketing, Computer Information Systems, and Organizational and Sports Administration.
- School of Education and Social Sciences : Honored students who have demonstrated exceptional dedication and skill in teaching, educational leadership, History, Political Science, Psychology and Criminal Justice.
- School of Humanities: Awards for outstanding achievements in disciplines such as Writing, Religious Studies, English and more.
Students were selected for these prestigious honors by a panel of faculty and staff, based on their leadership, academic achievement, community service, contributions to the university, and good citizenship. There is no doubt that these students will go on to accomplish great things.
Provost Dr. Joe Lane expressed his pride in the students’ accomplishments, stating, “Our awardees and honor society members have displayed outstanding contributions both inside and outside the classroom. Their dedication and hard work are truly commendable, and we are confident that they will continue to excel in their future endeavors.”
North Carolina Wesleyan University remains committed to fostering an environment of academic excellence and leadership, and the Honors Convocation is a testament to the university’s dedication to recognizing and celebrating student achievements.
When you see these students, please take a moment to congratulate them.
To See entire list and photos from event, visit ncwu.edu/academics/academic-honors
Bishops Explore Exergaming
Students at North Carolina Wesleyan University are taking an innovative approach to understanding physical activity behavior in Dr. Shannon Crowley’s Exercise Psychology class. In this class, Dr. Crowley, Associate Professor of Public Health and Director of the MPH program, leads Public Health, Exercise Science, and Psychology students in exploring psychological theories that help predict and influence health-oriented physical activity behaviors. The course also introduces cutting-edge strategies to promote physical activity, particularly among populations that may struggle with traditional exercise routines. This is particularly important, considering that less than half of U.S. adults meet the minimum physical activity recommendations for health.
One of the most popular and engaging topics in the course is Exergaming—a dynamic concept that integrates physical activity into interactive gameplay. This method offers an exciting alternative for individuals who may not enjoy conventional workouts while still reaping the benefits of movement and exercise.
Beyond theoretical discussions, students actively participate in Exergaming sessions using virtual reality headsets, adding an experiential learning component to the class. These hands-on sessions are made possible through a partnership with Dr. Ayra Sundbom, Visiting Assistant Professor of Education and Director of Instructional Technology, further reinforcing the University’s commitment to incorporating technology-driven learning experiences into the curriculum.
By merging psychology, technology, and exercise, Dr. Crowley’s students are gaining firsthand insight into how innovation can reshape the future of fitness and health behavior interventions.
Faculty Member Earns Advanced Credential in Sports Science
ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA – Exercise Science faculty member, Vanessa Batchelor, recently earned an advanced credential through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) as a Certified Performance and Sport Scientist® (CPSS®). This highly regarded certification in Exercise and Sport Science fields emphasizes applying scientific principles to improve athletic performance and prevent injury.
This enhancement to Batchelor’s credentials expands her certified skill sets in research, statistics, and data analytics as they apply to sport. She earned her initial strength and conditioning certification—NCSA’s Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist® (CSCS®)—in 2018. Batchelor is a 2016 alumna of North Carolina Wesleyan, earning a B.S. in Exercise Science, and earned an M.S. in Exercise Science at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 2019.
This CPSS® credential opens a variety of future career avenues for Batchelor, who has served as a Visiting Instructor of Exercise Science since the fall of 2022, and as the North Carolina Wesleyan Assistant Women’s Soccer Coach since 2021. CPSS®-certified scientists are hired as qualified Sports Science Coordinators or Directors, Sports Performance Analysts, or research and data scientists for sports teams/organizations at the collegiate or professional level, research organizations, or private practices.
Batchelor added that her certifications set North Carolina Wesleyan’s programs apart from other small universities by utilizing recently acquired top-of-the-line advanced sport science technology to its full extent—enriching the student and student athlete experience over other small NCAA DIII institutions. Her advanced credentials will also significantly enhance the academic and athletic experiences of North Carolina Wesleyan’s current students through her mentorship of student interns, applying a hands-on approach with student research, and designing unique learning experiences using advanced technological resources.
