Texas A&M Professor’s Passion Helps Bring U.S. Paralympics Competition to Aggieland
On April 6 and 7, many of the nation’s top Para-cyclists will compete in the U.S. Paralympics Road Cycling Open at the Texas A&M University-RELLIS campus in Bryan, Texas in hopes of getting one step closer to the 2024 Summer Paralympic Games in Paris.
Bringing this prestigious event to Aggieland was a project two years in the making, initiated by Dr. Lisa Colvin of the School of Education & Human Development’s Department of Kinesiology and Sport Management. Since arriving in the summer of 2022, she proposed bringing para-athletic events, research collaborations and educational opportunities for Paralympians to her department and the University.
Colvin credits colleagues in her department and the Huffines Institute for Sports Medicine & Human Performance with helping shepherd her goal. With their help, she connected Texas A&M with the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee, highlighting the university’s commitment to education and research, and its reputation as a top veteran-serving institution.
Colvin said her passion also stems from a promise she made to one of her former graduate students. Warren Strickland was a U.S. Handcycling athlete who died following an accident during one of his on-road training sessions. Colvin says Strickland inspired her to learn about elite para-cycling, so she set out to keep his legacy alive by bringing a national para-athletic event to her home university. “When the possibility of bringing U.S. Paracycling to our community was proposed, I knew that I was at the right place at the right time to keep my promise to Warren,” she said.
With Aggieland firmly on the road to Paris, Colvin says her aspirations go beyond 2024. She aims to establish Texas A&M as the “go-to” site for para-athletics training, research and development ahead of the 2028 Summer Paralympic Games in Los Angeles. “I want to solidify Texas A&M as the place where athletes want to live, train, raise their families and continue their education before and leading into the 2028 games,” she said.
Texas A&M and the City of Bryan will co-host the U.S. Paralympics Road Cycling Open. The two-day event is free, family-friendly and open to the public. Learn more by visiting tx.ag/paracycling.
Latest Education & Human Development
- Dr. Khalil Dirani Appointed EAHR Department HeadDr. Khalil M. Dirani has been appointed the new head of our School’s Department of Educational Administration and Human Resource Development. The post Dr. Khalil Dirani Appointed EAHR Department Head appeared first on Education and Human Development.
- Former Graduate Student Competes for America’s Favorite Teacher TitleAggie graduate Joyce Welch is competing for the title of America’s Favorite Teacher. The post Former Graduate Student Competes for America’s Favorite Teacher Title appeared first on Education and Human Development.
- Aggie Teacher’s Approach to Literacy Inspires Fellow EducatorsFormer student Abby Ramos Stanutz ’05 transforms literacy education at Longfellow Middle School in San Antonio and shares her effective teaching methods with teachers nationwide. The post Aggie Teacher’s Approach to Literacy Inspires Fellow Educators appeared first on Education and Human Development.
- Dr. James Carson Named New Huffines Institute DirectorDr. James Carson will assume the role of Professor and new Director of the Huffines Institute for Sports Medicine and Human Performance. The post Dr. James Carson Named New Huffines Institute Director appeared first on Education and Human Development.
- Mother and Daughter Inspire Student Health and Fitness Through PEAPTheresa Wenzel and daughter Alison Soltis, instructors at Texas A&M's PEAP, guide students through diverse physical activity courses and empower them with wellness education. The post Mother and Daughter Inspire Student Health and Fitness Through PEAP appeared first on Education and Human Development.
- Former SEHD Student Furthers Bilingual Education in the Rio Grande ValleyDr. J. Joy Esquierdo, a graduate of our Bilingual Education Ph.D. program, was elected the interim Vice Provost for B3HSI integrations at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. The post Former SEHD Student Furthers Bilingual Education in the Rio Grande Valley appeared first on Education and Human Development.