This story appeared in the 2025 Fall edition of Onyx Anneau.
by Betsy Simon, digital and brand marketing manager
Sydni Bailey ’23 landed her dream job when she was hired as head high school volleyball coach at her alma mater, Robinson High School in Illinois.
“Volleyball and the community around it played such an important role in my life, and I wanted to give back by sharing my passion for the game,” said Bailey, who earned her undergraduate degree in Kinesiology. “My goal has always been to help young athletes develop both the skills and knowledge they need to succeed.”
After graduating from Lincoln Trail College with an associate’s degree, Bailey was offered a scholarship to join SMWC’s volleyball team while she got hands-on experience in teaching her own team someday.
“As part of my coursework, I interned with the middle school volleyball program in Robinson, Ill. That experience gave me an early glimpse into what my future career would look like and helped me develop confidence in my decision to pursue coaching,” she said. “Each year in my first week of practices, I incorporate some of the icebreakers I learned in my classes with Dr. Quinn. My team always enjoys them—they find them fun, thought-provoking and a great way to spark conversation.”
Nobody questions when an athlete takes time to recover from a sprained ankle or broken wrist. Those injuries are easy to see and come with a clear understanding – they can’t be ignored.
But what about their mental health needs? It’s the question that brought Samara Douglas from her hometown in Avon, Ind., to study Kinesiology at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College.
“I feel like athletes’ mental health gets overlooked sometimes, and I want to give them opportunities to be heard as a sports psychologist,” said Douglas, a senior on the women’s basketball team. “I’ve already had the opportunity in my major to learn how to really help someone in the gym through the programs I make. By understanding different age groups at a fitness center, I help build programs for people and show them what certain exercises are.”
Douglas says SMWC’s Kinesiology program keeps learning fun and students engaged. “If you don’t have fun, you won’t understand the material,” she said. “The professors in this program are amazing and want to work with you. They care about your academics and your mental health.”
The kinesiology major was first offered on campus in fall 2020. Kinesiology prepares students to pursue careers in various fields, including health, fitness, physical education, coaching and sports instruction, and sports management. Career opportunities include becoming a fitness trainer, health promotion specialist, strength and conditioning coach or sports administrator.
As part of a nearly $1 million Lilly Endowment Inc. grant, Quinn helped launch the undergraduate degree in Kinesiology for fall 2020 and Exercise Science for fall 2021, allowing the College to offer two high-demand programs. The proposal included a request for capital funds to create two new classrooms and purchase equipment.
In 2023, three concentrations were added to the major: health science, exercise science and recreation science. Students can also choose from minors in sports coaching, nutrition, Kinesiology and myoskeletal massage.
“Ninety-nine percent of our students are athletes in our program, and a lot of them will declare a Kinesiology major and myoskeletal massage minor,” said Penny Quinn, Ph.D., chair of the Math and Science Department and a professor of Kinesiology and Wellness. “I also encourage students to add a business minor, especially if they think they might want to open their own business.”
All Kinesiology majors must complete an internship to graduate. Some classes also require students to complete hours within their class, where they lead activities with the Sisters of Providence.
“I require students to job shadow as part of that figuring out phase,” Quinn said. “My leadership class is a freshman-level course, and I require students to do job interviews with professionals in the field that they think they want to enter. This is especially important for those students who are choosing between two majors.”
A greater focus on health, wellness and preventative care, combined with an aging population, has made Kinesiology-related careers more appealing to college students. Employment demand for exercise science and kinesiology careers is projected to increase 10% through 2033, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The former Health and Wellness program was predominantly female, but as men’s athletic programs have gained momentum, Quinn’s seen an influx of male athletes into Kinesiology.
And the growth may not be over yet. “I wouldn’t be surprised if we see a few more students enter the major when the College switches from sprint football to NAIA football next year,” Quinn said. “When you have a lot of students who have been in sports since they were six years old, they’re more comfortable with their bodies and they’re used to goals that are related to their movement.
“They’ve interacted with athletic trainers, physical therapists and coaches like they want to be, so it feels familiar to them as they think about what they want to do in the future. It’s not just a job for them. I think many students are drawn to this area because they see it as a career that can have a positive impact on others.”
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