Faculty

MSc University of Idaho (Sport and Recreation Management), BRe University of British Columbia (Recreational Education)

I am passionate about connecting students with the outdoors and providing them with opportunities to develop an appreciation of environmental issues. Students in my classes develop outdoor knowledge and skills and learn how to use the outdoors as an effective classroom.

PhD Arizona State University (Curriculum & Instruction/Exercise & Wellness), MSc University of Victoria (Exercise Physiology), BSc University of Victoria

I am grateful for the opportunity to teach, learn and live on Snuneymuxw traditional territory, in Nanaimo. I am passionate about supporting student success in the broad field of kinesiology and connecting with people in active and healthy settings. I have several academic interests including pedagogy (the art and science of teaching), nutrition science, human physiology and research methods. I grew up playing a lot of sports. I competed as a varsity volleyball player at UVic, a tennis player around BC, and a squash player in Nanaimo. I have worked with numerous amateur and professional athletes, including a 4year period as the strength and conditioning coach with the Los Angeles Kings (1996-2000). I stay active by running, golfing and working in my garden. I love growing food on Protection Island, where I live with my wife Jodi and cat Luca. I am also a drummer and like to build things.

Graduate Certificate in Strategic Human Resources Management Royal Roads, BA University of Victoria, Criminology Diploma Simon Fraser University

I believe experiential education opportunities are the golden ticket in terms of career planning and making a successful transition to the world of work. I am passionate about supporting students to apply their education in the field, and I love being a part of that process. Former students would say I am slightly (completely) obsessed with networking, transferable skills and career planning. Motto: Onwards and Upwards! Fun and irrelevant fact about me: I have been stung over 100 times by bees…before the age of 12.

PhD Penn State University (Anatomy), MS Penn State University (Anatomy), B. Applied Science (Athletic Therapy) Sheridan College. 

My academic areas of interests are human anatomy, sports injuries and rehabilitation, and exercise physiology. I believe anatomy is the foundation for effective medicine. Having strong fundamental knowledge of anatomy allows for effective diagnosis and treatment of common injuries and complex pathologies. Furthermore, one of our most efficient treatments for a variety of conditions is appropriately prescribed exercise, and a well-designed plan of exercise can be a powerful modality for injury prevention, rehabilitation, and in treating disease.

I teach at Anatomy, Injury Management, and Strength and Conditioning at Vancouver Island University. One of the things I’m passionate about is the environment we are able to foster here on Vancouver Island. I grew up on Thetis Island and appreciate a smaller community feel. This fits in very well at VIU where class sizes are smaller, which supports effective teaching and connection with students.

My approach to academia as a student and now as a teacher has been one of consistency and hard work. There is always material we cover in class that will inevitably be challenging, and I prefer to navigate this content using different delivery methods (e.g., notes, illustrations, discussions, case studies) and lots of repetitions! In the case of Anatomy, there are many effective tools available through smart phones and devices; however, there is no replacement for hard work studying content with pen to paper. I feel this approach lays down a strong foundation of study habits that will continue to be successful in further courses.

At home, I get excited about old cars and maintain hobbies in automotive and aviation themes. I appreciate hands-on work, and because of this I try to incorporate hands-on lab experiences for content learned in the classroom whenever possible. This is paramount for relating what we learn to how it fits in clinically or functionally, as well as allowing for another opportunity to get more repetitions!

MPE University of British Columbia (Biomechanics), BPE University of British Columbia

Born and raised in Nanaimo, I began my undergraduate degree as a student at Malaspina College (now VIU) and consider myself extremely fortunate to return to my hometown and teach at VIU. I love coming to school every day to teach and learn with students and support them as they pursue their individual academic goals.

My academic interests include human physiology and biomechanics. I love working with 1st/2nd year students as we introduce and explore the function of many human physiological systems. Learning about the structure and function of human body systems is knowledge that our students will have and use for a lifetime. My other passion is teaching the biomechanics course where students get to study the effects of forces on the human body. How the body generates forces and how it responds to external forces is fascinating and is an important part of how we move and function each and every day.

When not at school, I enjoy spending time with my wife and our dog Aja. We enjoy spending time outdoors camping, hiking and ocean kayaking. I grew up playing all sports, but now I’m mainly a golfer who enjoys playing the game with friends and also playing competitively in amateur tournaments up and down the Island.

