PERGSS Committee

Marianne Clark: President - mclark1@ualberta.ca

I’m currently in my 2^nd year as President and have had the pleasure of working with an amazing PERGSS team. As President I sit on Faculty, Acadamic and Faculty Executive Council, act as a liaison between administration and the student body and provide support to my team when I can! I also acted as co-coordinator of the first annual ReCon (Graduate Student Retreat/Conference) in 2011 and am gearing up for ReCon 2012!

My dissertation examines the experiences of adolescent girls who dance in commercial dance studios. Using a Foucauldian framework, I am carefully examining the ways in which the commercial studio (and the way it is designed), and the dance practices that occur in this space, shape the ways girls understand themselves and create relationships with their bodies.

Personal Interests/Hobbies/Passions: Dance, Pilates, Rock climbing, camping, anything in, on, or around mountains, reading, music, PERGSS!

Bethan Kingsley: Vice President - bkingsle@ualberta.ca

My role on PERGSS is to assist Marianne, our President.

I am studying for my doctorate, working with Dr. Nancy Spencer-Cavaliere. My research interests surround the provision of physical activity for children and youth from low-income families, using a community-based research approach. I also enjoy teaching and have had the opportunity to teach in a range of courses including socio-cultural issues in sport and leisure, elementary and secondary physical education, and assessment and evaluation in physical activity. Hobbies include snowboarding, exploring the delights of Edmonton, and eating. Let’s not mention the dusty guitar in the corner of the living room.

Stacy-Lynn Sant: Treasurer- sant@ualberta.ca

My role on PERGSS is to deal with the money, budgeting, invoicing and so on.

I am a 4th year PhD student studying in the field of Tourism. More specifically my interests are in Olympic Legacy, Leveraging and Rhetoric. My passions are music, reading, and exercise.

Kacey Neely:Secretary- neely@ualberta.ca

I am a 1st year PhD student working with Dr Nick Holt in the Child and Adolescent Sport and Activity Lab. My research and academic interests include positive youth development through sport, fundamantal sport skills and physical literacy, as well as childhood obesity and sport and physical activity. I am also interested in sport psychology and am currently working as an applied sport psychology consultant with the Panda's hockey team.

My personal interests include travelling and cruising, coaching young kids in multiple sports, and playing and watching soccer and basketball.

Camilla Knight: Member at Large + Faculty Council Rep- cjknight@ualberta.ca

My job is PERGSS is just to help out wherever I am needed!

I am in the 4th year of my PhD in the Faculty. I am working with Dr Nick Holt in the Child and Adolescent Sport and Activity Lab. My work focuses on understanding parents’ experiences of youth sport, parent-coach interactions and athletes experiences of parental behaviors. When I’m not researching  I try and spend as much time as I can playing tennis and keeping fit. I also work as an applied sport psychology consultant and a tennis coach.

Alli 'Sun' Rasquinha: Member at Large- arasquin@ualberta.ca

My job is PERGSS is also to help out wherever I am needed!

I am in my 1st year of my MA in Sport Psychology under the supervision of Dr John Spence. My work focuses on perfectionism and performance.My personal interests are horseback riding, running and smiling (a lot) !!

Judy Liao: Member at Large + Faculty Council Rep- judy.liao@ualberta.ca

My role in PERGSS is pretty simple. As the Member-at-Large, I make sure that PERGSS's operations and decisions are responsible and in line with students' interests and concerns. Sometimes, I may bring up issues that arise outside of the standing committee structure. So if you have any concerns about issues or PERGSS's actions and you are not comfortable talking to the executives, I will be the one you want to talk to! 

I am currently in the 5th year of my doctoral program working with Dr. Pirkko Markula-Denison in the Body, Movement and Culture Research Group. My research interests concern post-structuralist analysis on sport media and women's sport. My doctoral dissertation is a three-paper study of the WNBA (Women's National Basketball Association) through a Deleuzian framework. I love basketball. After playing 5 years of college ball in Taiwan, I am now settling with reffing and coaching. Also, as my dissertation topic exemplifies, I am a big fan of the WNBA. I take summer trip to a US city for some WNBA games every year. Besides, I love reading. Jennette Winterson, Ali Smith and Margaret Atwood are some of my favorite writers. Also, I am a super fan for all sorts of crime and court shows. Contradictions and dilemmas in human relations are my favorite kinds of dramas.

