Tim Behrens, first Health and Exercise Sciences doctoral candidate
Tim will soon be the first recipient of a doctor in philosophy degree offered in Health and Exercise Sciences. He took some time out of his busy schedule to write a brief biography:
I grew up in Houston, Tex. and attended Sam Houston State University for the B. S. in Health Education. I began my college career straight out of high school, like many students, and quickly found out that I was not ready for college. I dropped out after my first semester and worked a few years while attempting classes at a community college. After a few years I returned to SHSU and finished my undergraduate degree. I then attended the University of Houston, where I earned my M. Ed. in Health Education. After finishing my master's degree I applied for many jobs, and almost moved to California, but decided instead to finish my education so that I could attain my dream - to be a university professor.
I had four real options for doctoral schools- Texas A&M, the University of Houston, Southern Illinois University, and the University of Oklahoma. After visiting all of the schools I decided that OU was the best program for me for a few reasons. First, OU represented a challenge and I like challenges. I knew that I would get the research skills that I needed to be a successful university faculty member at OU. The other schools did not offer that certainty. Second, I knew that the department here did research in the area of physical activity and that interested me very much. Lastly, I really liked my mentor Dr. Mary Dinger, and felt that she would offer me the advantage of a steady mentor willing to dedicate her time to ensure my success.
Since coming to OU, I have not been disappointed. I have received more research experience than I thought possible while a doctoral student. I have had the chance to conduct independent research and to present at national and regional conferences, as well as publish my research in professional journals. I feel that I am well-equipped to take the next step and become a successful faculty member next fall (hopefully!). I hope to land a job at a university that allows me to conduct meaningful research, while still dedicating excellence in the classroom. I really enjoy the interaction with students, and feel personally fulfilled when discussing my subject matter with the students.
My research interests are physical activity and health. Particularly, physical activity assessment and the relationships between physical activity, physical inactivity, and obesity. My secondary research interests lie in the area of spirituality and health.
Personally, I love to spend time with my wife of 9 years, Charity. She is truly the most important thing to me and I enjoy any time that we can spend together. I also enjoy being active - just about anything outside. Hiking, cycling, mountain biking, running, triathlons, etc. My favorite sports to play are volleyball and soccer. I also enjoy watching OU football and gymnastics, as well as professional soccer and rugby.
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