This website is best viewed in a browser that supports web standards.
Skip to content or, if you would rather, Skip to navigation.
The mission of the Department of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance is to promote and support creative and healthy lifestyles through high quality programs in health, physical education, recreation, dance and sport, and to provide students with educational development opportunities that increase knowledge, improve skills, and encourage sound professional and safe practices.
HPERD is committed to the preparation of health physical education and recreation professional in areas of exercise science, health education, athletic training, exercise science and therapeutic recreation. Students are prepared for careers through a variety of student-oriented and peer-enhanced activities that encourage personal and professional growth and development in academic, clinical and laboratory settings, as well as field experiences.
The primary goal of the department is to develop qualified professionals who understand the relationship between knowledge, skill, attitude and behavior. Students are encouraged to interact with faculty who value, participate in and actively encourage scholarship and professional development. Students have the opportunity to interact with working practitioners, who enhance the educational experience by serving as role models and mentors. The department believes through quality associations and experiences, graduates will value education, learn to acquire and interpret information, and become life-long advocates of healthy life styles.
The Department of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance is devoted to preparing professionals who will facilitate lifelong learning in a world of change; to confront the challenges of tomorrow; and to exhibit leadership skills in order to positively effect decisions that will encourage and support behaviors leading to an active, productive and healthy life style.
| 1925 | Martindale originally built |
| 1928-35 | Nell Martindale Kuchs is the women’s chair |
| 1935-76 | Bonnie Magill women’s chair |
| 1945 | Sigma Phi Dolphins Swim Club started by Bonnie Magill; Barb Bernard took over 1966-1988 |
| 1955 | 1600 students enrolled at Northwest Missouri State University |
| 1960-92 | Delta Psi Kappa; Honoree P.E. fraternity in existence |
| 1961 | Lamkin remolded originally |
| 1966-99 | Orchesis Dance Club started |
| 1966 | Volleyball started at Northwest Missouri State University |
| 1967 | Women’s Basketball club stated by Janie Walker |
| 1968 | Women’s Track started |
| 1970’s | Archery and fencing clubs started; Tennis, bowling and softball; Started by Barb Bernard |
| 1971-90 | Dance Minor available |
| 1971 | Sherri Reeves is the 1st women’s basketball coach at Northwest Missouri State University |
| 1973 | Martindale demolished, except for the gym |
| 1973 | Scholarships are formed at Northwest Missouri State University |
| 1975 | Martindale offices moved back in new building |
| 1978-79 | Two separate departments Men/Women are united as one |
| 1980 | Foster Aquatic Center opened |
| 1984 | The last year for the Physical Education lifetime certificate |
| 1995 | Lamkin renovated and new addition added; Student Recreation Center |
In the spring of 2003, Dr. Jim Johnson with the Maryville City Manager, Matt Chesnut and Shelly Hersh created a City Wellness Council to address the Health and Wellness needs of the City of Maryville Employees. During the spring semester, classes of Dr. Johnson have presented numerous Wellness Programs for City Employees, as well as Needs Assessments, and a City Health Fair.
Realizing the success for a wellness program for city employees; Dr. Terry Robertson (Chair of the Northwest Missouri State University HPERD Department) and Matt Chesnut (City Manager) with the approval of the City Council (Dr. Ron Moss, Mayor); the University and City created a joint partnership between the University and the City.
This partnership created a new Graduate Assistantship for the HPERD Department and opportunities for Health and Recreation students to refine their crafts in working with numerous City Wellness Programs. Beginning in the fall of 2003, Dr. Jim Johnson was contracted to be the City Consultant, and since then a Graduate Assistant has been contracted to act as the City Wellness Director.
The City can boast a healthy city participation rate in year-round wellness programs and offerings do to the partnership between the University and the City of Maryville.
Empower me is a unique community-based project designed to build resiliency, responsibility and self respect among youth who find themselves on the pathway towards adjudication. In its pilot phase, the project served eighteen, 14-16 old youth identified and served by the first status offenders program of Buchanan Country. The primary goal of the project is to reduce the number of first offenders who remain in or return to the justice system.
Empower me was funded, designed and pilot through a partnership between the heartland Foundation of Northwest Missouri and the Juvenile Office of the Fifth Judicial Circuit Court of the Buchanan Country.