Kelsie Ackerman
Graduation Year:
2021
Life After Gonzaga:
Following graduation, I entered a one-year postgraduate program in the UK at St. Mary’s University Twickenham, London. I received my master’s degree in Sport and Exercise Biomechanics, and now work for the motion capture company, Vicon Motion Systems. As their Product Marketing Manager, I use my background in life sciences to link motion capture and marketing. I am able to connect with people from different areas of biomechanics, hear about the exciting research going on in the field, and experience the ways that motion capture is used across the world. I first became aware of Vicon during my time at Gonzaga, and it feels full circle to now be fortunate enough to work for them.
What made the greatest impression on you during your time at Gonzaga?
In reflection on my time at Gonzaga, two main things stand out to me that proved to be bigger than I recognized at the time. One is the people and community that surround Gonzaga, and the other being the range of classes and experiences that students can immerse themselves in. Zags are special, and the term ‘Zags Help Zags’ tends to reappear in different areas of life, whether it is meeting people in a new city, or networking across the field. The people that go to Gonzaga really are put into a lifetime community. Additionally, having now experienced education in a different country, I am repeatedly thankful for all the opportunities I had at Gonzaga, from knowing my professors to taking a wide range of unique classes. You really do have the ability to become a well-rounded student and I feel lucky to have been a Zag, knowing it prepared me for the real world.
What skills or knowledge gained during the program did you find the most immediately useful after you graduated?
Since I went directly into a master’s program after graduation, I clung to the Gonzaga education I had received to prepare myself for this new, focused area of study. I immediately felt so much gratitude for all the types of classes and specialties I had exposure to within HPHY, because I felt 100% prepared and had a strong background to rely on in my new courses. Since biomechanics, and life sciences in general, can be heavy on research and analysis, knowing how to conduct a research project, write scientifically, do the correct mathematical equations, and generate statistical analysis, really helped me succeed in my postgraduate program. If you are to take one thing away, it is the confidence in your ability to be able to use your skills in a large range of scientific applications.
What skills and abilities do you think future HPHY graduates will need to have to be successful?
I think the most prominent aspect that future HPHY graduates can take away is their ability to solve difficult problems and be open-minded in learning new things. Though difficult, the HPHY program and Gonzaga really does prepare you for the next steps of your education or career path. It will be worth it with all the knowledge and experience you will gain. Being willing to grow is the hardest yet strongest step you can take to put yourself out there. Diving into the unknown can be scary but knowing that Gonzaga and HPHY prepped you to do just that, can ready you for whatever excellence there is to come.