Department of Health and Exercise Science at Colorado State University

02/16/2026

Whether she’s diving into hands‑on labs or hyping up her friends at the , HES Ram Morgan Johnson is all about building community through health and wellness 🏋️🐏

A passionate student with a heart for helping others, Morgan brings dedication and joy to everything she does.

Get to know Morgan in our Q&A with her! ⬇️

Q: How did you discover Health and Exercise Science at CSU?
A: I discovered Health and Exercise Science at CSU during my college application process as I knew I wanted to study health and wellness. I remember the opportunities provided within the program as well as their involvement in the community through research really excited me!

Q: What does HES mean to you?
A: To me HES means friendship, support, and ambition. In this major I have met my best friends, I have been encouraged by faculty members to keep going and growing, and I have been driven by my peers to pursue opportunities that may have otherwise intimidated me. HES is not just a department but it is a community with a radiant atmosphere that you can’t help but be excited by.

Q: What has been your favorite HES class and with whom?
A: I have taken so many great HES classes over the course of my time at CSU so it is hard to choose a favorite. However, I am taking Female Health and Athletic Performance (HES-360) with Kimber Finan and Dr. Lyndsey DuBose right now and it has been incredible! It has by far been the most engaging and hands-on class I have taken, which makes the cool stuff we are learning about even cooler! Definitely take it if you can!

Q: What communities or industries do you hope to positively impact after graduation/in your career?
A: I will be working with students with disabilities this spring and I really hope I am able to make a positive impact within this community and hopefully continue to do so following graduation.

I am also hoping to work with the senior population in my career and would love to make a difference in this community as well. But, no matter where I end up I hope to make an impact however I can!

02/10/2026

Calling all HES Research Rams 📣 CHHS Research Day is just one month away on Tuesday, March 10!

Whether you're an undergrad or grad student, we want you to represent! Submit your research poster by February 24 🔗 col.st/cietx

We can't wait to see you there 🔜

01/09/2026

Whether she's competing in a half-marathon or helping others reach their fitness goals, HES Ram Veronica Vessa is all about health and wellness 🏃🐏

A dedicated first-generation student with a double minor in nutrition and business, there’s nothing Veronica can’t do when she puts her mind to it.

Get to know Veronica in our Q&A with her! ⬇️

Q: What does it mean to be a Health and Exercise Science Ram?
A: To me, Health and Exercise Science means understanding how the human body functions so we can help people live healthier, more active lives. It allows me to connect my interest in science with my desire to support people in living healthier lives.

Q: What communities or industries do you hope to positively impact after graduation/in your career?
A: After graduation, I hope to work in communities where I can help people improve their overall health and prevent chronic disease through evidence-based lifestyle habits. I’ve recently become especially interested in the role of nutrition and how powerful it can be in long-term health and well-being.

My goal is to make a positive impact by helping individuals build healthier routines that support both their physical health and overall quality of life.

Q: What has been your favorite CSU experience?
A: My favorite CSU experiences have been game days, running my first half marathon, and meeting incredible people through .

Each of these moments represents a different part of how I’ve grown during my time here—pushing myself physically with a race I never imagined I could complete, and growing spiritually by surrounding myself with a community of beautiful people that has strengthened and inspired me in my faith. These experiences have made my time at CSU truly meaningful and have shaped who I’m becoming both personally and within my health and wellness journey.

Way to go, Veronica! We can’t wait to see how you keep people moving! 👏

12/22/2025

We are so proud of you, Myah!!! Way to represent HES and our College so well!

12/12/2025

Incredible work, as always, coming from Dr. Lodha and the Movement Neuroscience and Rehabilitation Lab team!

See how the MNR Lab continues to positively impact individuals with cognitive decline while providing opportunities for undergraduate students 👇

12/01/2025

From the classroom, to the weight room, to the field with CSU Men's Rugby, Julian Khalek embodies what it means to be an HES Ram! 🐏💪

Though he was initially unsure what he wanted to study upon graduating from high school, Julian was drawn to CSU and our HES program because of the wide array of career options available for our grads.

“At the time, I didn’t know exactly what job I wanted after graduation, I just knew I loved to exercise,” he said. “Discovering HES at CSU gave me hope that I didn’t need to have everything figured out yet, and I found so much comfort in that.”

Get to know more about Julian in this Q&A! ⬇️

Q: What does Health and Exercise Science mean to you?
A: HES is about more than just educating the public on good health practices; a Google search can tell you everything you need to know about that.

In HES, our work becomes meaningful when we genuinely care about the health of others. At HES, health is only the starting point; building real connections with people is the true catalyst for creating a healthier world.

Q: What communities do you hope to serve in your career?
A: I am super excited to begin my career as a high school strength and conditioning coach. My passion for exercise began in my own high school weight room, and I hope to inspire that same spark in another school’s student body.

Watching students grow from freshmen into strong, athletic seniors earning college offers is something truly special about this setting. Knowing that I contributed to their athletic success is one of the most gratifying feelings for me.

Driven by his faith and his passion to help people optimize their health, we cannot wait to see what’s next for Julian - keep up the incredible work!

11/19/2025

When it comes to concussion safety, the best play is knowledge.

Our very own Dr. Jaclyn Stephens contributed to a new Elsevier Science Direct guide for parents and coaches with helpful tools for concussion recognition and management in young athletes 🧠

Find the full guide and learn more about the importance of the golden rule: "If in doubt, sit them out" 🔗 col.st/1yasr

11/17/2025

11/13/2025

Get to know Kristin Johnson, HES's newest faculty researcher who joined the team this Fall!

The Department of Health and Exercise science is excited to welcome Assistant Professor Kristin Johnson to the full-time faculty.

11/05/2025

Get to know Health and Exercise Science Alumna, Allison Melangton ('83)!

Melangton came to CSU from a small town in Maine and found her footing with a degree in Commercial Sporrts (now Health and Exercise Science).

Melangton's experience at CSU led her to host the world's biggest sporting events, including Superbowl XLVI, the Olympics, and the Indianapolis 500!

10/31/2025

Another great HES Halloween Costume Contest is in the books!

Big congrats to the “Dr. Lark” twins for taking home two trophies this year 😂

Have a safe and happy Halloween, HES Ramily! 🐏👻

10/24/2025

It was a perfect weekend for a nice fall run.
Thank you to the over 1,700 of you who came out to run the 45th annual CSU Homecoming 5K! The event raised funds for the Alonso Quijano Research Scholars, providing hands-on training in research labs, outreach programs, and academic support roles for students in the Department of Health and Exercise Science.

Way to go, runners (and walkers)! We're so grateful for our active CSU Ramily!