Amanda Koos: Kinesiology

Amanda graduated magna cum laude May 21, 2022, with a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science. She has accepted a Project Management position at McGraw Hill Higher Education Publishers in Dubuque. Amanda is from La Motte, Iowa.

Tell us about some of the professional opportunities that have presented themselves while you've attended SAU. How will you use those now or in the future?
I was honored to work for the Kinesiology Department as their work study student from my sophomore to senior year. This allowed me to have a closer connection with my professors and get a better understanding of the structure of higher education from a professor’s point of view. I also worked for McGraw Hill, a higher education publishing company, throughout my years at St. Ambrose. With these two experiences, I found a passion for being involved in higher education and helping professors teach students in the most efficient way. These opportunities led me to take a different path than originally planned and accept a Project Management position at McGraw Hill where I will be able to help professors prepare for their online courses and pursue many other interests of mine regarding higher education and science.

What was a defining moment or very memorable experience you had as a student in the Department of Kinesiology?
My favorite experience with the Kinesiology Department is a collec- tion of all of the moments I felt supported and cared for by their faculty and staff. While working with the department I was excited to get to know many of them and learn from them in and out of the classroom. From hallway greetings to long conversations in the office, the faculty and staff always made me feel welcomed. These relationships are one of the things I appreciated the most about attending a small school like St. Ambrose.

What drew you initially to our department? Has that motivation changed over the course of the years you've been at SAU?

I was drawn to the Kinesiology Department by my interest in science, anatomy, and occupational therapy. I began as a psychology major with the intent of going into occupational therapy. I became very interested in my science and wellness classes and decided to change my major to exercise science. Although I decided not to go into occupational therapy, I still enjoyed learning about topics I am passionate about while being an exercise science major. Some day, I hope to work directly with science materials of higher education to help professors teach their classes and help students learn.

What advice might you give to a prospective student considering the Dept. of Kinesiology at SAU?
Don't be afraid to take risks and look at all of your options. If someone told my freshman-year self that I was going to be working an office job after graduation I wouldn't have believed them. I am so grateful that I was able to take chances and use the many opportunities I received at St. Ambrose to guide myself in making decisions for my future.

What advice might you give to someone just starting the bulk of their required departmental coursework?
Focus on building strong work ethic because it will help you in so many aspects of life. Once you stop working for a grade and start working because you want to work hard, learn, and succeed, the grades will come naturally.

How did your affiliation with St. Ambrose help you in your job search or graduate school search? Utilizing the Career Center at St. Ambrose helped me to make many difficult decisions, especially in my freshman year. The opportunity to work for the Kinesiology department allowed me to gain experience in higher education to benefit me in my job application process. Being a part of organizations on campus such as Dance Marathon and Campus Ministry helped me to gain leadership skills that will continually benefit me in my future.