"I am very thankful I had the opportunity to take numerous classes in ESS as they have informed my interests and passions for the future. Taking the sports psychology class with Dr. Slade opened my eyes to an opportunity to engage with sport in a new way and allowed me the courage to begin a sports psychology group within UCSB's Intercollegiate athletics department. I was also able to conduct research on psychological rehabilitation from sports injuries alongside a great team and guided by Dr. Slade. I now plan to pursue a doctorate in sports psychology in hopes of working at a university to support the mental needs of student athletes."

Kendall Martin - Class of 2023

Major: Sociology

Minor: Applied Psychology

"I am planning to study abroad in Taiwan over the summer to conduct research in Alzheimer’s disease and after that will get ready to apply for physical therapy school during my gap year! 

Thank you for hosting the ESS ceremony again. It was a great celebration to end the school year."

Wynee Chen - Class of 2023

Major: Biological Sciences

Minor: Chinese

Beth McAndrews, PT, DPT

After completing the Personal Training Certificate through the Exercise and Sport Studies department at UCSB, I began my pursuit of a physical therapy degree with much more confidence in my understanding of health and wellness, injury prevention, and strength training principles. In the year after graduating from UCSB, I finished up my pre-requisite courses at SBCC, worked and volunteered at four different PT clinics, and applied to PT schools across the country. That year, I was lucky enough to be accepted to a dream school of mine, The University of Washington. In three very focused years of school and clinical rotations I was able to obtain my Doctor of Physical Therapy degree! In looking back, I will always be thankful for the foundation and support the ESS department provided for me while at UCSB. Go Gauchos!

Huber Garcia, Class of 2018

Huber Garcia, Class of 2018 Alumni. I currently work as a medical assistant
at a private Dermatology office on the central coast. My time in the ESS department was one of
the more profound academic experiences I had during my time at UC Santa Barbara. The ESS
department and its courses were pivotal in shaping my career aspirations and skillset which I
have taken into the workforce. Throughout my college career, I participated in the Health &
Wellness and Personal Training programs which helped hone my communication, critical
thinking, and team building skills. I am grateful for this department due to the lasting impact it
made on me by expanding my knowledge of health and wellness and pushing me out of my
comfort zone more than any other academic department I was involved in. The professors in
the ESS department consistently championed for my success and provided me with the tools to
continue on my journey in becoming a Physician Assistant. I know that the opportunities and
experiences that the ESS department gave me are ones which will continue to be my
foundation as I work towards becoming a medical provider

Sydney Bast

The ESS program ignited quite an interested in all things health and wellness for me. Being a volleyball player already I loved the weight room and how it could positively impact my performance, but had yet to explore the impact it could make on others amidst their own life experiences. Since graduating ESS I have been pursuing health and wellness on a multitude of levels. I became a Certified Functional Strength Coach and began training youth, high school, and collegiate athletes to elevate their performance. I also applied to graduate school for Occupational Therapy and am now a current Masters of Occupational Therapy student at the University of Southern California. Most recently, I created an online fitness subscription with the goal of encouraging healthy lifestyles for all. Combining my previous experience as an athlete and strength coach with my current experience as an OT student, I have found that incorporating physical activity into daily routines and providing modifications for attainability at every ability level is the key to sustainable health. We provide prerecorded workouts for all ability levels that can be done at home with minimal equipment and now have hundreds of subscribers! I love applying my education to every level of health and wellness to be able to create healthier lifestyles in all those around me. I’m grateful for the experience I had at UCSB and look forward to continuing on this wellness journey! 

Erica Stenz, Group Fitness Certification

Hunter Love,  Class 2022

"I am currently working full time in the HR department at Cottage Hospital and a recent grad of the ESS program. I felt like the program gave me applicable knowledge and concrete connections in the healthcare field. Every instructor is passionate about what they do and fosters a community that encourages health and wellness."

- Hunter Love '22

Jimmy Singh, Class of 2022

"The ESS program gave me such a broad range of experience, being a student athlete studying Data Science. I finally got to see how athletic trainers, weight performance coaches, and my track coaches view individual programs and athletes. Things have always been one-sided from my perspective as an athlete, but after taking ESS classes and completing my certificates, I’ve been able to answer my own questions; ranging from why a specific body part hurts to why I’m doing a specific exercise at practice/weights. 

Having teammates with me throughout this program made it that much easier, so make sure to be open and socialize, because you’ll probably be seeing the same students in other ESS classes as well.
With my Exercise Studies (Personal training) certificate, I was able to work part time as a Personal Trainer at the Golds Gym in Goleta, while I was competing in season. I’m currently trying to pursue a career as a Sports Data Analyst post graduation. There is much growth and opportunity for being in this program along with your degree, so take advantage of it during your fours at UCSB!"
 

- Jimmy Singh '22 

Josh Foster, Class of 2022

"My journey through the ESS program started off as a newly arrived freshman under Professor Jamieson in Health & Nutrition. It was the first class that I attended at UCSB and Professor Jamieson led an intriguing, action-packed course that captured my attention. As a student who hopes to become an orthopedic surgeon, understanding nutrition, exercise, athletic injuries, and overall health is a critical component of the occupation. From the beginning, I knew that the ESS faculty and course material could help me investigate and deepen my passion for these topics-- and I am proud to say that the ESS program did just that. 4 years later, I graduated from UCSB as a ESS academy member and received an award for Health & Wellness. I am currently a medical assistant with an orthopedic surgeon and I hope to attend medical school next year. I am extremely grateful for all 4 faculty members of the ESS department-- I have taken courses with each of them and they are all terrific Professors. Overall, I believe that there is an important place for ESS material in every student's mind. If you are on the fence about taking an ESS course, I recommend just diving in and seeing where it takes you!"

-Josh Foster '22