School of Kinesiology

Patricia Kelshaw has been immersed in George Mason University’s Athletic Training Education Program for as long as she has been at the university. Kelshaw’s research endeavors to establish more specific baseline measures for children participating in sports to better manage concussions. Those measures could also enhance the Child Support Concussion Assessment Tool, a standardized evaluation instrument that helps assess whether concussions have occurred and informs care throughout recovery. Read more...

Fred Schack’s colleagues at the College of Education and Human Development described him as “steady,” “consistent,” and “dependable.” If there was work to be done, he would volunteer to do it. He was also remembered for always being on time, pitching in with colleagues, and always supporting students. Basically, “he was there,” says Rich Miller, a professor of kinesiology at Mason. Schack, who retired from his position as a professor of kinesiology and physical education this past June, died in September following a short illness. He was 76. More than half of his life was spent as a faculty member at George Mason University. Read more...

George Mason University was ranked as one of the nation’s top institutions for diversity, innovative learning and a campus atmosphere that allows its students to thrive, in U.S. News & World Report’s 2019 rankings, released Monday. For a second consecutive year, Mason is the top-ranked institution in Virginia for campus diversity and tied for 25th nationally. Mason also tied for 28th nationally for educational innovation and was one of only 96 national institutions listed as an “A+ School for B Students,” a category that identifies universities that create an atmosphere in which spirit and hard work fosters student success. Read more...

One of the College of Education and Human Development’s youngest programs has completed the accreditation process, providing further proof that the new classes are equipping students with the tools they need to succeed in the field of athletic training. The Master of Science in Athletic Training (MSAT) program at Mason, housed on the Science and Technology campus, recently received accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education, or CAATE. Read more...

The Mason Arts Research Center does not have a physical structure at George Mason University. But its co-directors want to make it a highly visible hub of research into how arts participation affects child development. It will do so with a two-year, $150,000 renewable grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, and the vision of co-directors Thalia Goldstein, assistant professor of applied developmental psychology; Adam Winsler, professor of applied developmental psychology; and Kim Sheridan, associate professor of educational psychology. Read more...

As the scope of potential short- and long-term damage from brain injuries in football becomes clearer every day, the mad scramble is on to try to address the crisis, which threatens the very existence of the sport. And while the leading chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, research at Boston University has made the most headlines, two scientists at George Mason University have been working on a potentially groundbreaking diagnostic tool that could change the way we test for and treat brain injury across the sports world and beyond. Read more...

Because of the physical demands they face, police and firefighters should be considered athletes, Shane Caswell said. So why not keep them on the job by providing them the same treatment and rehabilitation options that keep injured athletes on the field? Read more...

George Mason is one of the highest-ranked research institutions in the country, according to the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Mason, the largest public research university in Virginia, has joined a group of 115 universities that perform research at the highest level. Below the “R1” rankings are universities that perform “higher research activity,” or “R2,” and then universities that perform “moderate research activity,” or “R3.” Read more...

Margaret Jones has held many jobs—coach, director of strength and conditioning, associate professor of kinesiology at George Mason University. But though her job titles have changed over the years, she’s always felt at home as a member of the National Strength and Conditioning Association. Read more...

With a drop of sweat clinging to the tip of his nose and his shirt drenched from his effort, Mark Ginsberg slowed the pace of the treadmill from a brisk run to a slow walk. “That was good,” the dean of George Mason University’s College of Education and Human Development said of the 1.5-mile run. And it was just the start, as during the next hour Ginsberg was put through several strength and flexibility tests, the results of which senior kinesiology major Matt Hetzer used to develop a fitness program specifically for Ginsberg. excerpted from Mason News Read more...