Department of Kinesiology - Meet Jimmy

At many other schools, kinesiology students might not get to use cutting-edge technology. Jimmy ’25, however, is already ahead of the competition.

The senior exercise science major from Daejeon, South Korea, will be pursuing a doctorate in physical therapy upon graduation. Thanks to the intentional excellence of the Department of Kinesiology, Daejeon uses bodpods and hydrostatic weighing tools in the classroom, providing him with an unmatched, hands-on learning experience.

Before he arrived in Michigan, Jimmy had a lifelong interest in anatomy and its connection to human movement. “I always liked sports and I wanted to learn more about the body. I was interested in how our bodies move and why they operate in a certain way,” he explained. “I also thought that this was highly relevant with physical therapy.”

Now, he’s taking his classroom knowledge and applying it through research. “I am currently studying metabolism and injury management and care. I worked on a research project to study the predictability of standing broad jump on 40-yard spring performance,” he shared.

He’s thankful for his professors, especially Dr. Maureen Dunn. “I love my department because every professor genuinely cares for you. Dr. Dunn always encourages me to think deeper so that I can understand the content. Her teaching method made the class content more intriguing,” he said.

Jimmy hopes that donors like you realize the impact they have on students. “Thanks to you, students get to learn more effectively,” he said. “You have prepared many of us to be health care professionals, where we’ll serve others.”

By giving to the Department of Kinesiology, you’re not just making an investment in Hope College and its students. You’re making an investment in the lives of the countless patients and athletes our well-trained students will heal throughout their long and fruitful careers. Will you make this investment today?