Getting to Know Your Kinesiology Family – Faculty Spotlights

C. Smiley Reeves, MS, CEP

Where did you grow up and what activities were you involved in? I grew up in SE Louisiana and went to high school in Hammond, La. I played Varsity Basketball 4 years and was a member of the Dance Team.

What did you want to be when you grew up? I enjoyed sports so much that I wanted to continue to participate on some level. I was active in Intramural and club sports while in undergraduate school. I was a La Tech Powerlifter for two years. I got involved in martial arts and continued to compete until age 35.

What was your first job? I worked as a student worker in the College of Engineering at Louisiana Tech. I worked in the Dean’s office.

Where did you attend undergrad and what was your major? Louisiana Tech/Health & Physical Education.

Where did you attend graduate school and your activities during that time? I earned a Master of Science degree in Exercise Sciences at North Texas State University. I attended LSU in Baton Rouge for 3 years working toward a PhD in Kinesiology. While in Baton Rouge, I served as the Director of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and Health Promotions at Our Lady of the Lake RMC.

What brought you to Louisiana Tech? I did not intended to return to Ruston, LA after undergraduate school but plans changed years later when I married, and he was from Ruston. I was invited to teach classes in the Department of Health & Exercise Sciences for a quarter. Twenty years later I am still teaching and enjoying life at La Tech!

What classes do you teach at Louisiana Tech? A variety of undergraduate classes such as KINE 410 Facility Design, KINE 300 Safety Education, KINE 220 First Aid, KINE 407 Exercise Testing & Prescription. I have taught KINE 290 Personal & Community Health and KINE 292 Fitness & Wellness, and Consumer & Environmental Health (Removed). In addition to teaching, I serve as Faculty Advisor for Phi Epsilon Kappa Honor Fraternity and as the Undergraduate Internship Coordinator.

What are your research interests? For many years my focus was on older adult fitness. Several in our department have partnered to conduct a variety of research projects with the Senior Adult Fitness Program and have presented the results at national, state, and local conferences. In recent years I have participated in Tactical Research projects with Dr. Todd Castleberry. Last year we conducted a study with law enforcement officers looking at Blood Pressure and the effects Tactical Gear has on performance while on the job.

What organizations are you affiliated with? I hold a Clinical Exercise Physiologist license with the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners, membership in the American College of Sports Medicine’s Clinical Exercise Physiology Association, membership in the Louisiana Health, Physical Education, Recreation & Dance organization, membership in the Society for Health and Physical Education organization, and am certified as a Basic Life Support Instructor with the American Heart Association.

Tell us about your family. I have a son and 3 step-daughters, 3 granddaughters, and one sweet puppy named Riley.