Our Students

Tessa James

Tessa James.

Tessa James is a current student in the Exercise Science BS program and president of the Exercise Science Club.

How did you become interested in exercise science as your field of study?

I discovered the field of exercise science while I was in community college taking prerequisites to engineering classes. A friend of mine introduced me to yoga and how it can help with physical therapy. It was the first time I was intrigued about body movements and its functions, and how physical health worked in unison with mental health. I realized then that exercise was a great form of stress relief, and wanted to learn more about it.  

Why did you choose UB?

I chose UB originally for a different major I was interested in. But like any other college student, I had changed my major quite a few times. Luckily for me, UB has such a wide array of degrees offered in so many fields. I had also wanted to explore a city outside of where I’m from, and the city of Buffalo is rich with its own culture.

Tell us more about your experience in the exercise science program.

The program has labs and offers exercise electives to help implement all the anatomy and physiology we learn throughout the program. The faculty is very helpful and passionate about exercise science, which encourages students to learn as much as they can within the classroom so that they can apply it outside the classroom.

As president of the Exercise Science Club this year, I have learned to be actively engaged in the UB community. The club helps encourage more students to get involved with community service programs and events. The activities that we get involved with provide a platform for us to promote health and wellness outside the classroom setting.

What do you enjoy the most about the exercise science program?

My favorite part of the program so far has been the Gross Anatomy course! During that course is when I felt I had the chance to learn the most about the human body, which really helped in the upper division classes I am currently taking. I also have aspirations of going on to attend physical therapy school, so that course was extremely helpful and interesting.

How does receiving a degree from UB SPHHP set you apart?

Receiving a degree from UB definitely sets students apart. More specifically, we receive so many opportunities to obtain hands-on experience.  From gross anatomy to all the opportunities in research and practicums, UB helps students prepare for the work outside of what we learn in the class. UB also offers many master's and doctorate programs for exercise students to consider should they want to continue their education.