Jodie Stearns: Social Convenor- jodie.stearns@ualberta.ca

I am one of the Social Conveners, which means Meaghan Carey and I organize all of the social events for the year including PubTrivia, Faculty Hockey Game, Winter Social, Ski Trip, and the Faculty Bonsipel 

I am currently in my 1st year of my PhD program, and I work with Dr. John Spence in the Sedentary Living Lab. My area of interest pertains to parent and peer influences on children's sedentary behaviours and free-living physical activity. For my Master’s I examined the relationship between parents and children's free-living activity as measured by pedometer steps. My extracurricular activities include: Snowboarding, running, hockey, pilates and tasting fine wines.

Meaghan Carey: Social Convenor- kmcarey@ualberta.ca

This is my second year involved with PERGSS, sharing the position of social convenor with Jodie Sterns both years. Our responsiblity is organizing events that will bring the student body together, providing opportunities for students to meet new colleagues from the different departments within our faculty. This year we have lots of new events planned, and are looking forward to a great year!!

I'm in the 3rd year of my PhD working with Dr. Daniel Mason in the Management Research Group. My research focuses on arena development in small to mid-sized Canadian cities, the bidding and hosting mega-events by emerging economies, and the social responsibility and sustainability of sport events. When I'm not studying I enjoy spending time with family and friends, hiking with my two dogs, and skiing during the long Alberta winters.

Mathew Dowling: Communications Officer- msdowlin@ualberta.ca
My role on PERGSS mainly consists of what you are reading now. The blog. I also am involved in communicating the messages of PERGSS and useful information to and from students.

I was born and bred in Cambridge, England. I completed my BSc and MSc at Loughborough University before embarking on a PhD here at the U of A at the ripe old age of 23 years old. My supervisor is Dr Marvin Washington. My main academic interests mainly look at sports policy and the application of organizational theory to sport. My thesis (and many subsequent years) will be dedicated to understanding the emergence and current implementation of the Long Term Athlete Development (LTAD) model as a policy within both Canada and the UK. 

Although a 'Brit' through and through, my interests mainly persist in basketball (which I play, referee and coach on a daily basis, I have a passion for drumming. I have recently found a passion wine making and playing ice sports such as curling and ice hockey; as such I am currently attempting (in vein) to learn to ice skate.

Catharine Eckersley: Intramural/Campus Rec- eckersle@ualberta.ca

This is my second year on PERGSS and I've changed positions from Fundraising Executive to Campus Recreation and Intramural Executive. In this position I attend both womens and mens monthly intramural meetings, discuss sports and give feedback, and report back to PERGSS with any important specialevent/ intramural updates (i.e. new sports being introduced, registration deadlines) and try to foster interest in creating PERGSS intramural sport teams. I also help the Social Executives and Fundraising Executives with their events.  

I am in my second and final year of my MA working with Dr Wendy Rogers in the Behavioural Medicine and Exercise Psychology lab. My academic interests are fairly eclectic which is why I'm course-based: sport psychology, adapted physical activity, youth sport, and occupational health and safety/injury prevention. But my current focus is using the Theory of Planned Behaviour to analyze the effectiveness of a smoking prevention program that's utilized in schools across the City of Edmonton and the province.

I live for being outdoors, mainly skiing and hiking, and doing absolutely anything in the mountains (probably due to growing up in the Alps!) I also love planning/hosting events, sketching, writing stories, going to festivals/concerts/special events, and planning my worldly travels (next stop- Thailand!)

Jessica Walker: Fundraiser- jwalker3@ualberta.ca

My role is to raise funds to support the events held by PERGSS members and to raise money to help local charities.

I am currently a 2nd year MA student working with Tanya Berry. My academic interest in how the media portrays bodily ideals and how these ideals effect exercise behaviours.My personal interests include cooking, fitness, hiking, attending musicals, ballet and tap dancing, being with friends, family and my dog Bailey !!

Alyssa Hindle: Fundraiser- arhindle@ualberta.ca

On the PERGSS committee I am one half of the Fundraising Team; sharing the position with Jessica Walker.  This is a relatively young position on PERGSS, and we are excited to be a part of its development. 

I am currently in my 1st year in the MSc. Neuroscience program under the supervision of Dr. David Collins in the Human Neurophysiology Lab.  I completed my undergraduate degree, a BSc. Kinesiology, at the University of Victoria.  With this background, my research interest is in human cortical plasticity with respect to motor control.  My current research is focused on the changes in brain excitability (cortical plasticity!) after and during different protocols of electrical stimulation to peripheral nerves.  

