Health and Human Performance Advising

Dr. Megan Chilson has been teaching in higher education for over 20 years, where her expertise has been in PE/Health Pedagogy and Whole Brain Learning.  She has taught in Idaho, New Mexico, Colorado, and now in Montana where she is a Professor in the Health & Human Performance Program at the University of Montana Western.  She has given workshops locally and nationally on how to incorporate movement into the classroom to enhance learning and increase retention. She has served on the Idaho, New Mexico, Colorado and Montana SHAPE America boards (formerly AAHPERD), most recently as the President of Northwest District SHAPE America.

Courses Taught Methods of Secondary Health Enhancement, Methods of Adapted Physical Education, Methods and Instructional Strategies of Elementary PE, Methods of Health Education, Dance & Rhythm Methods & Techniques

Advising Information

I serve as an advisor for Kinesiology and Physical Education & Health K-12 students as well as those completing minors in Coaching or Strength & Conditioning.

My Canvas advising page provides you with information about your program and links/instructions for many of the resources you’ll need to plan your schedule and register for courses.

I invite you to stop by my office anytime to say hello, check-in, or ask questions. Please schedule an appointment each semester for your advising appointment to ensure we have time to address all of your concerns. Before your advising appointment, be sure to review your degree progress in DegreeWorks to determine what courses you have left and develop a tentative schedule.

Biography

A native of south-central Washington state, I moved to Dillon to attend Western Montana College during the 1900s 😊. I earned my education and athletic training credentials at WMC and then following grad school in Bozeman I jumped at the opportunity to return to Montana Western to begin my career as an athletic trainer and instructor.

After 14 years working in both athletics and academics, I moved into a full-time teaching position in the Department of Health & Human Performance where I teach courses in topics ranging from first aid to health education to human anatomy. I spend my time off campus coaching track and field, working with local organizations on health and safety issues, watching sports with my family, and running with my dogs.

Mitch is a Michigan native that spent so much time driving to the mountains that he decided to move there! Academically he specializes in combining neurocognition and motor control theory in biomechanics research to reduce injury rates and enhance human performance. Much of his research contends with reaction time and anterior cruciate ligament injuries, but he also has extensive experience in strength and conditioning and human augmentation (braces, exoskeletons, heads-up displays, etc). During his M.S. at the University of Wyoming and his Ph.D. at Iowa State University, Mitch also specialized in statistics, workplace ergonomics, and practical pedagogy. When Mitch isn’t teaching, consulting, or in the lab, he’s almost always up in the mountains backpacking and riding motorcycles.

You can find more information about Mitch’s research and pedagogy on ResearchGate, Google Scholar, or his ever-under-development website.

Courses

Advanced Strength Training & Conditioning, Biomechanics, Motor Learning & Control, Personal Health & Wellness

Advising area of Expertise:

Kinesiology and prerequisites for allied health graduate programs

Advising:

Review Dr. Ali Wolpern’s Advising Canvas Page for updated course information, internship opportunities and additional resources to support your educational journey.  Schedule a meeting with Dr. Ali Wolpern.