Working directly with exercise science students at North Carolina Wesleyan, Batchelor has helped foster the major’s active undergraduate research program—yielding several student presentations at the Southeast American College of Sports Medicine (SEACSM) and ACSM annual meetings and a 2023 publication in Gazzetta Medica Italiana-Archivio per le Scienze Mediche she co-authored with students and colleagues at North Carolina Wesleyan.
Dr. Meir Magal, Chair of the School of Math and Science and Program Coordinator for Exercise Science acknowledges the added value Batchelor brings to the Exercise Science program and coaching staff. “I am very excited to have Vanessa on the exercise science team. With her extensive education, wealth of experience, and the attainment of this challenging and quality NSCA certification, she brings a unique and valuable perspective to the program.”
University Recognized by ACSM’s Exercise is Medicine® Program
NCWU among 145 Campuses Honored Worldwide
ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA – North Carolina Wesleyan University is one of only 145 universities and colleges around the world to be honored by Exercise is Medicine® (EIM) for its efforts to create a culture of wellness on its campus. Faculty/Staff Personal Training, Wesleyan Wellness initiatives, the Walk with the President, the Lunch and Learn Series for Health, and other physical activity events conducted by the NCWU Health and Movement Science Club helped NCWU earn Silver level designation from the Exercise is Medicine® On Campus (EIM-OC) program. Exercise is Medicine is a community-impact initiative of the American College of Sports Medicine.
“We are thrilled to recognize these campuses’ commitment to make movement a part of daily campus culture and give students the tools to cultivate physical activity habits that will benefit them throughout their lives,”said interim CEO Katie Feltman, CAE. “These campus programs are nurturing future leaders who will advance a key tenet of Exercise is Medicine: making physical activity assessment and promotion a standard in health care.”
“We are excited to have received the EIM-OC Silver distinction for the fifth year in a row! This distinction was made possible by the collaborative efforts of our students, faculty, staff, and administration, who continue to support our efforts to promote the health benefits of physical activity on campus,” said Dr. Shannon Crowley, Associate Professor of Public Health, and Exercise is Medicine on Campus program advisor.
Of the 145 campuses recognized this year, 83 received Gold, 44 received Silver and 18 received Bronze. All Gold, Silver and Bronze universities and colleges will be officially recognized on May 29 at the EIM recognition ceremony at ACSM’s Annual Meeting.
EIM-OC calls upon universities and colleges to promote physical activity as a vital sign of health and encourages faculty, staff and students to work together to improve the health and well-being of the campus community.
EIM-OC launched its recognition program in 2014 to honor campuses for their efforts to create a culture of wellness. Schools earn Gold, Silver or Bronze status based on their activities. Gold level campuses have created a referral system where campus health care providers assess student physical activity and refer students as necessary to a certified fitness professional as part of medical treatment. Silver campuses engage students, faculty and staff in education initiatives and make movement part of the daily campus culture while Bronze level campuses promote and generate awareness of the health benefits of physical activity.
About Exercise Is Medicine
The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) co-launched Exercise is Medicine® (EIM) in 2007 with the American Medical Association. ACSM continues to manage the global health initiative, which seeks to make physical activity assessment and promotion a standard in clinical care, connecting health care with evidence-based physical activity resources for people everywhere of all abilities. EIM is committed to the belief that physical activity promotes optimal health, is integral in the prevention and treatment of many medical conditions and should be regularly assessed and included as part of health care. Visit www.ExerciseisMedicine.org for additional information.
About the American College of Sports Medicine
The American College of Sports Medicine is the largest sports medicine and exercise science organization in the world. More than 50,000 international, national and regional members and certified professionals are dedicated to advancing and integrating scientific research to provide educational and practical applications of exercise science and sports medicine. More details at www.acsm.org.
