ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA – Janet Wojcik, professor and program director of exercise science, was recently selected to receive Winthrop University’s top teaching accolade, the James Pinckney Kinard and Lee Wicker Kinard Award for Excellence in Teaching. She will be formally presented with the award at the university’s Dec. 20 Commencement ceremony.
The award was established 41 years ago in honor of former president James Pinckney Kinard and his wife, Lee Wicker Kinard, by their family.
Sebastian van Delden, provost and vice president for academic affairs, surprised Wojcik on Nov. 18, along with Associate Dean Erin Hamel and Assistant Provost for Curriculum and Program Support Tim Drueke, to tell her about the award. “The reaction from her and her students was priceless,” van Delden said. “Clearly she is well respected and loved by her students and her colleagues. Winning this award is a really big deal because we have so many very talented faculty members at Winthrop.”
In her nomination letter for Wojcik, Beth Costner, dean of the Richard W. Riley College of Education, Sport, and Human Sciences, said that Wojcik was a perfect candidate for the coveted award. “Dr. Wojcik exemplifies the qualities recognized by the Kinard Award. She is a teacher who places students at the center of her work, a colleague whose reputation on campus and in her discipline is one of excellence and integrity, and a leader whose contributions have shaped academic programs with lasting impact at Winthrop.”
About Janet Wojcik
Wojcik joined the faculty at Winthrop in 2006 and moved up the ranks to professor in 2020. Since arriving at Winthrop she has taught 12 unique undergraduate courses and three graduate courses. In a typical year, she teaches seven unique course preparations ranging from Exercise Physiology I to Physical Activity for Special and Aging Populations to internship and portfolio for seniors. These courses run the gamut from lecture and lab to seminar and intensive writing courses. She also teaches in multiple modalities, including traditional lecture style courses, hybrid courses and courses that are fully online.
In addition to teaching she serves as a mentor in the McNair Scholars program, as an honors thesis reader and encourages students to participate in Winthrop’s annual Showcase of Undergraduate Research and Creative Endeavors (SOURCE) conference and other regional conferences to share their research.
In a nomination letter written by several of her colleagues, her academic advising skills also were praised. Her colleagues said: “Dr. Wojcik is an exceptional academic advisor. While this task is often considered an academic responsibility, she goes above and beyond the expectations set for her as an advisor. She is intentional in creating relationships with her advisees and impacts her advisees as significantly as she does the students in her classes. She does far more than help students select courses; she creates relationships with her advisees and challenges them to set and achieve goals.”
In addition to teaching, mentoring and advising, Wojcik also serves as the exercise science program director and is responsible for assuring that the program meets the accreditation standards set by the Committee on Accreditation for the Exercise Sciences, Commission on Accreditation for Allied Health Education Programs (CoAES/CAAHEP). She also further uses her expertise in accreditation standards by serving as a peer/site reviewer for CoAES/CAAHEP. In this role, she ensures that students enrolled in exercise science programs across the country receive quality education that meets the rigorous standards of the accrediting body.
Finally, Wojcik is a prolific scholar, publishing in peer reviewed journals of the highest standing. She regularly presents at the national American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) conference, the premier organization for exercise physiology professionals. Her commitment to and outstanding performance in ACSM has earned her the coveted status of Fellow in the organization. She is very active in the southeast chapter of ACSM.
One of Wojcik’s areas of emphasis is making bicycling safe and accessible. She has been integral to the development of bicycle routes in York County, working with Eat Smart Move More York County and the Bike-Ped Task Force to establish the routes.
This is not the first faculty award for Wojcik. She was named the College of Education’s Bank of America Endowed Professor in 2015 and served a three-year appointment to increase scholarship and collaboration in open community use for physical activity, broaden expertise in physical activity and nutrition policy, and initiate a regional food policy council. She also was chosen to serve as a Faculty Marshal from 2020-23.
Wojcik holds a Ph.D. in human nutrition, foods and exercise from Virginia Tech; an M.S. in physical education from Canisius College; and a B.S. in sport and exercise studies from State University of New York at Buffalo.
For more information, please contact Judy Longshaw, news and media services manager, at 803/323-2236 or e-mail longshawj@winthrop.edu.