Aside from academics and PERGSS, in my free time I enjoy yoga, travel, running, and surfing (though having just moved to Edmonton I plan to temporarily swap this interest for cross-country skiing). 

Iva Docekalova: International Students Representative- docekalo@ualberta.ca

The past three years I have been involved with PERGSS as a social convener, undergraduate committee member, and international representative. As an international representative I communicate with new and current international graduate students and coordinate the international graduate student orientation during summer.

I am a fourth year PhD student in the Management Research Group working with Dr. Marvin Washington.  My academic interests include institutional entrepreneurship of women’s professional volleyball leagues in the United States, legitimation strategies of the Edmonton Capitals and Energy sports teams, and theorizing failed institutional entrepreneurship.

In my spare time, I enjoy playing competitive volleyball and beach volleyball. Apart from playing sports, I also like to travel to various places and cook international dishes.

Matheus Wiest: International Students Representative- matheus@ualberta.ca

I serve on the International committee.

I am a 1st year PhD student in Neuro physiology, under the watchful eye of Dr Dave Collins (same as Aylssa). My research and academic interests include the following: Human motor control, neuromuscular electrical stimulation. Specifically, how feedback from sensory receptors located in muscle, joints and the skin contribute to the control of movements of the arms and legs (yes...Legs !!). We also study how to use electrical stimulation to generate contractions of human muscle.

Being Brazilian I have a keen interest in soccer and have recently, since being in edmonton, got into winter sports like ice skating and snowboarding. I also play guitar (love classic rock), play video games and am also a keen cook.

PERGSS Council Representatives


Anne-Marie 'Annie' Selzler: Graduate Committee Representative- aselzler@ualberta.ca

Hey, I am Undergraduate and Graduate Committee Representative for PERGSS. 

I study in the Behavioural Medicine, Exercise Psychology Research Group. My supervisor is the wonderful Dr Wendy Rogers. I am currently a 2nd year MA student. My academic Interests/Research focuses on the role of cognitive variables (i.e., attitudes, beliefs, etc) in initiating and maintaining behaviour change. I have a particular interest in how self-talk is related to exercise participation. 

My masters research seeks to determine the cognitive content of exercise related self-talk statements in pulmonary rehabilitation patients and how the cognitive content is represented in the language of the self-talk statements.

My personal interests and hobbies include sports, family, friends, music/theatre, wine and good food (although not necessarily in any order of importance).

Angela Coppola: Faculty Council Student Representative- angela.coppola1@gmail.com

I am a 1st year PhD student working within Behaviour Medicine. My research and academic interests include the following: Aboriginal female athletes' perceptions of body image in sport and physical activity; Sport, physical activity, and positive body image programming in Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal female adolescent populations; Coaches' and female athletes' perceptions of communication of sport performing body ideals; Participatory and Community-Based Research Methods. 

My personal interests include reading; traveling; getting to know a new city and country; going to plays, art shows, cultural events, etc.; triathlons and playing sports (whenever possible) and solving sudoku puzzles. 

Angela Meyer: Ethics Representative

Maria Lynn: Graduate Students Association Rep- mlynn@ualberta.ca

Hey I am the Graduate Students Association Representative- meaning I am a voting member on the committee. 

I am a second year MA student within the Recreation and Leisure studies part of the faculty. My academic interests include leisure travel and immigrants. I have a personal interest in the great outdoors, arts and I love to travel. 

Cathleen 'Katie' Cocchio: Graduate Students Association Rep- cathleen@ualberta.ca

I have been involved with PERGSS since my arrival at the University of Alberta in September 2009. This year I am one of the GSA representatives.

I am currently in my 3rd year of my PhD working with Dr Donna Goodwin in the area of Adapted Physical Activity. My research and studies are currently funded through a PhD Studentship sponsored by the Alberta Paraplegic Foundation. My current work is interested in exploring the experiences of Family leisure following Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury. Based on my own experiences as an athlete and coach, I am also interested in the area of Adapted Aquatics.

The pool is my home away from home and swimming is my preferred form of physical activity. I have a love for all activities related to water, with an interest in sailing and one day obtaining my certification in Scuba diving. When I’m not on campus, I enjoy pampering my dog Odin, Scrap-booking (when I have time) and playing the Alto Saxophone

.