VCU Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences

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VCU Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences Welcome to the official page of the Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences at VCU! Our undergraduate programs lead to a Bachelor of Science Degree.

Students choose either the Exercise Science or Health Science concentration. Our graduate programs lead to a Master of Science in Health and Movement Science and a Doctor of Philosophy in Rehabilitation in Movement Science. This is a page designed to promote the VCU Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences. We encourage you post comments, photos, videos and links that are respectful and meaningful. Postings and comments that include sensitive data, confidential information, profanity, personal attacks or other inappropriate material are not appropriate and, in extreme situations, may be removed from this page. You are fully responsible for the content that you share. Postings or comments made by individuals on this page do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of VCU or any of the university’s divisions. This page is not to be used for solicitation of sales and/or the promotion of any goods and/or services. We will take steps to block users who violate these posting standards.

✨ Congratulations to Youngdeok Kim, an Associate Professor in the VCU Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences, who...
10/13/2026

✨ Congratulations to Youngdeok Kim, an Associate Professor in the VCU Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences, who was awarded a 2026 Academic Community Partnership Planning Grant from the Division of Community Engagement VCU's Office of the Provost. This opportunity supports the development of research partnerships with community partners that generate meaningful scholarly outputs and create lasting benefits for both faculty and community partners. ✨

Dr. Kim's proposal, Toward an Evidence Base for Community-Based Physical Activity Programming to Advance Health Equity, partners with Sports Backers and the Fitness Warriors program, which trains area residents who have talent, passion, and the potential to be professional fitness instructors for Richmond's communities with the highest rates of chronic disease.

We're confident this partnership will expand the evidence base for community-based physical activity programming and lay the groundwork for sustainable strategies that promote long-term health for Richmond residents!

We're proud to share that Alexander Lucas, PhD is continuing his K01 Career Development Award as an Assistant Professor ...
10/06/2026

We're proud to share that Alexander Lucas, PhD is continuing his K01 Career Development Award as an Assistant Professor in the VCU Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences, investigating the effect of behavioral exercise training in reducing cardiovascular disease risk in men with prostate cancer undergoing androgen deprivation therapy.

Dr. Lucas is PI of the Lifestyle Behaviors Lab, which utilizes a multidisciplinary team of expertise in human movement science, exercise oncology, cardio-oncology, and cancer prevention and control to focus on the design, implementation, and delivery of behavioral lifestyle interventions that help people with cancer (patients and survivors) improve their quality of life through adoption and sustainability of physical activity, reduction of sedentary behavior, improvement in nutrition, and management of stress.

The Lifestyle Behaviors Lab's research efforts draw on social cognitive and socio-ecological perspectives to understand the determinants and consequences of adopting and maintaining healthy lifestyle behaviors across the cancer continuum. It seeks to develop interventions that are not only efficacious, but also feasible, accessible, and sustainable in real-world clinical and community settings.

The Lifestyle Behaviors Lab is located in the Kinesiology and Health Sciences Research Laboratories at 500 Academic Centre, where primary lines of inquiry include:
▪️Physical activity, sedentary behavior, and nutrition in disease prevention and health promotion.
▪️Exercise and cardio-oncology, with a focus on improving cardiovascular health and functional outcomes among people with cancer.
▪️Technology-enabled behavioral interventions to improve the reach, delivery, and sustainability of clinical lifestyle programs.

We look forward to providing updates from Dr. Lucas and are excited to learn more of his lab's impact on human health!

✨ Congratulations to Matthew Scott, M.S., ACSM EP-C, Associate Professor and Director of Undergraduate Studies in the VC...
10/01/2026

✨ Congratulations to Matthew Scott, M.S., ACSM EP-C, Associate Professor and Director of Undergraduate Studies in the VCU Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences, who has been appointed as a Transformative Learning Course Innovation (TCLI) Program Faculty Fellow in the department of Academic Affairs, Office of the Provost - Virginia Commonwealth University. ✨

The TCLI program supports faculty in redesigning existing courses to embed high-impact practices in ways that are intentional, scalable, and aligned with course goals. By integrating high-impact practices into established curricular contexts, the program helps faculty create learning experiences that cultivate inquisitive, reflective, socially responsible, and career-ready graduates equipped to address complex challenges in a global society.

