University of New England

Students in the Department of Exercise and Sport Performance enjoy the campus’s coastal location, the opportunity to take courses in their major from the beginning of their first semester, the friendly and knowledgeable faculty, the small classes, the variety of clinicals and internships, and the rigorous courses they need to prepare them for their careers or graduate school.

Below are some links to profiles of some of our students and alumni, who share their experiences as students in the Department of Exercise and Sport Management:

Scott Bottomley '08, Athletic Training Education: "The people are UNE are great. The exercise science and health promotion professors are knowledgeable and always willing to answer questions. I enjoy the small classes and relaxed atmosphere found here at UNE." Profile.

Bobby Cochrane '09, Applied Exercise Science: "The applied exercise Science program is a great major because it provides a lot of opportunities for internships and hands-on experiences while still giving its students a strong foundation of scientific theory that is competitive with any major college or university."  Profile

Nora Connors '06, Sport Management, is a snowboarder who competed in the pro division and the U.S. Open during her senior year at UNE. Profile.

Sarah Coulombe '10, Applied Exercise Science: "I loved the atmosphere of Maine and living on the water. I mean come on, who doesn’t love being able to go the beach between classes and study! " Profile

Eric Cressey ’03, who transferred to the University of New England from a Massachusetts college, interned in the Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Program at Southern Maine Medical Center in Biddeford. Profile.

Katie Diggins '10, Sport Management: "My favorite parts about UNE are the people and the location. The people at UNE are amazing. I have so many friends and love being here. In fact, I never really go home. Also the fact that UNE is on the beach makes it a lot harder to leave. The campus is beautiful." Profile.

Dennis Fontaine ’97, head athletic trainer at Merrimack College, North Andover, Mass, liked the opportunity, provided by clinicals and internships, to work with a large diverse population, from Biddeford Pee-Wee football all the way up to the Portland Pirates of the AHL. He also believes studying human gross anatomy at the UNE Harold Alfond Center for Health Sciences gives athletic training students an edge. Profile.

Dan Kelleher '11, Applied Exercise Science: "I love my major’s department because of the focus on the science of exercise and sport performance. I find it fascinating to learn about how the body works in relation to physical activity." Profile

Heather Laferriere '09, Athletic Training Education: "I was really impressed with the ability to be involved at UNE.  As a freshman, I knew I was entering into a tough academic program, but I was welcomed by continuous support from the faculty and staff." Profile

Chelsey Meszaros '11, Sport Management: "The small classes let students know their professors on a much better level. I like that each of my professors know my name, which would be hard to do if it was a larger school." Profile

Sheena Pope '09, Sport Management: "I did an internship with the Portland Junior Pirates that really helped me relate the things that I was learning in the classroom to real life experiences and situations." Profile

Leah Pouliot '06, Athletic Training Education: "The major thing I like about my department is the faculty. We are a very tight knit group. Freshman through the senior-level students are very involved with each other, and we work as a team." Profile.

Amanda Rodgerson '02, currently a graduate student in sport management at Old Dominion University, graduated from UNE with a major in sport and fitness management. She particularly enjoyed her internships her senior year at UNE working with Biddeford High School's athletic director and with UNE's Recreational Sports Office. Profile

Ashley Ruggiera '09, Athletic Training Education: "Overall, every rotation is very useful and important to our professional development, and gets us ready to pass the BOC, and become athletic trainers." Profile

Sarah Thibodeau '01, currently pursuing graduate studies in sport management, graduated from UNE with a major in sport and fitness management. She enjoyed UNE's ocean front location and small classes and the close relationships she developed with professors and classmates. Profile.

Emily Willoughby ’04, an athletic training major, likes the University of New England’s small classes and friendly faculty, as well as the professional resources that she believes are necessary to prepare her for graduate school. Profile.

Amy Young '07, Exercise and Health Promotion: "I love the exercise and health promotion major because most of the classes in the major aren't just lecture format: they have "hands-on" activities as well. Everyone in the major has classes together, and the professors all seem to love their job." Profile.