West Liberty University’s College of Education welcomed a new graduate assistant, Bruce Smith ‘13, for the 2013-2014 school year.

Bruce Smith in his office with his diploma and bodybuilding trophy displayed behind him.

“We are very excited to have Bruce as part of our college. As an undergraduate, he was an excellent student and he has many experiences as a practitioner in the field that will enhance our academic program,” said Rick West, director of the Graduate Education Program.

A 2013 graduate of WLU in the Exercise Physiology Program (concentration in heath and fitness), Smith worked his muscles as well as his mind during college. He is a successful competitor in natural bodybuilding having last participated in April 2013 in Pittsburgh, winning a trophy in the North American Natural Bodybuilding Federation competition.

“As my education grew so did my real-life application. The more I studied, the more I was serious about changing my lifestyle,” he explained. Smith plans to continue competing in bodybuilding and lifts six days a week to stay in shape.

But right now he’s concentrating on the academic opportunity in higher education and is happy to join the department as a graduate assistant.

“I’m really excited about this graduate education position and ready to learn how a university works from the perspective of a staff member. I can now work with individuals who were once my professors, assisting in the education physiology lab,” he said. Smith also is pursuing his Master of Education degree with a track emphasis in sports leadership and coaching at West Liberty.

Smith recently attended the IPAD Core Institute as part of the College of Education’s Apple® IPAD initiative and will implement the skills developed there into the Exercise Physiology I laboratories that he is leading this fall.

Originally from Washington, Pa., Smith graduated from McGuffey High School where he was a varsity football player, and he participated in shot put and discus as part of the track and field team.

The Exercise Physiology Program at WLU is accredited through the American Society of Exercise Physiologists (ASEP). The programs offers two tracks, one in Clinical Exercise Physiology and the other Health and Fitness.

For more information on the Exercise Physiology or the Graduate Education Program, please contact West at 304-336-8478 or richard.west@westliberty.edu.