Logan Heenan

Gonzaga University Nursing and Human Physiology Alumni, Logan Heeman ('22).
April 27, 2023

Graduation Year:

2022

Life After Gonzaga:

I am currently working as a researcher on the thermoregulation team at the Nike Sport Research Lab studying the relationship between exercise intensity, environmental conditions, and apparel ensembles on human thermoregulation. I will be attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison for the Fall 2023 semester to begin my M.S./Ph.D. in Exercise Physiology.

What made the greatest impression on you during your time at Gonzaga?

The community within the HPHY program was something that I appreciated greatly, particularly after returning to campus after pandemic lockdowns. I found myself spending a significant amount of time meandering around the shed to stop by and chat with professors. Additionally, I enjoyed being part of a relatively small major and getting to know everyone better than I would in a larger program.

What skills or knowledge gained during the program did you find the most immediately useful after you graduated?

I found that the opportunities to perform research outside of 441/442L through Dr. Brad Wilkins as well as directed readings under Dr. Wilkins and Dr. David Thorp were experiences that gave me a great deal of direction after graduation. These experiences were extremely helpful in simultaneously allowing me to learn content beyond what is offered in through the HPHY courses and guide my research interests, allowing me to be a more competitive applicant in both academic and industrial applications as well as allowing me to narrow my search for Ph.D. programs of interest. I feel that research under Dr. Wilkins and guided reading under Drs. Wilkins and Thorp allowed me to “customize” my education to my interests and goals.

What skills and abilities do you think future HPHY graduates will need to have to be successful?

I think that the HPHY program is built in a way that, particularly in my junior and senior semesters, allowed me to customize my education in a way that suited my interests and goals. With immense guidance from all the faculty, I was able to 1) minor in chemistry, 2) participate in additional faculty-driven research, 3) engage in individual readings, and 4) take electives relevant to my research interests. This customization of the HPHY program allowed me to narrow the physiology program into one centered on finding and developing my career interests. I think that current or incoming students should attempt to take advantage of the excellent guidance provided by the faculty within the HPHY program to similarly build their experience.