Dr. Laura Bruno is an Associate Professor in the Department of Health and Exercise Science at The College of New Jersey. Dr. Bruno has the experience of teaching in the K-12 environment as well as at the University level. Dr. Bruno has taught a variety of classes at the K-12 level including: Fitness for Life, Health Education, Physical Education, Adapted Physical Education, Adapted Health Education, Sports Medicine and Aquatics. Her teaching at the University level includes such courses as: Contemporary Health, Sports Concepts and Skills, Adventure and Experiential Learning, Foundations of Fitness, Health and Wellness, Adapted Kinetics, Methods of Secondary Health and Physical Science, and Laboratory Techniques in Personal Training. Her pedagogy experiences afford her the opportunity to serve as a valuable resource to her students. Dr. Bruno embraces the teacher-scholar model and places a great emphasis on engaging her students. Her courses are constructed to make classes student-centered, meaningful and exciting through the use of differentiated instruction.

Dr. Bruno earned an Ed.D. in Higher Education Leadership and Innovation from Wilmington University. Prior to this, Dr. Bruno attended McDaniel College where she earned an MS in Health and Physical Education, and she earned a BA in Health and Exercise Science from Rowan University. Dr. Bruno has been teaching pedagogy classes at the higher education level since 2011. She joined the TCNJ team in 2015.

Dr. Bruno’s primary research interest aims to better understand how we can improve the health and well-being of others. Past publications investigate fitness-based community physical activity programs and how they impact overall health and well-being. Dr. Bruno is a fellow of NJAHPERD, SHAPE America (Society of Health and Physical Educators), and ACHE (Association for Continuing Higher Education).

 

EDUCATION

2014 Ed. D., Higher Education Leadership

Wilmington University, New Castle, Delaware

Dissertation: A Community Physical Activity Program: The Study of an All-Female Fitness Based Club

2007 M.S., Health and Physical Education

McDaniel College, Westminster, Maryland

2003 B.A., Health and Exercise Science Specialization: Teacher Certification Rowan University, Glassboro, New Jersey

 DISSERTATION

 It is unknown how females who participate in a fitness-based community PA program perceive their psychosocial well-being and level of commitment to physical activity. The purpose of this study was to determine if there was a statistically significant relationship between participation in a fitness-based community PA program and the psychosocial well-being, perceived commitment levels of exercise, and frequency of physical activity. Findings from this study benefit state and government legislators/legislations, females of all ages, parents, coaches, school educators, as well as those who implement physical education and community PA programs. As a result of this research, this candidate plans to seek grant funding to help implement community PA programs in local areas.

 PROFESSIONAL HIGHER EDUCATION EXPERIENCE

 2015- Present

The College of New Jersey, Department of Health and Exercise Science: Assistant Professor

Courses include:

Adapted Kinetics (fall 2015)

Methods of Secondary Health and Physical Science (fall 2015) Sports Concepts and Skills (fall 2015)

2011 – 2015

Rowan University, Department of Health and Exercise Science: Adjunct Professor Courses include:

Teaching Concepts of Secondary Physical Education II (2011 – 2013)

Adventure and Experiential Learning (fall 2013, spring 2014, fall 2014, spring 2015) Foundations of Fitness (spring 2014, spring 2015)

Contemporary Health I (fall 2014)

Lab Personal Training Techniques (fall 2014, spring 2015)

2011

Camden County College, Department of Health and Physical Education: Adjunct Professor.

Course: Contemporary Health & Wellness (fall 2011)

PROFESSIONAL TEACHING EXPERIENCE

2005 – 2010

Middletown High School, Health and Physical Education Teacher (grades 9-12) Fitness for Life (2005-2010)

Health Education (2005-2010)

Aquatics (2005-2010)

Sports Medicine (2005- 2006)

2004 -2005

Southwest Academy Public School, Health Education Teacher (grades 6-8) 6^th grade Health Education

7^th grade Health Education 8^th grade Health Education

2003 – 2004

Williamstown High School, Health and Physical Education Teacher (grades 6-12) Physical Education

Health Education

Adapted Physical Education Adapted Health Education

2003 Pitman High School, Long-term substitute teacher for physical education (Grades 9-12) Physical Education

2003 Pitman Walls Elementary School, Student teaching experience (Grades Pre K- 5) Grades Pre K- 5 Physical Education

1^st Grade Health Education

2003 Williamstown High School, Student teaching experience (Grades 9-12) Grades 9-12 Physical Education

Grade 9 Health Education

 RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

2014 Grant proposal (anticipated) for local community PA start-up programs, pending dissertation study findings.

2013 Wilmington University

Continued research for dissertation investigating a community-wide PA program and both the psychosocial impact and PA commitment levels as they relate to females.

