Endowment Establishes Exercise Science Graduate Research Scholarship
Photo left to right: Christine Mermier, Ann Gibson, Vivian Heyward.
Funds will assist graduate students in completing their research
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Vivian Heyward, PhD; Christine Mermier, PhD; and Ann Gibson, PhD have started an endowed fund to create the Exercise Science Graduate Student Research Scholarship. All three donors are professors emeriti of the College of Education and Human Science (COEHS) Exercise Science Program at The University of New Mexico.
“The COEHS is incredibly grateful for the generosity of these emerti faculty in Exercise Science,” says Kristopher M. Goodrich, Dean of the College of Education and Human Sciences. “Each was a fierce advocate for their program and discipline while they taught at UNM, so it is no surprise that the same passion and generosity of spirit would transfer once they retired. Through this generous and enduring gift, they will ensure that graduate students have the much-needed support to continue the innovative research of the Exercise Science program we have in our College that benefits health and wellness in our communities.”
The scholarship will facilitate the Exercise Science Program graduate students’ ability to conduct research, develop their ideas, and cover research-related expenses. These expenses include equipment, conferences, and paying research participants for their time.
The first scholarships from the endowed fund will be awarded in 2026. Scholarship recipients must be members of the New Mexico Network for Women in Science and Engineering (NMNWSE), which is an organization focused on supporting women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. NMNWSE membership is open to people of any gender.
Vivian Heyward joined the UNM faculty as a physical education professor in 1974. She launched UNM’s Exercise Science program and received approval for a Bachelor of Science degree program in 1984. UNM was one of the first universities to offer a degree in exercise science.
Christine Mermier and Ann Gibson, who both graduated from the program, were students of Professor Heyward.
“This program is one of the strongest of its kind in the country,” says Professor Mermier. “The students come out of it strong in teaching and research, and the faculty work incredibly hard together. Everyone cares deeply about the students. We wanted to show that in some small way.”
Although the scholarship is open to anyone, the professors want to support women’s participation in the field of exercise science, which historically has been male-dominated.
Exercise Science program graduates are prepared to pursue additional study in physical therapy, occupational therapy, sports administration, and athletic training. They also can work as exercise physiologists and scientists in health and fitness facilities, cardiac rehabilitation centers, and more.
About UNM Foundation
The UNM Foundation promotes excellence at The University of New Mexico by raising, investing, and managing private gifts through the cultivation of long-term partnerships with donors, and by matching their interests to the University’s priorities.
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