Exercise Science Program Reaccredited
ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA – North Carolina Wesleyan’s Exercise Science program has received full reaccreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). CAAHEP’s Committee on Accreditation of Exercise Sciences (CoAES) conducted a comprehensive review of all of the program’s academic offerings, facilities, and faculty qualifications and recommended a ten-year reaffirmation. The Exercise Science program’s next comprehensive review will take place in 2034.
This recognition comes in a year of exciting growth and expansion for NCWU’s programs in the exercise and public health fields. NCWU launched a new Masters of Public Health program in August 2023, and in October 2023, a transformative gift from Wayne Souza (Class of 1973) greatly expanded the teaching, training, and research spaces in Wesleyan’s new (2021) Indoor Sports & Education Facility (ISEF). The undergraduate degree in Exercise Science now accounts for NCWU’s second most popular major among traditional, incoming first-year students, and the program has added new faculty members and recently passed plans for a second Masters level program that will soon be submitted to the University’s regional accrediting body.
“I am extremely excited and humbled to have the opportunity to direct a CoAES-accredited program, continue providing quality education, and train the next generation of exercise physiologists,” commented Dr. Meir Magal, Souza Professor of Exercise Science and Director of the Exercise Science program.
NCWU Provost Dr. Joe Lane noted, “North Carolina Wesleyan students are very fortunate to study in a CoAES and CAAHEP recognized program. Few schools our size can boast of such accreditation. This recognition, along with the remarkable upgrade in our facilities and equipment over the last several years, demonstrates that NCWU’s Exercise Science program is one of the very finest in our region, and we looking forward to being a leading educator of exercise science professionals well into the future.”
North Carolina Wesleyan University’s Exercise Science program welcomes students interested in a wide range of disciplines, from exercise physiology and strength and conditioning to athletic training and physical therapy, to tour our upgraded equipment and facility.
Exercise Science Team Attend 2024 SEACSM Conference
On February 21 and 22, three NC Wesleyan’s Exercise Science faculty members, Dr. Meir Magal, Dr. Tim Dornemann, and Coach Vanessa Batchelor, and eight students attended the American College of Sports Medicine regional conference (SEACSM) in Greenville, SC. The students and faculty members attended presentations and tutorials on exercise science, sports science-related data analytics, physical therapy, and athletic training. Further, three students, Zach Marquis, Victoria Farji, and Gustavo Rivas (left to right), represented the university at the 2024 SEACSM Student Bowl.
The 2024 Annual Meeting had over 470 presentations including 6 invited speakers, 2 preconference sessions with 8 presentations, 17 tutorials, 15 symposia, 35 oral presentations, 48 thematic posters, 299 poster presentations, 24 posters in the Student Award session, and 9 lectures and 9 case presentations in the Sports Medicine Physician Track program. The event had close to 1,000 attendees again this year, the majority of whom are students, many attending their first conference or making their first presentation.
Students and Faculty Attend 2023 American College of Sports Medicine Conference
Drs. Crowley and Magal, along with three former students, attended the 2023 American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Annual Meeting & World Congresses in Denver, CO from May 30-June 3. At the conference and under the directorship of Dr. Magal, the three former students presented the findings of their research projects from the 2022-23 academic year. Matan Amitay’s presentation was titled: “Sex Differences In Mid-thigh Isometric Pull Performance Comparing Traditional Bar Grip And Pelvic Belt Methods,” Kelsey Hutchison’s presentation was titled: “Neuromuscular Performance Is Associated With 20- And 40-meter Sprint Times In Female Collegiate Soccer Players” and Isabel Neall’s presentation was titled: “The Relationship Between Jump Performance, Isometric Mid-Thigh Pull, and Reactive Strength In Female Soccer Players.” Matan’s project and travel were supported by The Frank Smith Wilkinson Lectureship Award and Kelsey and Isabel’s project and travel were supported by the Taylor-Crocker Honors Program.
