Long-time professor to direct master’s program at Indiana Wesleyan

Dr. Sylvia Goodman. Photo by Sarah Roberts

By Brad Crofford, Editor-in-chief

Long-time faculty member Dr. Sylvia Goodman has left SNU in order to accept a position at Indiana Wesleyan University.

Goodman has held a variety of positions since arriving at SNU in the fall of 2001. She was originally the program director for athletic training education. She became the department chair of kinesiology in 2006 and the dean of business, education, and kinesiology in 2012.

In reflecting on her time at SNU, Goodman identified some of the most significant personal and professional aspects.

“One cannot come to a community like SNU without developing some deep and lasting friendships,” Goodman said. “Friendships are the heart and sole [sic] of life.”

The professional successes during Goodman’s time here include developing the athletic training education program and receiving two successful accreditation reviews. This has led to more students interested in the field. As of fall 2012, there were 175 students enrolled in traditional programs in the kinesiology department, according to the 2012 Fact Book.

“Because of the growth of Athletic Training, we saw great expansion of the Pre-PT and OT programs. The Kinesiology department nearly doubled in size,” Goodman said.

Katelyn Schultze, a senior athletic training major, described Goodman as her professor, adviser, and campus mentor.

“She taught me not only in the class room how to be the best athletic trainer I could be, but she also taught me many many life lessons,” Schultze said. “She reminded me all the time that she was praying for me and my future and she also encouraged me to go after my dreams. She would never let me just give up and settle for anything less than the best that life had to offer me.”

Goodman has also left her mark on campus amenities. In 2006, the fitness equipment in Broadhurst was purchased through a collaboration between the kinesiology department and Leisure Services, led by Goodman and Profesor Stephane Shellenberger, respectively.

“I have truly enjoyed (and loved) my students. SNU has a wonderful faculty and it has been a great personal pleasure and honor to work with these great colleagues,” Goodman said.

Goodman will be the program director for IWU new master’s degree program in athletic training, as well as assisting in the development of IWU’s new Health Sciences Center. She reports that her transition is going well.

“It has been amazing to see the hand of God at work,” Goodman said. “Transitioning to another area of the country can be difficult, however any obstacle has been moved out of the way at lightning speed. The Lord is meeting needs in my professional, personal and family lives.”