Ph.D., Queen’s University (Kinesiology/Sport Psychology), M.Sc., Queen’s University (Kinesiology/Sport Psychology), B.Kin., The University of British Columbia, A.S., Monroe Community College (N.Y., U.S.A)

I consider myself very fortunate to have lived, worked, and played in some of the most beautiful places in Canada, the United States of America, and the United Kingdom. Among the closest to my heart are the unceded traditional territories of the Haudenosaunee, Anishinaabe, and the Omàmiwinini (1000 Islands region). My wife, Allie and I are grateful for the opportunity to call Nanaimo, on the unceded traditional territory of the Snuneymuxw, our new home.

What I love most about my career is helping students to develop their curiosity, critical thinking, and ability to effectively communicate their ideas. My expertise lies in understanding and optimizing group environments to develop leadership, create participation opportunities, and enrich individuals’ experiences in sport, exercise, and rehabilitation settings. Whether teaching sport psychology, psycho-social aspects of physical activity, or motor control, I like to leverage the group in either the content of the class or how we engage with the material.

Outside of my career, I enjoy being in the outdoors, participating in most sports, and playing board games. As recent transplants to Vancouver Island, Allie and I are excited to explore everything our new home and community has to offer.

PhD Western University (Cardiovasular Dynamics), MSc University of Waterloo (Physiology), BSc University of Waterloo

I love what I do. I’m a dad, a teacher, an athlete, a brewer and a Leafs fan. As a dad, I enjoy cooking, singing and dancing with my kids. As a teacher, I continually improve my course materials, delivery methods and pedagogy to enhance the learning experiences for my students. I am a proponent of Open Education, and am working with my students to develop Open Educational Resources in my classes. I believe that technology can play a prominent role in and outside of the classroom, and I strive to give my students authentic learning experiences. As an athlete, I remain physically active by playing hockey. My team (The Renegades) may not win a lot, but we work hard in the corners, chase the puck and try to make good things happen out there. As a brewer, I enjoy making and sharing different styles of beer with family and friends. And as a Leafs fan, I see a bright future!

MA Royal Roads University (Environmental Education and Communication), Resource Management Diploma Vancouver Island University, Adventure Tourism Diploma Thompson Rivers University

I grew up on Vancouver Island and have always enjoyed being outdoors, moving my body, and seeking adventure. I've had a diverse career path and have worked as a park ranger, forest fire fighter, ski patrol, ski resort manager, guide, educator, and university instructor. I really enjoy teaching students in the outdoors and working with them to develop their skills and interests in all things adventure.  An area of research I am interested in is the intersection between adventure sports, ecology, environmental stewardship, and sustainability. You might find me surfing, running rivers, back country skiing, or ripping around on my mountain bike - I clearly like being outside. I live on Stowel Lake Farm, an organic farm and retreat centre on Salt Spring Island. I've lived here with my wife and three kids for 20 years and I consider myself pretty fortunate to have some time in the summer so I can do extended trips into the wilderness.

MA Michigan State University (Applied Sport Psychology), BPE University of Manitoba.

As a transplanted flat-lander from Manitoba, I have called Nanaimo home since 1990. At VIU, I have been very fortunate to teach a wide variety of “social science” based courses within the kinesiology department. In addition, I always try to keep up with students in a diverse selection of sport analysis courses; my favorites being football, lacrosse, and my multiple volleyball courses.

As world travel is my greatest vice, I lead the KIN Study Abroad program. Over the years we have travelled the Globe together examining the socio-cultural impact of sport.

My current areas of professional service include coaching education delivery, community sport administration and development, and mental training programs for emerging elite athletes.

Parallel to my teaching career, has been a great deal of coaching Volleyball, from grassroots to high performance. Feel free to check out some highlights: https://wordpress.viu.ca/rbevis/

I believe in “lifelong learning and Kaizen.”

I believe in “exploring the world – academically and literally, acquiring varied perspectives and connections.”

I believe that “all the effort is worth it, and the Gold is in the details!”

I believe that “you should never leave fun, to find fun!”

Ph.D. University of Saskatchewan (Kinesiology), Post-Doctoral Fellowship University of Saskatchewan (Medicine).

Dr. Kerpan’s work is centred on children’s health. Through community-engaged scholarship she partners with schools, organizations, and Indigenous communities to investigate and address child health disparities. Her current research focuses on prenatal opioid exposure, particularly prenatal opioid exposure in First Nation communities. Dr. Kerpan also conducts research on school-based physical activity promotion, specifically how to support educators in the implementation of quality daily physical activity.

As a teacher, Dr. Kerpan is passionate about teaching at the intersection of public health and physical activity. She is interested in experiential learning, authentic assessment, and the development of critical thinking and communication skills.