Leadership Artifact 1
EXSC 9150
Evidence-Based Doctoral Portfolio
Fall 2024
Keep Moving: The Daily Program-
Meditation
Abstract
My leadership purpose centers on cultivating meaningful connections and embracing life's opportunities with curiosity, empathy, and authenticity. In my capstone project, Keep Moving: The Daily Program -Meditation, I designed an event with my team to introduce a daily practice of mindfulness and meditation to people with Parkinson’s disease (PWP). This event highlighted the importance of non-pharmaceutical therapies for PWP, emphasizing meditation as a beneficial practice for their daily lives. Utilizing different leadership styles, including visionary leadership, Laissez-faire leadership, and Democratic leadership, the project came together and delivered a successful seminar providing participants with knowledge about mindfulness and access to guided meditation resources. This project directly aligns with my portfolio, including my vision, mission, guiding principles, and research foci. Keep Moving: The Daily Program -Meditation taught me the importance of collaboration and open communication as I built relationships. This project taught me I have the leadership skills and the ability to build relationships, allowing me to confidently take leadership roles. I was able to see my work make a difference in the lives of PWP. Moving forward, I aim to continue developing similar initiatives under "Keep Moving: The Daily Program," creating accessible well-being programs for the Parkinson's community and expanding the role of fitness professionals in their care. Keywords: Parkinson’s disease, mindfulness, meditation, leadership
Leadership Artifact 2
EXSC 9250
Evidence-Based Doctoral Portfolio II
Spring 2025
Keep Moving for PD: Exercise Week
Abstract
“Keep Moving for PD: Exercise Week”, a leadership artifact, is a seven-day program designed to improve the quality of life for people with Parkinson's disease (PD). This evidence-based exercise program incorporated the key fitness domains of strength, flexibility, aerobic capacity, balance, agility, and multitasking to provide participants with an accessible, diverse, and structured opportunity to meet the current exercise recommendations for people with Parkinson's (PWP). Aligned with my portfolio, this program challenged my leadership abilities as I conceptualized, coordinated, and executed the program. This would not have been possible without recruiting a talented multidisciplinary team of exercise professionals to deliver specialized sessions. Through strategic planning, collaboration, and adaptability, I ensured participants experienced a variety of engaging workouts tailored to their needs. The project feedback confirmed the success of the event and will ensure future events provide accessibility, variety, and instructor collaboration. This leadership artifact demonstrates my ability to bridge research and practice. This program is a continuation of my commitment to improving the well-being of the PD community through education, advocacy, and innovative exercise programming. Keywords: Parkinson’s disease, exercise, wellness intervention, leadership