MEET OUR LEADERSHIP
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Kyle Kercher, PhD, CSCS, PMP, ACSM-EP, CHWC
Assistant Professor Favorite Quote? “To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded!” Ralph Waldo Emerson If you could instantly develop any skill, what would it be and why? Answer: Multilingual. Fascinated by other cultures, people, and places. Question: If you could research anything, what would it be and why? Answer: Exactly what we do in Hoosier Sport --- sport, physical activity, leadership, and psychological health. I'm motivated by this research space because it provides a scalable, sustainable, and fun approach to making a positive impact on millions of kids. |
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Hope Zeller, PhD
Project Coordinator Question: If you weren't in the profession/major/life track you were in now, what would you be in instead? Answer: Oh I love this question! I would either be an Investigative Genetic Genealogist who works with law enforcement to find suspects utilizing DNA OR a biblical teaching scholar who simplifies and applies Biblical principles to help others grow. Question: If you could instantly develop any skill, what would it be and why? Answer: SO MANY! But I definitely wish I could instantly know how to:
Question: Favorite spot in Bloomington? Answer: Wherever my people are! But if I have to choose a place, it would be my home/backyard, on a boat in the middle of Lake Monroe, or the waterfall at McCormick’s Creek (not technically Bloomington, but close!). |
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Vanessa Martinez Kercher, PhD
Assistant Professor Question: What’s a sports-related phrase or quote that best captures your work or study philosophy? Answer: “You can easily judge the character of others by how they treat those who can do nothing for them or to them.” -Malcom Forbes Question: What's your sports "power-up" food? (Which food gives you that extra boost of energy before you workout?) Answer: Peanut butter on toast/crackers with honey! Yum! Question: If you could instantly develop any skill, what would it be and why? Answer: Time management! I would love to be a great manager of time in my work and in life to promote feelings of organization, productivity, and methodological approach to feeling daily/weekly accomplishment. And so that I can pass on this skill to the people I work and engage with to support their mental and physical wellbeing, too! |
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Cassie Coble, PhD
Associate Clinical Professor Question: What’s a sports-related phrase or quote that best captures your work or study philosophy? Answer: “Be true to yourself. Make each day a masterpiece. Help others. Drink deeply from good books. Make friendship a fine art. Build a shelter against a rainy day.” John Wooden Question: If you weren't in the profession/major/life track you were in now, what would you be in instead? Answer: No question, if I weren’t doing what I am doing now, I would get a degree in Turf Grass Management and work at a golf course (a baseball stadium would be a close second). The idea of waking up every morning and seeing the sun rise over the dew-covered grass – just perfection. Probably good that I didn’t go into that field as I am trying to reconcile my love of golf courses (not golf, just the courses) with my concern about their negative environmental impact. So, long story short, I guess I am sticking with being a professor! Question: Favorite spot in Bloomington? Answer: The libraries! The public libraries, the campus libraries, the little free libraries all around town! There are so few places in this world where you can exist without feeling like you have to spend money so it is nice to have a quiet place to think where people young and old and everyone in between can be. |
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Noah Cumming
Clinical Research Assistant Question: What first drew you to Hoosier Sport, and what has kept you involved? Answer: The opportunity to come back to my home community where I grew up and give back to them was what first drew me to Hoosier Sport! Question: What advice would you give to a student joining Hoosier Sport for the first time? Answer: Advice I’d give to a student joining Hoosier Sport for the first time is to say yes as much as you possibly can afford to. You’ll grow because of it and there’s no better place to learn from new challenges than with the Hoosier Sport team behind your back! Question: What is one thing you have learned about leadership, teamwork, or mentorship through Hoosier Sport? Answer: One thing I’ve learned as a leader is to not only delegate but to trust the people you are delegating to. We have a great team who can create great results! |
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Julianna King, MPH-PhD
Research Assistant Q: What is one thing you hope students take away from their Hoosier Sport experience? A: How valuable teamwork is in research! There are so many spaces where it feels easier to work alone, but there is so much insight that comes from bringing together all kinds of people at different levels and with different experiences. We can do more together than we can alone! Q: What is one Hoosier Sport moment that reminded you why this work matters? A: There are soooo many! But the Inaugural Girls Leadership Symposium in 2025 was amazing because it was brought together by some awesome undergraduate mentees. The impact of the event on the middle school girls was quite apparent as well – many of which said they’d never been on a college campus before! Q: Which Hoosier Sport core value connects with you the most, and why? A: Get to vs. Have to : In school and work, it is so easy to get caught up in the seemingly never ending tasks and be annoyed by different obligations – but it is so important to keep in mind that we all signed up for this. We have an amazing opportunity to take part in this research team, and that is a get to, not a have to. |