2007 McDaniel College

Research for thesis on socio-economic status and how it related to obesity in regards to the citizens of Frederick County, Maryland

HONORS & ACHIEVEMENTS
2014	GPA 4.0, Summa Cum Laude
	Wilmington University, Ed. D.
2007	GPA 4.0, Summa Cum Laude
	McDaniel College, M.S.
2003	GPA 3.5, Cum Laude
	Rowan University, B.A.
CONFERENCE ACTIVITY/PARTICIPATION
2013	Project Adventure Programming, Project Adventure facilitator training
2012	Educational Leadership Conference, Wilmington University
2010	FCPS- Frederick County Public Schools, Health and Physical Education Professional
	Development (2005-2010)
2009	FCPS Presenter, Frederick County Public Schools, Health and Physical Education
	Professional Development
2003	Adventure Education Professional Development, Williamstown High School
2003	NJEA Convention participant- New Jersey Education Association

 

EXTRACURRICULAR SERVICE

 2015 SHS- South Harrison Schools

H & S (Home & School) Room Coordinator Annual 5K Coordinator Cub Scout volunteer

2014 SHS- South Harrison Schools

H & S (Home & School) Annual 5K Coordinator

Cub Scout volunteer Little League Team Mom

2013 HTS- Harrison Township Schools, classroom volunteer PTA (Parent Teacher Association)

2013	Rowan University, research for the Department of Health and Exercise Science online masters program (aligns with doctoral candidate internship for Wilmington University).
	(2012-2013)
2000	Department of Athletics, Rowan University- team manager for varsity basketball games
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT/OUTREACH
2015	Goliaton- competitor
2015	Queen of the Hill Triathlon- competitor
2015	FBC- Fellowship Bible Church VBS (Vacation Bible School) Mini-VBS Supervisor
2014	Goliathon- competitor
2014	Escape the Cape Triathlon- competitor
2014	Atlantic City Triathlon- competitor
2014	Queen of the Hill Triathlon- competitor
2014	FBC- Fellowship Bible Church VBS (Vacation Bible School) Mini-VBS Supervisor
2013	FBC- Fellowship Bible Church VBS (Vacation Bible School) Steering Committee-
	Women’s Group
2013	MHWTC- Mullica Hill Women’s Triathlon Club, ‘End the Stigma’ mental illness
	awareness community service
2013	Atlantic City Triathlon- competitor, 4th in age group
2013	Spartan Run- competitor
2013	Queen of the Hill Triathlon- competitor
2013	LLS Donor- Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
2012	FBC- Fellowship Bible Church VBS (Vacation Bible School) Steering Committee

 

2012 Warrior Dash- competitor

2010 Susan G. Komen Donor, Breast cancer research

 

RELATED PROFESSIONAL SKILLS
2007- 2015	Blackboard 9.0- creating, managing, facilitating the online learning environment
2010- 2015	IBM SPSS Statistics, Research software package used for statistical analysis.
2005- 2007	JV Girl’s Lacrosse Coach, Middletown High School (2005- 2007)
2003- 2004	Inner City Character Coach, Southwest Academy Public School
2002- 2003	Varsity Girl’s Cheerleading Coach, Williamstown High School
2002- 2003	Girl’s Lacrosse Official, NJSIAA- NJ State Interscholastic Athletic Association
2002- 2003	Adventure Education Facilitator, Rowan University
2001- 2003	Rowan University Recreation Center, Juice bar
2000- 2001	Personal Trainer, Bally’s Total Fitness
1999- 2000	Swimming Instructor, YMCA- Young Man’s Christian Association
1998- 2000	Assistant teacher, Excel Learning Center
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS/AFFILIATIONS
2013 – 2015	SHAPE America Member- Society of Health and Physical Educators
	(previously AAHPERD and NASPE)
2013- 2015	ACHE Member- Association for Continuing Higher Education
2013- 2015	AFT Member- American Federation of Teachers, member: Rowan University
2013- 2015	University Advancement donor, Rowan University Foundation
2004- 2008	MSEA Member- Maryland State Education Association
2004- 2008	AFT Member- American Federation of Teachers, member: Monroe Township
	Public schools, BCPS (Baltimore County Public Schools) & FCPS (Frederick
	County Public Schools)
2003	NJEA Member- New Jersey Education Association