Dr. Shannon Crowley, Associate Professor of Public Health and faculty representative to Exercise is Medicine on Campus (EIM-OC), presented a poster titled: “Sedentary Behavior, Sleep, And Depressive Symptoms After Sport-related Concussion.” On behalf of North Carolina Wesleyan University, Dr. Crowley received the Silver Campus Designation Certification during the EIM-OC recognition ceremony.
NC Wesleyan’s Exercise Science Program Presents at Regional Conference
ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA — On Thursday, February 17 and Friday, February 8 three of NC Wesleyan’s Exercise Science faculty members, along with seven students, attended the regional conference of the American College of Sports Medicine in Greenville, South Carolina. These students and faculty members presented research and tutorials on exercise science, exercise physiology and athletic performance.
Megan Mackey, a Biomedical Sciences honor’s student, and Savannah Chenault, an Exercise Science major, collaborated on a scientific poster titled, “Sleep and Depressive Symptoms After Sport Related Concussion.” This poster was presented by Mackey, a top 8 undergraduate student award finalist. Dr. Shannon Crowley, Associate Professor of Exercise Science, served as the faculty mentor on the project.
This was the first time students in NCWC’s Exercise Science Program participated in the Southeastern Chapter of the American College of Sports Medicine (SEACSM) Student Bowl. Savion Young, Matan Amitay and Savannah Chenault finished the competition in the top ten, surpassing many regional, state and private academic institutions.
“We appreciate the support of the College and the Taylor-Crocker Honors Program that allowed us to expose students to this unique opportunity,” stated Dr. Meir Magal, Professor of Exercise Science and NCWC’s Exercise Science Program Director.
In addition, Dr. Alex Ehlert, Assistant Professor of Exercise Science, presented a poster titled, “Associations Between GPS-Derived Training Metrics and Subjective Readiness Ratings in NCAA Female Soccer Players.” Dr. Meir Magal presented a tutorial titled, “ACSM Certifications: Defining an Exercise Profession and How to Succeed in the Exercise Profession.”
Wesleyan Students Awarded for their Research
Wesleyan Students Awarded for their Research
Biomedical Science seniors, Beverly Anaele and Jawuanna McAllister, presented their research at the NC Academy of Science (NCAS) at UNC Wilmington on March 23, 2019. Both young women have been doing research at NC Wesleyan for the past two years, independently as juniors and later as part of their senior honors theses. Beverly has worked with Dr. Kosal, and Jawuanna has worked with Dr. Stovall.
At the conference, Beverly won the 3rd Place Derieux Award for her oral presentation in the Ecology, Botany, & Zoology category! Her talk was titled “Can a natural plant product, such as the American beautyberry, repel and alter mosquito behavior?” Jawuanna won the 1st Place Derieux Award for her oral talk in the Cell & Molecular Biology and Physiology category. Jawuanna’s talk was “Effect of Caffeine on PALLD Expression and GBM Cell Invasion.”
Both Beverly and Jawuanna have just finished one-year terms as the Secretary and President, respectively, of the Collegiate Academy of NCAS. Both young women are graduating from Wesleyan this semester and have big plans! In August, Beverly, who recently won the Biology Award at the NC Wesleyan Honors Convocation, will begin a Master’s of Public Health program at Thomas Jefferson University, and Jawuanna will start her Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Molecular and Cell Biology at Cornell University.
Congratulations to these outstanding and successful young scientists! The Biology department will be sad to see them go. But, we are so excited to see what they become.
Students & Faculty Attend American College of Sports Medicine Conference
On February 14th and 15th, Drs. Crowley, Henderson and Magal, and four students attended the regional conference of the American College of Sports Medicine in Greenville, SC.
At the conference and under the direction of Dr. Crowley, Mehli Marcellus and Tyler Ricks presented a research project titled: “Factors Influencing Attitude Towards, and Participation in, Physical Activity in Eastern North Carolina”.
Also at the conference, Dr. Meir Magal, Program Director and Professor of Exercise Science together with Mr. Francis Neric, Director of Certifications at the American College of Sports Medicine, has co-presented a tutorial titled: “Graduated Now What? Succeeding in the Exercise Profession”
