Beth, Graduate Student

Opportunity and Excellence Abound

Beth discusses body-mass index with student volunteer.Academic excellence and educational opportunity were just two of the reasons that Western Illinois University kinesiology graduate student Beth Ewing decided to continue her education at WIU after earning her bachelor's degree in 2007.

Beth transferred to WIU from Illinois Central College in 2005 for two reasons: it was close to her hometown of Pekin, and Western offered a strong program in kinesiology. She earned her bachelor's degree with academic distinction (magna cum laude) in Summer 2008, and now Beth is a graduate teaching assistant in the department and is conducting numerous hands-on exercise and health-related studies to apply what she has learned in the classroom to real life.

"After my experience as an undergrad in the kinesiology department, I knew that I wanted to stay for my master's. Both the faculty and staff care about the students and offer assistance whenever needed," she said. "More specifically, after working with the professors as an undergrad I knew they were there to fully support my education and push me to do my best work. I also was drawn to stay at WIU because of the teaching assistant positions. Such positions are not only a great help financially, but also a great step toward the future."

Hands-On Research

Beth's current research includes an Opuntia Ficus Indica – which is similar to the prickly pear – study for pre-diabetic men and women aged 18-50; a Forskolin investigation in women ages 18-40 (Forskolin is commonly used to raise levels of cyclic AMP (cAMP) in the study and research of cell physiology (Cyclic AMP is required for cell communication in the hypothalamus/pituitary gland axis and for the feedback control of hormones); and for her master's degree thesis, the relationship between body mass index and percent body fat in females ages 18-70.

"My academic curriculum at WIU has prepared me, and is preparing me, for the future by offering courses in several kinesiology-related topics to give me an expansive knowledge of the field. And the studies I'm able to conduct are giving me hands-on experience that is vital to my work as a researcher," Beth said.

Beth assists student into the Bod Pod.

BOD POD: A method for determining the lean body mass. The BOD POD is a computerized, egg-shaped chamber. Using the same whole-body measurement principle as underwater weighing, the BOD POD measures a subject's mass and volume, from which their whole-body density is determined. Using these data, body fat and lean muscle mass can then be calculated. (source: medicinenet.com)

Personal Growth

Classroom and research work aside, Beth believes that personal growth through involvement in extracurricular activities is essential to the college experience. During her time at Western she has been involved in such organizations as the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, the American College of Sports Medicine, the American Council on Exercise (Certified Personal Trainer), Phi Kappa Phi Student Honor Society, Mortar Board Student Honor Society, Phi Epsilon Sigma Student Kinesiology Honor Society and Phi Theta Kappa Student Honor Society. In addition, Beth completed an undergraduate internship with Kraft Foods Corporate Office Fitness Center.

If coursework, research studies and academic honoraries weren't enough, Beth has also served in numerous capacities as a volunteer at Western, including at the Donald S. Spencer Student Recreation Center, for Relay for Life, as a kinesiology department tutor, as a fundraiser for the Kinesiology Honor Society, for the University's We Care program and as a fitness instructor at the Everly House Nursing Home in Macomb.

A Bright Future

Following her expected May 2009 graduation date from WIU, Beth plans to begin working on her Ph.D. in exercise physiology. Her interests – which began at Western – include conducting research and becoming a kinesiology professor.

"As an undergraduate I really learned to push myself to do my best. Since being in graduate school, I have worked with professors, such as Dr. Michael Godard, who have helped me to expand my knowledge about research, education and the future," Beth said. "All of my educational experiences here have provided, and are providing, a terrific base for my future."