Nicole M. LaVoi, Ph.D., instructor in the School of Kinesiology and associate director of the Tucker Center, was recently named to the Alliance of Women Coaches (The Alliance) Board of Directors. One of seven members of the Board of Director's, LaVoi will attend The Alliance's first national event, The Huddle, in Atlanta, Ga., on May 30 and June 1 and will present two sessions (Motivational Strategies & How to Build Confidence) at the NCAA Women Coaches Academy in Denver June 14-17.

"Serving on the board for the AWC and teaching at the WCA is an honor," stated LaVoi. "I feel strongly about education, networking, and helping recruit and retain females coaches at all levels of sport and this is a way I can give back."

LaVoi's research falls within the social psychology of sports where she answers critical questions that can make a difference in the lives of sport stakeholders--particularly girls and women. In her doctoral research she focused on relational qualities of the collegiate coach-athlete relationship that can lead to empowerment, authenticity and mutual engagement. More recently, LaVoi developed an ecological model of barriers and supports for female coaches, and is examining female coaches' experiences with sexism.

LaVoi was an Assistant Professor of Physical Education and the Head Women's Tennis Coach at Wellesley College (1994-'98), and the Assistant Women's Tennis Coach at Carleton College (1991-'93). LaVoi played four years of intercollegiate tennis at Gustavus Adolphus College where her team placed 4th ('89), 2nd ('91) and won the NCAA-III National Championships in 1990. She is a two time NCAA Academic All-American.

The School of Kinesiology takes center stage in the Spring/Summer issue of Connect, CEHD's alumni/faculty/staff magazine. Kinesiology director Li Li Ji is featured on the cover, and his key involvement in establishing the U.S.-China American Cultural Center for Sport, a partnership with the U of M China Center, the School of Kinesiology, and the Tianjin University of Sport in Tianjin, China. The grand opening and inauguration ceremony was held March 20 at Tianjin University of Sport and included dignitaries from China and the U.S. as well as the University of Minnesota, School of Kinesiology, and the Tucker Center. Read the full story at this link: http://www.cehd.umn.edu/Connect/2012Spring/Diplomacy.html

Also featured in Connect was Dr. Don Dengel, associate professor in exercise physiology, and his Study Abroad trip to London with 25 students last December to explore the impact of the Olympics on the city of London, the first city to host the games for the third time. Students visited venues from the previous games (1908 and 1948) as well as 2012 venues under construction. Go to http://www.cehd.umn.edu/Connect/2012Spring/Olympics.html to read the full story.

Dr. Mary Jo Kane, director of the Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport and professor of sport sociology in the School of Kinesiology, is quoted in GolfWeek.com's article, "Title IX: An empowering transformation." In the article on pro golfer Suzy Whaley and other female athletes, Kane says, "What Title IX has done is create a critical mass of women playing at all levels of competitive sports."

Nicole M. LaVoi, Ph.D., faculty in the School of Kinesiology and associate director of the Tucker Center, is quoted in a Yahoo.com Shine newsletter article "Are Competitive Sports Safe for Girls?" LaVoi says, "Parents need to be familiar with the risks and benefits of the sports their child is going to participate in. The benefits aren't automatic."

Join Tucker Center associate director Nicole M. LaVoi and others at a showing of "Strong!," a film about Olympic power lifter Cheryl Haworth and her struggles to defend her champion status. This MELSA and TPT Community Cinema screening and discussion is on Monday, May 7, at 7:00pm. The program is hosted by the Rice Street Library, 1011 Rice Street, St. Paul.