UW Kinesiology Graduate Students Study Abroad in Shanghai

Seven graduate students, along with two faculty members from the University of Wyoming’s Division of Kinesiology and Health, traveled to Shanghai in March to take part in a four-week study-abroad program at the Shanghai University of Sport (SUS).

It was the first-ever international education and cultural exchange for the division’s graduate program.

UW graduate students included Ashlyn Brown, from Raleigh, N.C.; Kayla Marsh, from Plano, Texas; Megan Lee, from Austin, Texas; James Paterson, from Nyack, N.Y.; Laci Sligar, from St. Louis, Mo.; and Michael Torres, from San Bernardino, Calif. A Ph.D. student, Fabien Correia, from Brockton, Mass., also joined the group. The program was led by Professor Tristan Wallhead and Assistant Professor Kelly Simonton, both in the Division of Kinesiology and Health in UW’s College of Health Sciences.

The primary focus of the learning exchange between visiting UW students and those from SUS was to establish a collaborative mentorship learning environment in physical education/teacher education (PETE). The UW graduate students mentored the SUS graduate students to deliver a teaching model in physical education.

“My goal for this program was to provide our PETE graduate students an opportunity to engage in cultural collaboration through an immersive academic mentorship program,” Wallhead says. “The UW graduate students each were partnered with a SUS graduate partner and mentored them through the process of learning to teach with a student-centered model of physical education instruction -- namely, sport education. From the testimonies of all of the UW and SUS students involved, the program was a resounding success.”

For Paterson, the monthlong visit gave him a perspective on not only shared ideas between the two institutions, but also a world view on improving physical activity and health.

“While our mission was to introduce the sport education model, the true value of this experience was the mutual exchange of ideas, cultures and perspectives,” Paterson says. “The opportunity to teach and collaborate with SUS students and faculty not only deepened my understanding of physical education but also highlighted the universal bond we share in striving for a healthier, more active world.”

Qin “Arthur” Zhu, director of the UW Division of Kinesiology and Health, acknowledges the success of the inaugural study-abroad program and says it would not have been possible without the dedicated collaboration among faculty, participating students and institutional partners.

“It is particularly rewarding to witness the profound impact of this international experiential learning on all involved,” Zhu says. “Furthermore, this program’s innovative structure, welcoming non-UW students into a UW-quality international academic experience, establishes a promising new model for international education and significantly enhances the University of Wyoming’s global profile. The department is committed to supporting the continuation of this valuable initiative for the benefit of our faculty and students.”

Shanghai University of Sport Global Director Zac Zhang says sports serve as an important cultural connector.

“In addition to the academic side, we also wanted the UW cohort to know about daily life and sport atmosphere in China with real, firsthand experiences,” Zhang says. “Young people represent the future. SUS and UW students learned from each other during the monthlong program, establishing true friendship and understanding, just as the two institutions have for the past seven years. I also see the unlimited potential of this initiative, making UW and SUS important gateways or portals, connecting American and Chinese young people through the bridge of sport.”

“As dean, I am incredibly proud of the pioneering spirit shown by our graduate students and faculty in the Division of Kinesiology and Health,” says Patrick Hardigan, dean of UW’s College of Health Sciences. “This first-of-its-kind study-abroad program at the Shanghai University of Sport represents the best of what international education can offer -- collaborative learning, cultural exchange and a shared commitment to advancing global health. I commend Dr. Wallhead, Dr. Simonton and our students for their leadership and dedication in forging meaningful connections that will have a lasting impact both personally and professionally. I also would like to recognize Dr. Arthur Zhu for his outstanding efforts in bringing this initiative to fruition -- his vision and coordination were instrumental to the program’s success.”

About UW’s College of Health Sciences

The College of Health Sciences trains health and wellness professionals and researchers in a wide variety of disciplines, including medicine, nursing, pharmacy, speech-language pathology, social work, kinesiology, public health, health administration and disability studies. The college also oversees residency and fellowship programs in Casper and Cheyenne, as well as operating a speech/hearing clinic in Laramie and primary care clinics in Laramie, Casper and Cheyenne.

With more than 1,600 undergraduate, graduate and professional students, the college is dedicated to training the health and wellness workforce of Wyoming and conducting high-quality research and community engagement, with a particular focus on rural and frontier populations.