The UNCG Department of Kinesiology continues to leave a lasting impact across higher education. At the University of Virginia’s College at Wise, several UNCG alumni are now shaping the future of health and human performance. Dr. Yanhua Shen, Dr. Brittany Belcher, Dr. Ray Schweighardt, and Dr. Cody Sanders each bring unique expertise, energy, and student-centered leadership to the Exercise Science and Kinesiology programs.
Together, they exemplify how the mentorship, scholarship, and community fostered at UNCG continue to thrive well beyond Greensboro, creating lasting influence in classrooms, labs, and communities throughout Southwest Virginia.
Dr. Yanhua Shen
Dr. Yanhua Shen is an Assistant Professor of Exercise Science, where he teaches courses in exercise science and health while leading community-based research that connects education and movement. His work focuses on partnering with local schools and sports programs to promote healthy, active lifestyles among youth. Yanhua has also developed soccer-based initiatives that support students’ physical, social, and emotional development, reflecting his lifelong passion for sport as a tool for positive change. At UVA Wise, he finds purpose in helping students see how exercise science can directly benefit their communities and enjoys watching research translate into meaningful, real-world outcomes. His commitment to teaching, mentorship, and community impact was recently recognized with the 2024–2025 Rising Star Award, given to faculty within their first five years who exemplify excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service.
Yanhua earned his PhD in Kinesiology from UNC Greensboro, where he studied under Dr. Ben Dyson and gained extensive experience conducting school-based and community-engaged research. He also learned from faculty across the department, including Dr. Chen, Dr. Martinek, Dr. Karper, Dr. Hemphill, Dr. Brown, and Dr. Daniels, who collectively shaped his approach to teaching, leadership, and collaboration. His time at UNCG strengthened his ability to design research that bridges theory and practice and inspired the student-centered philosophy he continues to bring to his work at UVA Wise.
Dr. Brittany Belcher
Dr. Brittany Russell-Belcher is an Assistant Professor in Kinesiology, where she teaches courses across Exercise Science, Health and Physical Education Teacher Education (HPETE), and Sport Management. A Wise County native and UVA Wise alum, Brittany brings more than a decade of experience teaching and coaching in public education to her role. Returning to her home community makes her position especially meaningful, as she now helps prepare the next generation of educators, coaches, and health professionals who will serve the region. Her approach to teaching blends real-world experience with a deep understanding of the local culture, allowing her to connect with students in ways that inspire both personal and professional growth.
Brittany earned her EdD in Kinesiology from UNC Greensboro, where the mentorship and community she found were transformative for her career. She credits the program with expanding her professional network, building lasting collaborations, and instilling the confidence to step into higher education. The support she received from faculty and peers shaped how she now mentors her own students, creating a classroom environment where they feel valued, encouraged, and capable of success. Brittany continues to draw from the relationships and lessons formed at UNCG, both in her teaching and through ongoing research collaborations with fellow alumni and faculty.
Dr. Ray Schweighardt
Dr. Ray Schweighardt is an Associate Professor of Physical Education, teaching across the Exercise Science and Physical Education programs. Now in his ninth year at UVA Wise, Ray plays a key role in preparing future physical educators, physical therapists, and health professionals through hands-on, student-centered instruction. Having worked in education for nearly two decades before earning his doctorate, he brings a depth of experience that helps bridge theory and practice for his students. Ray emphasizes meeting students where they are; maintaining high expectations while ensuring they have the support and background knowledge to succeed. Known for his creative and compassionate approach, he incorporates writing development and reflective learning into his classes, empowering students to find confidence and purpose in their work.
Ray earned his PhD in Kinesiology from UNC Greensboro, specializing in pedagogical kinesiology under the mentorship of Dr. Catherine Ennis and Dr. Ang Chen. His time at UNCG gave him invaluable teaching experience early in his doctoral journey, serving as the primary instructor for multiple courses within his first year. Those opportunities, he notes, helped shape the educator he is today. Beyond the classroom, he coached the UNCG women’s club volleyball teams, an experience he describes as one of the most rewarding parts of his graduate years. The mentorship, community, and leadership experiences he gained at UNCG continue to influence his teaching philosophy at UVA Wise, where he strives to model the same passion and professionalism he once saw in his own professors.
Dr. Cody Sanders
Dr. Cody Sanders is an Associate Professor of Physical Education and the Kinesiology Program Coordinator at the University of Virginia’s College at Wise. Since joining the faculty in 2014, she has led the transformation of the kinesiology program from a single major into four distinct majors: Health and Physical Education, Sport Management, Health and Wellness, and Exercise Science. Through her leadership, Cody has elevated the program’s academic rigor and reputation while building a strong, student-centered culture that emphasizes hands-on learning and community engagement. She has also been instrumental in recruiting fellow UNCG alumni, Dr. Ray Schweighardt, Dr. Eddie Shen, and Dr. Brittany Russell-Belcher, to join the growing program. In addition to her teaching and administrative roles, Cody develops partnerships that provide internship experiences for students and continues to advocate for new facilities, including a future exercise physiology lab on campus.
Cody earned her PhD in Kinesiology from UNC Greensboro, where she studied community sport development under Dr. Tom Martinek. She credits her UNCG experience with shaping her philosophy as an educator, emphasizing mentorship, collaboration, and high expectations. The relationships and guidance she received from faculty such as Dr. Pam Brown, Dr. Diane Gill, Dr. Aaron Terranova, and Dr. Cathy Ennis continue to inspire her work. Today, Cody carries forward the same commitment to student success and professional growth that first defined her experience as a Spartan.
Reconnecting Through Purpose
What makes this story especially meaningful is how these four UNCG alumni have come full circle; reconnecting as colleagues at UVA Wise and building a program grounded in the same values they once shared in Greensboro. Together, Dr. Sanders, Dr. Schweighardt, Dr. Shen, and Dr. Russell-Belcher have created a collaborative, student-centered environment that mirrors the mentorship and innovation of their own training. Their collective efforts continue to extend UNCG’s legacy of excellence in kinesiology, inspiring the next generation of students, educators, researchers, and health professionals across Southwest Virginia.
For more information about the Kinesiology graduate programs, including, EdD and PhD in KIN, visit our website at https://kin.uncg.edu/graduate-degrees/.