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<\/a>Health Sciences Assistant Professor Paula Gardner talks to students after the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences Convocation ceremony.<\/p><\/div>\n
For more than two decades, Kinesiology Professor Philip Wilson has sought answers to the simple yet vexing question of why people exercise.<\/p>\n
For his accomplishments, he was awarded the 2018 Research Excellence Award from the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences during Monday\u2019s afternoon Convocation ceremony, and delivered the address to the graduands.<\/p>\n
\u201cProfessor Wilson has an international research reputation as an expert in motivational processes that underpin behaviour, combined with expertise in measurement and evaluation,\u201d said Faculty of Applied Health Sciences Associate Dean Nota Klentrou. \u201cThis renders him an exemplar of a successful research scientist with a thriving career at Brock University.\u201d<\/p>\n
His expertise includes motivation to exercise, psychology of physical activity, instrument development and evaluation, and physical activity assessment in healthy and clinical populations.<\/p>\n
During his Convocation address, Wilson said that \u201cdecades of motivation research tells us that challenge \u2014 when interpreted correctly \u2014 can be beneficial.\u201d<\/p>\n
The challenge he referred to was the goal of inspiring grads as they embark on their career and life journeys.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt may seem odd, on a day when we are gathered to celebrate student academic successes and my accomplishments as a researcher, but I decided to share a story about the greatest failure in my own life,\u201d Wilson said. \u201cThis is because in life we often have choices to make where failure is a possible outcome.<\/p>\n
The professor said his failure was his goal of becoming a professional soccer player.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy failure turned out to be the best option for a life enriched with so many amazing twists and turns,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Wilson encouraged graduates to embrace the opportunity to stare failure in the face by finding new ways to conquer personal and professional challenges.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you are faced with those pivotal moments along life\u2019s journey, those times when you are unsure, tested to take a leap of faith or even questioning your own potential, I encourage you to remember the initials of the institution which today becomes your alma mater: BU,\u201d he said. \u201cBe you and that is all you will need to \u2018push on.\u2019\u201d\u00ad<\/p>\n
Also recognized Monday was Health Sciences Assistant Professor Paula Gardner, who was honoured as the recipient of the 2018 Teaching Excellence Award from the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences for her innovative teaching practices.<\/p>\n