Matt has worked closely with Jacob's Chance over the last 10 years, successfully integrating curriculum design and student experiences into community-engaged activities with IMPACT. He will spend the next 18 months specifically aligning HPEX 431: Adapted Physical Activity with TCLI course requirements, focused on structured community-engaged experiences that connect with civic learning, critical reflection, and reciprocal partnership.

KHS is incredibly proud of Matt's efforts and we're excited to partner with Interdisciplinary Studies and Innovation at VCU, ensuring KHS students connect classroom experiences with lived experiences!

The Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences has started a new initiative: KHS Teaching & Learning SeminarsThe seri...
09/29/2026

The Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences has started a new initiative: KHS Teaching & Learning Seminars

The series is designed to create a dedicated, collegial space for our faculty and instructors to share effective teaching strategies, discuss course-embedded research, and elevate student engagement. Our goal is to move beyond teaching silos and focus on the how of teaching. We want to build a community of practice where we can celebrate and learn from one another’s successes in the classroom.

Our first seminar was led by Dr. Susan Zacharia, and we are so grateful to all who attended! We can't wait to see everyone at the next seminar!

✨ Congratulations to Jiaxi Wu, Assistant Professor in the VCU Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences, who has bee...
09/24/2026

✨ Congratulations to Jiaxi Wu, Assistant Professor in the VCU Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences, who has been selected to participate in the 2026-27 Community-Engaged Research Scholars Collaborative (CERSC), an initiative of the Division of Community Engagement VCU's Office of the Provost. ✨

Dr. Wu's is PI of the CONNECT Health Communications Lab (Communications, Networks, and Emerging Technologies for Health), which examines how communication, online networks, and emerging technologies, including social media, artificial intelligence, and digital health tools influence health information seeking, decision-making, and health outcomes.

The CERSC brings together faculty from across VCU who are interested in developing or deepening their community-engaged research. A central part of the collaborative is the opportunity to learn with and from other colleagues. Through peer-learning, shared experiences, and other resources and support, the collaborative provides space for faculty to strengthen their scholarship and community partnerships.

KHS is looking forward to recognizing Dr. Wu's efforts and we're excited to partner with the Division of Community Engagement, Office of the Provost - Virginia Commonwealth University!

Wow, what a day! We are so thankful for the amazing turn out we had for today's Freshman and Transfer Student Welcome Ev...
09/23/2026

Wow, what a day!

We are so thankful for the amazing turn out we had for today's Freshman and Transfer Student Welcome Event! We are always excited to connect with our students, and we had so much fun meeting everyone and putting some names to new faces.

If you want to get connected with KHS and attend future events, make sure to join our RAMSConnect (via the link in our Linktree)!

A big thank you to everyone who came to the KHS Internship Workshop put on by our amazing .vcuWe are so proud of all of ...
09/22/2026

A big thank you to everyone who came to the KHS Internship Workshop put on by our amazing .vcu

We are so proud of all of our students, and we're glad to see so many taking the initiative to plan ahead for their internship experiences.

If you're in KHS and you want to meet possible internship employers, make sure to sign up for the October 2nd Internship Fair via RAMSConnect (you can find the link to our page through our linktree in bio)!

Congratulations to Matt Babcock, Ph.D. for receiving the NIH K01 Career Development Award!Androgen deprivation therapy (...
09/21/2026

Congratulations to Matt Babcock, Ph.D. for receiving the NIH K01 Career Development Award!

Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is a standard, effective treatment for prostate cancer, the most common cancer among American men. Research has also shown that men on ADT face a higher risk of cardiovascular disease — a side effect that isn't yet well understood.

Dr. Matt Babcock, Assistant Professor in the Department of Kinesiology & Health Sciences, has been awarded a K01 Career Development Award from the NIH to investigate why. Under Dr. Babcock' direction, the Integrative Blood Pressure Control (IBPC) Lab will examine whether ADT affects the nervous system's control of blood pressure and kidney function, two mechanisms that may help explain this added cardiovascular risk.

The goal is to better understand these effects so that men can receive this important cancer treatment while also protecting their long-term heart health.

Are you a Freshman or Transfer student new to KHS? Join us for the KHS Freshman and Transfer Student Welcome for a chanc...
09/17/2026

Are you a Freshman or Transfer student new to KHS? Join us for the KHS Freshman and Transfer Student Welcome for a chance to learn more about your new program, meet faculty and chat with fellow students! Food will be provided for all who RSVP via our RAMSConnect.

KHS Freshman and Transfer Student Welcome | September 23rd @ 11:15am-12:30pm on the 6th floor of the STEM Building

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