Pitt-Bradford Alumni Association to honor Kelley, Colosimo at Alumni Weekend

BRADFORD, PA – Dr. Mark Kelley, assistant professor of sports medicine, and alumnus Joe Colosimo ’94 will be honored by the Pitt-Bradford Alumni Association during Alumni and Family Weekend at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford.

Kelley, director of the sports medicine program, will accept the PBAA Teaching Excellence Award.

Kelley has taught at Pitt-Bradford for nine years, directing the sports medicine program and serving as director of freshman seminar for several years.

Before coming to Pitt-Bradford, he was a graduate teaching assistant in the anatomy lab at Slippery Rock University. He has worked with the Bradford Family YMCA developing a diabetes program through a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

Kelley holds a doctoral degree from Capella University in leadership for higher education, a master’s degree in exercise and wellness promotion from Slippery Rock University and a Bachelor of Science in sports medicine from Pitt-Bradford, which he earned in 2003.

His research interests include physiological responses to endurance athletes, high altitude and body composition.

A Bradford native, Kelley is active in the community, serving as the head girls’ cross-country coach for Bradford Area high School, where he is also the assistant boys’ track coach, and working as a physical activity instructor with KidShape obesity prevention and wellness program for children.

A runner in his own right, Kelley has six marathons under his own belt.

“Mark is an extremely qualified and inspirational individual,” wrote Kate Hetherington ’08, one of the alumni who nominated Kelley. “When teaching, he makes sure that everyone is involved and fully understands the subject matter. Outside of the classroom, Mark is a professor who is easy to talk to and is more than willing to help guide a student through his or her academic journey.”

Past recipients of the PBAA Teaching Excellence Award are Dr. Vincent Kohler, Dr. Marvin Thomas, Dr. Michael Stuckart, Dr. Patricia Bianco, David Blackmore, Dr. Richard E. McDowell, Dr. Richard Frederick, Jeffrey Guterman, Lizbeth Matz, Isabelle Champlin, Dr. Gautam Mukerjee, Dr. Warren Fass, Don Lewicki, Dr. Helene Lawson, Dr. Stephen Robar, Dr. Shailendra Gajanan and Dr. Tony Gaskew.

Colosimo, who was nominated by Robar, will receive the PBAA Distinguished Volunteer Award for his career work with students for the more than 15 years. Most recently, through his leadership with Pennsylvania Kinzua Pathways, he has created learning opportunities for Pitt-Bradford students.

Colosimo participates in alumni career programming such as the annual Backpack to Briefcase program and mock job interviews. He also volunteers his time to deliver financial planning education to students and meet with students individually about career planning.

Colosimo, who lives in Warren, is active with PKP, a group working to construct mountain biking trails in the area of Jakes Rocks in the Allegheny National Forest.

Last fall, Colosimo worked with Robar, who directs the environmental studies program at Pitt-Bradford, to have students prepare an environmental survey of the area, cataloguing wildlife and plants. The survey took place this summer.

“Joe consistently puts the interests of his alma mater and its students first and foremost whenever and however he can,” Robar wrote in his nomination.

Former recipients are Dennis Lowery ’63-’65, Susan Silvestri ’72-’74, Gregory Silvestri ’73-’75, Bill Krieg ’64-’66, David Higie ’74-’76, Sharon Knouse ’88, Sandra Macfarlane ’80-’82, Anita Dolan ’88, Tim Fannin ’78, Ward Garner ’89, Craig Hartburg ’73-’75, Ryan Race ’07, and Danielle Munksgard.

Other notable events that will be a part of Alumni and Family Weekend are the Annual Block Party Saturday, Oct. 5, and a Welcome Back reception.

Also at the awards brunch, the newest members of the Athletic Hall of Fame will be inducted.

The PBAA Awards Brunch will be held in the Frame-Westerberg Commons in the Mukaiyama University Room at 11 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 6. The cost is $15 for adults, $6 for children ages 6-12, and free for children less than 5. The public is welcome to attend. For registration, visit www.upbalumni.org/afw.