Dr. Leslie Auger has served as the Chair of the Kinesiology program since 2015. She has a keen interest in shaping the future of professionals who'll help people to achieve a healthier lifestyle, conducting research on the profession of kinesiology, basketball, and even quilting! Here's what she had to say as we get to know her better.
Q: As the Kinesiology Chair and an instructor at the University of Guelph-Humber, what’s the best part about educating students in this program?
A: My favourite instructional moments are when students are involved in research projects for the first time and begin to dive into the data that they collected. They cross over from being a reader and consumer of others' research to a contributor to the field. When the fourth-year kinesiology students present their undergraduate research projects at the end of the school year, they do so with confidence, excitement, and pride. They tend to surprise themselves with how much they know on the topic and many, through this experience, choose to continue with research after graduation. It was my fourth-year undergraduate research thesis project that hooked me, and I haven’t left academia since!
Students tend to be interested in kinesiology because they like working with people and helping them. Whether it is to help an athlete perform better, an elderly individual heal from a joint replacement, a person return to work after an injury, a child learning a new sport, or an individual diagnosed with a disease improve their health through nutrition, their studies in kinesiology will set them on a path to improve the lives of others. This applied science degree opens so many doors for students and their futures, and it is exciting throughout the four years to see what courses pique their interest and direct their pursuits.
Q: Your publication record covers many aspects of the health and science field, can you tell us more about the research you have completed?
A: Various aspects of human health interest me, and I have investigated a variety of different questions about it throughout my research journey. I’m still amazed by the vast scope of research possibilities within the field of kinesiology and health science, and this is largely what motivates me and keeps my job so exciting.
My research journey began with a project investigating the fear of falling and how that influenced balance in an elderly population. I switched gears and studied skeletal muscle, interested in how the fat in one’s diet could influence cell structure and function (“you are what you eat”), the implications of diet in the development of insulin resistance (pre diabetes) and the impact of a hormone treatment (leptin) to reverse the negative impacts of a high-fat diet. After 10 years of post-secondary education, I started conducting research in clinical environments, implementing exercise and healthy lifestyle interventions for individuals in cardiac rehabilitation or enrolled in cancer exercise programs. In these environments, our research team was testing out a smartphone app to support healthy living and sustainable behaviour change.
As part of my current role, I am a course instructor for the two undergraduate thesis courses that students can take in their fourth year. Each student works with a thesis advisor, a faculty member at a university, on a primary research project, from study creation to the collection and analysis of data. I teach about the research process, ethics, research writing and knowledge translation. I can share with the students my passion and the various lessons I have learned along my research journey. Currently, I am conducting research on the profession of kinesiology, now that it is a regulated health profession in the province of Ontario. This research is very rewarding and relevant to my position as Chair of the Kinesiology program at U of GH.
Q: If you could only watch one sport for the rest of your life, which one would you choose and why?
A: Basketball. I like the quick pace, the teamwork, the style and really everything associated with the game. I appreciate that basketball is a very accessible sport, and I like to play all the games associated with the full game. Dribbling and passing games often take place in my living room!
Q: When you’re not at work, what are some hobbies you enjoy?
A: Outside of work I enjoy spending time with family and being outside. We enjoy skiing, skating, hiking, camping, bike rides, and amusement park rides. I enjoy being creative and quilting is at the top of my list for crafty hobbies. Lastly, I would say food is a hobby of mine; I enjoy cooking, baking, and most of all, enjoying food with others. Travelling is something that combines outdoor activities and new foods along with learning about different cultures and traditions.
Q: Finally, for people unfamiliar with the area of kinesiology, what’s something you wish they knew about it?
A: Kinesiology is a meaningful, dynamic, and broad field that extends well beyond exercise and sport, which is a limited perception that some may have. At the core it is a science degree, and it has a focus on humans, optimizing their health and movement. The field of kinesiology is evolving with technological advancements, research findings and interdisciplinary innovations. What is important for people to know is the breadth of opportunities our graduates have for employment after graduation and postgraduate educational opportunities – there are many! Importantly, jobs related to kinesiology, a human health science, will never cease to exist. The humans around us will always need us as they strive to be healthier, to heal, to be happier, to perform better, to become/stay active, and overall, to meet their goals as they age and change.