The University of Northern Iowa College of Education - Summer 2008 - (Page 8)

Faculty Highlights Service to Special Olympics J oe Wilson, UNI associate professor of leisure services, volunteered with Special Olympics as a college student in the late 1960s. Today he involves his own university students as he directs the 12-county Special Olympics of Northeast Iowa. “Special Olympics is such a valuable asset for people with intellectual disabilities,” he says. “It gives them good recreation and sports opportunities they often don’t get in school. In addition, it’s a great experience for the UNI students to work Olympic champ brings coaching techniques to UNI Jianping Ma’s job as head weightlifting coach at the United Sport and Athlete Training Center involves coaching, teaching UNI athletic training students the Chinese training method, and working toward qualifying more athletes for national collegiate meets and eventually the Olympics. The College of Education has acted as an incubator and catalyst for the training center brought to Waterloo through a partnership with the UNI School of Health, Physical Education and Leisure Services and area business leaders. As a world-class coach in weightlifting and taekwondo, Ma’s expertise is enhanced by his past successes as a 1984 Olympic champion, three-time World Cup medalist, and fivetime Chinese national champion in weightlifting. Ma praises UNI athletes as hard workers with strong genes. “I coach athletes from many sports at UNI – football, baseball, swimming, track and field, wrestling,” he says. “I coach the athletes in techniques using the Olympic professional style to help them improve and become stronger.” He relies on a slightly modified use of the Chinese training system for weightlifting. Ma also co-teaches some classes in athletic training with Jed Smith, UNI instructor and head strength and conditioning coach. Ma explains the Chinese method of training and the importance of recovery – an area he conducted research on in China. UNI students in the athletic training program work directly with Ma at the center and learn his training and recovery techniques. The response to Ma’s expertise has been an increase from 15 student athletes when the center opened last fall to 84 students six months later. He and Smith are taking 20 athletes to a training camp in China this summer and then to the Olympic games in Beijing. one-on-one with the athletes or help officiate some games.” As area director, Wilson organizes numerous events for the 600 athletes in northeast Iowa. Two of the main events – basketball skills and track and field – are held at UNI. Wilson also teaches a therapeutic recreation class and takes his students to the Iowa Winter Games hosted by Special Olympics of Dubuque. “About 50 students went with me this year and helped run events in cross country skiing, downhill skiing and snowshoeing. For many of the UNI students, Special Olympics is their first opportunity working with a person with a disability. I try to help young people lose their fears of being around someone with a disability,” Wilson says. He also chairs the leisure services division of the School of Health, Physical Education, and Leisure Services, serves on the Special Olympics of Iowa board of directors and he is involved in the national professional organization in therapeutic recreation. 8 University of Northern Iowa College of Education http://www.uni.edu/coe/ http://www.uni.edu

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The University of Northern Iowa College of Education - Summer 2008 Contents PLS Recommended For Statewide Mission Iowa Legislature Funds Regents' Math/Science Initiative School Counselors Reinstated For All Iowa School Districts Human Performance Center Dedicated DVDs Illustrate Early Childhood Education Standards UNI Leads in Solving Shortage of Special Education Teachers Iowa Initiative to Reduce Unintended Pregnancies Service to Special Olympics Olympic Champ Brings Coaching Techniques to UNI Meet Tomorrow's Promising Educators Len Froyen Multicultural Initiatives in Teaching Program Technology Facilitator Certificate Program Offered in Fall UNI Only Regents University Offering Technology Teacher Preparation Curriculum and Instruction All-University Professional Development Day Premieres Barb Hill - Known to All Teacher Education Majors Teacher Work Sample - A Window Into Students' Teaching Faculty and Student Award Winners Graduates - Where Are They? Career Notes UNI College of Education Receives 1.1 Million Dollar Gift Scholarship Needed

The University of Northern Iowa College of Education - Summer 2008

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