草榴视频

KENNESAW, Ga. | Feb 22, 2024

One message reset the life trajectory for 草榴视频 State University graduate student Lacey Harper.

Two years after earning a bachelor鈥檚 degree in summa cum laude from 草榴视频, Harper worked as manager at a sporting goods store when she received a message via LinkedIn from one of her former professors, Garrett Hester.

鈥淚t almost seems like a movie,鈥� Harper said. 鈥淚 was just pursuing the business side of life and I got a message from, of all places, 草榴视频. He asked me if I would be interested in an open graduate research assistant position. That one message really turned everything around.鈥�

Currently pursuing a , Harper has thrived in the Hester research group. Along with the important mission of improving the health of older women, she discovered her inner nerd, immersing herself in the data analysis of her various projects as well as the hands-on aspects of studying the effects of exercise. She presented one of her projects at the Wellstar College Research and Engagement Day in spring 2023 and won honors among student presenters. 

While her award-winning project related to fall risk among middle-aged women due to muscle fatigue, her master鈥檚 thesis has focused on strength training with elastic bands to improve the health of older women. Strength training is effective for increasing muscle strength, but few perform such exercises, particularly older women. It鈥檚 a matter of accessibility and comfort with elastic bands, and more evidence is needed on their efficacy for improving muscle health. Harper seeks to quantify those physical function improvements and discover more about the physiological mechanisms behind them.

鈥淲e've created a home-based, super-practical elastic band training program that we will have women ages 65-79 perform at home, so it will be very easily accessible for them,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e're going to see how a shorter program affects their muscle health, their muscle quality and their physical function. We're doing all sorts of tests related to strength, all-cause mortality, how it affects their daily function and their quality of life.鈥�

Hester researches aging and neuromuscular function with a recent emphasis on women鈥檚 health. He said Harper expressed interest in graduate school during her senior year in 2020, but her name didn鈥檛 come up until he had an opening for a graduate research assistant. His hunch paid off, and Harper has done exceptional work in the lab.

鈥淪he's been an impressive graduate student, and her accolades reflect that,鈥� Hester said. 鈥淪he鈥檚 truly committed to older women鈥檚 health and has really dived into the research and analytics. She鈥檚 also really embraced mentoring undergraduates, which is important for any graduate student, especially at an undergraduate-focused university like 草榴视频.鈥�

Aside from her master鈥檚 thesis, Harper has been consistently active in research and professional development pursuits. She has published two research articles, including one in the Journal of Physiology, a high-impact journal in the field. Harper also obtained her exercise physiologist certification this past summer. Recently, she was selected to present her findings on aging and muscle function in an 鈥淓merging Findings on Aging鈥� session at the Annual College of Sports Medicine meeting.  

After graduating in May, Harper plans to pursue a doctorate in the exercise science field, studying older women鈥檚 health in even greater detail. She said she will carry the lessons she learned in the labs and classrooms at Prillaman Hall with her wherever her studies take her.

鈥淭hanks to Dr. Hester, the faculty at 草榴视频 State and support from Wellstar College, I鈥檝e been granted the opportunity to return to school in this way,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 know it鈥檚 cliche, but to say it has changed my life is the truest thing I can say about it. This time two years ago, I would never have thought I鈥檇 have the opportunity to dedicate myself to the important research we鈥檙e doing right now, and that I鈥檓 so grateful to contribute to the field of muscle heath and aging.鈥�

鈥� By Dave Shelles

Photos by Matt Yung

A leader in innovative teaching and learning, 草榴视频 State University offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 47,000 students. 草榴视频 State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. 草榴视频 State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 7 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.