Rebecca (Becki) Battista (she/her) is a Professor of Exercise Science in the Department of Public Health and Exercise Science and Director of the Office of Student Research. As the Director of the Office of Student Research she promotes and provides support to faculty mentored student research on campus. As a faculty member, her teaching and research area is related to promoting physical activity in children and youth which includes developing appropriate interventions and assessments. Becki is a part of the Healthy Outdoor Play and Exercise (HOPE) Lab - an interdisciplinary team focused on promoting outdoor physical activity. Additionally, she serves in leadership positions within 2 international level organizations.
Becki has been at App State since 2009 and has learned to love the mountains. She likes to “practice what she preaches” and hikes, runs, rides her bike, paddles and/or walks her dog on any and all trails in the high country. One of the parts she has thoroughly enjoyed is supporting and watching App State sports. Seeing the devoted fans and alumni is part of what makes being at App State rewarding.
Both Joy and Becki have been involved in mentoring faculty since 2012. At the time, their department was very large (5 different programs) and had numerous Junior Faculty members looking towards promotion and tenure. They designed a summer “Boot Camp” within their department (Health, Leisure and Exercise Science) which eventually led to a college (Beaver College of Health Sciences) sponsored writing retreat. This eventually allowed them to set up and begin an interdisciplinary lab the HOPE Lab where they both engage in research and assist in mentoring of Lab team members.