Morrison Bruce Center

04/24/2026

Today’s Staff Spotlight introduces Taylor Coburn, a junior and member of the Girls Have H.E.A.R.T. Committee! Taylor joined the Morrison Bruce Center because she wanted to make a positive difference in the lives of those around her, and she is excited to help guide young girls through their running journey while building their confidence along the way.

Taylor’s favorite physical activity is cycling, and a fun fact about her is that she has run two half marathons! She learned about the MBC through friends in her Kinesiology classes and is grateful for the opportunity to be involved.

Outside of the MBC, Taylor enjoys baking, playing pickleball, doing puzzles, and spending time with friends!

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04/21/2026

Meet today’s staff spotlight, Sophie Stroud, one of our incredible staff members at the Morrison Bruce Center! Sophie is part of the EmpowHER Committee, where she is passionate about helping women build confidence in the weight room. She is especially excited to form meaningful connections and support every individual who walks through the doors.

Sophie learned about the MBC through an email highlighting practicum opportunities and immediately knew it would be a perfect fit. After learning more about the mission and values of the Center, she was inspired by the opportunity to contribute to the community in a meaningful and personal way.

Outside of the MBC, Sophie stays busy as a member of the Women’s Soccer team here at JMU. In her free time, she enjoys painting, reading, practicing yoga, and journaling. We’re so excited to have her compassion and positivity as part of the MBC family!

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04/18/2026

It’s National Exercise Day, and there’s no better way to celebrate than highlighting the incredible programs we’re proud to offer at the Morrison Bruce Center. This professionally produced video captures the heart of what we do: supporting girls and women as they move, learn, grow, and build confidence through physical activity and wellness. Thank you to Julia Weaver Photography for capturing the magic!

Watch. Celebrate movement. And join us in being active for life. 💙💚 JMU College of Health and Behavioral Studies

04/17/2026

At the Morrison Bruce Center, our full-time student volunteers are more than helpers; they are leaders, mentors, and changemakers.

Assigned to one of our weekly programs, including Girls Have H.E.A.R.T., Healthy Kids, and EmpowHER, our full-time student volunteers collaborate closely with both the Student Staff and Executive Staff to bring each program to life. Their dedication enhances our outreach, builds strong community connections, and creates impactful experiences for the program participants we serve.

We thank our full-time volunteers for committing to a ten-week volunteer experience, showing up with positive energy and enthusiasm, and leading with heart!

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04/14/2026

Let’s give a warm welcome to Sitara Soeb, today’s Staff Spotlight!

Sitara is a senior at JMU, and a fun fact about her is that she hopes to become a speech-language pathologist. This semester, she is working with the MBC’s Girls Have H.E.A.R.T. program. Sitara is passionate about working with children, and once she learned about the mission of the MBC, she knew she wanted to be part of the meaningful impact it creates. With a genuine passion for movement, Sitara is especially excited to help build confidence in young girls through active engagement and empowerment within Girls Have H.E.A.R.T.

Outside of the Morrison Bruce Center, Sitara enjoys reading, staying active, cooking, traveling, and spending time with friends. We are so excited to have you as part of the team, Sitara!

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04/10/2026

Give a hand for our longest serving staff member, the one and only Ali Downey! Ali previously completed her practicum and internship requirements with the Morrison Bruce Center and was recruited to stay on board in a specialized student staff member leadership role. Ali was eager to return for a third semester with the Morrison Bruce Center because of her passion for the Center’s mission and its focus on empowering women through exercise and community.

Ali is co-leading the launching of the Morrison Bruce Center’s new Fitness Sampler Program, in addition to executing undergraduate research and supporting the EmpowHER committee. She’s also part of the Marketing, Research, and Development committee, helping to strengthen the reach of the Center.

Outside of the MBC, Ali enjoys shopping, playing intramural sports, and spending time with friends and family. She is also a member of Phi Epsilon Kappa, Pre-PT Society, and Canterbury Campus Ministry.

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04/07/2026

Let’s give a warm welcome to today’s Staff Spotlight: Sarah Hussein!

Sarah is a junior at JMU and is working with the Girls Have H.E.A.R.T. Program. This is her first semester at the Morrison Bruce Center, and she was drawn to the program by its powerful mission and the meaningful impact it has on young girls. Sarah is especially excited to be part of Girls Have H.E.A.R.T. because it allows her to directly support and empower girls by promoting self-confidence and a strong sense of belonging.

Outside of the Morrison Bruce Center, Sarah enjoys hiking in the area, watching documentaries, and baking sweet treats.

We are so thrilled to have you on the team, Sarah!

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04/03/2026

Research in motion at the Morrison Bruce Center!

The Morrison Bruce Center (MBC) is advancing knowledge on physical activity, empowerment, and lived experience for girls and women. We’re currently executing six active research projects with undergraduate and graduate student research partners, as well as faculty collaborators from Kinesiology and Health Science, making an impact on campus and in the community. Together, these projects reflect the MBC’s mission to empower girls and women to lead confident, active lives through education, movement, and community-engaged research. Be sure to check out our active research projects page on our website!

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03/31/2026

We are pleased to highlight Sadie Young as today’s staff spotlight! Sadie joined the Morrison Bruce Center because she wanted to give back to her community while gaining experience working with kids and creating engaging lesson plans. She currently serves on the Healthy Kids committee, where she is most excited about developing fun and meaningful activities for children. She is also a part of the Marketing, Research, and Development Committee, where she helps advertise and spread awareness of the programs the MBC offers.

She first learned about the MBC through friends in her program, and after some research, she realized that this was a perfect fit for her! Outside of the MBC, Sadie enjoys playing games with her roommates and reading. She is also involved in Alpha Phi Omega, where she volunteers weekly in her community.

We are thrilled to have Sadie as a part of our team!

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03/27/2026

Check out this fantastic article about our interprofessional and interdisciplinary Gus Bus partnership! What a fantastic evening! https://www.jmu.edu/news/chbs/2026/03-27-mbc-gusbus.shtml?fbclid=IwY2xjawQzid1leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFaUUNONnkzUHJWV3NJYU8yc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHk6oa9kDaNtUHTrPlJo3Eg92AxZyKRDfXIiFEo9vW2VcdYmVO3xNYL11Jk5x_aem_uBiCDpEAdj2CiOf_tsHicA

Students from three College of Health and Behavioral Studies (CHBS) academic areas came together this spring to design and deliver a community centered Family Engagement Night in partnership with the Gus Bus.

03/27/2026

One more Gus Bus post, this one from JMU College of Health and Behavioral Studies! Check out the great photos!

03/27/2026

The Gus Bus is a community literacy and academic enrichment program serving PreK-5th grade students in Harrisonburg. This week, the Morrison Bruce Center partnered with the Gus Bus for a Family Engagement Night, bringing families together for hands-on activities, free resources, and community support.

In collaboration with the CHBS Applied Nutrition graduate program, the MBC provided interactive programming focused on physical activity, nutrition, and wellness; helping families build healthy habits through fun, engaging experiences. Our Gus Bus slogan for 2026: Fitness Is Fun For Families At Home!

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