Kinesiology Scholar-Athlete Uses Her SMARTs

Kinesiology major Emma Brown in the Cal Poly Human Anatomy Laboratory. Photo by Joe Johnston

CAL POLY SOCCER STANDOUT AND HONORS STUDENT USES SCIENCE KNOWLEDGE TO EXCEL ON AND OFF THE PITCH.

APRIL 2024
by nick wilson

Cal Poly soccer star Emma Brown shines on the pitch and in the classroom, gaining insights from her studies that help her maintain peak athletic performance.

The fourth-year kinesiology major from Clovis, California, who has been named to the Dean’s List for academic excellence seven times, was selected to the Commissioner’s Honor Roll list for student-athletes with GPAs between 3.51 and 4.0.

"I enjoy learning about how the body works, how to avoid injuries, and why certain movements are better than others. Being a kinesiology major is very applicable to being an athlete.

Emma Brown

Kinesiology major, Cal Poly Women's Soccer player and 2023 Big West Defensive Player of the Year

Brown also earned the 2023 Big West Conference Defensive Player of the Year and is a two-time All-Big West First Team selection (2022 and 2023), contributing to Cal Poly’s first-ever Commissioner’s Cup top award for overall university sports success

As a kinesiology major, with a concentration in exercise science, her studies include lessons in biomechanics, human anatomy, nutrition and sports psychology.

“I enjoy learning about how the body works, how to avoid injuries, and why certain movements are better than others,” Brown said. “Being a kinesiology major is very applicable to being an athlete.”

Brown said that she has been inspired by faculty members including Michael Jones (Biology Department) and Stefanee Maurice (Kinesiology and Public Health Department).

“Dr. Jones is very supportive and knows how to help you absorb the material in anatomy, which can be a lot to take in,” Brown said. “I have learned a lot of physiology about types of different loads on the body and how different muscles work with each other.”

She has taken three classes from Maurice, including two sports psychology courses, describing her as “a great teacher and very interactive who makes classes enjoyable and interesting.”

“One of big things that Dr. Maurice focuses on is setting SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound) goals,” Brown said. “We journal every day for our soccer team, and we work on setting reasonable and attainable goals. I think it helps keep everyone in a good mindset.”

As the center defensive back, Brown strives to be cool, calm and collected in moments of high-pressure offensive attacks with important games on the line.

“The speed of play is a big adjustment from high school, and everyone is a good player in college, and I think that has really just helped me to grow,” Brown said. “We push each other to excel, and we’ve done some really cool things as a team.”

As for her future, Brown is still contemplating a career path. She is exploring vocations in health care, sports management and business, and she likely will pursue jobs that combine skill sets in those fields.

“Academics has always been most important to me, and our coaches are really great about making sure that we make school the priority,” Brown said. “I don’t know yet exactly what career path I’ll take, but I know I want to get my master’s degree.”

(Above and below photos) Brown playing in Cal Poly Women’s Soccer matches. Photo courtesy of Cal Poly Athletics