Student: Kensey Tarkington

Kensey Tarkington, a junior majoring in exercise physiology at East Carolina University, is dedicated to promoting health and wellness. Whether leading the Kinesiology Majors Club, conducting research or advocating for Exercise is Medicine On Campus, Tarkington is committed to encouraging movement as a way of life.

Kensey Tarkington values ECU’s mentorship and close faculty connections in her academic journey.

“Most students don’t know the physical activity guidelines. So being able to remind them, ‘Hey, you’re a college student, I know you’re stressed out, I know it’s hard being away from home, but here’s something you can do. Here’s something you can take 30 minutes out of your day for, and it’s been scientifically proven to help you.’ And then hosting fun, physical activity events and seeing all the smiling faces, seeing people come and enjoy it, it really makes a difference,” Tarkington said.

“You can immediately see how people’s demeanor changes. They open up, they start enjoying themselves, and they realize physical activity isn’t just work, it can be fun,” she added.

During her time at ECU, Tarkington has conducted research with the Fresh Start program and the “Listen, Breathe, Move” initiative.

The Fresh Start program, hosted by ECU’s College of Allied Health Sciences’ Department of Nutrition Sciences, provides free healthy food, cooking classes and nutritional guidance to low-income and uninsured diabetes patients throughout eastern North Carolina.

“I worked with my mentor, Dr. Bhibha Das, to create a low-impact, modified physical activity plan for them. Every Tuesday, I traveled to either Goldsboro or New Bern to teach this plan,” Tarkington said.

Tarkington and Das structured their plan around chair-based, low-impact movements covering four key areas of physical activity: aerobic training, resistance training, balance and flexibility.

“By the end of the program, we saw an increase in participants engaging in physical activity, a decrease in perceived stress, which is huge for diabetes management, and an increase in confidence,” Tarkington said.

“Listen, Breathe, Move” is a pilot workshop integrating guided breathing, stretching, flexibility exercises and music-assisted relaxation. The multidisciplinary project, in collaboration with the School of Music, uses music therapy and yoga to help participants manage stress.

“Seeing these caregivers take time for themselves, even just for an hour, has been so meaningful. This experience has completely reaffirmed my love for this field and for ECU. It’s an honor and a privilege to do this work, and I couldn’t imagine dedicating my life to anything else,” she said.

Tarkington’s passion for health and movement extends beyond her studies and into her love for softball. She has played since she was 4 years old, but by her senior year of high school, the sport began to feel overwhelming.

“I wanted to do other things because my whole high school career, I was playing school ball and travel ball. So, I was playing softball seven days a week, and it just really burned me out. It lost some of its joy. But then, toward the end of my senior year, I started missing it,” Tarkington said.

After confirming her admission to ECU, she explored ways to get involved before realizing how much she missed the sport.

“I saw they had a club team, started looking into it more, emailed them and realized the time commitment wasn’t bad. And I thought, ‘Am I going to play softball again?’” she said.

“This was my last opportunity to play, and for me, it’s been about finding the joy in it again. Playing just for fun, for my teammates, for the competition and for the love of the sport itself, not because I had to. It’s just been about rediscovering that joy,” she said.

Among her many memories as a Pirate, one stands out.

“During my freshman year, I was struggling a bit, but there was one game where I finally got a solid hit. I made it to second base, looked over and saw my whole team cheering for me. I just remember thinking, ‘Finally.’ I think someone even got a picture of me just cheesing so hard. It was such a great moment,” she said.

Although ECU is home to more than 26,000 students, Tarkington has found meaningful connections with both students and faculty.

“It’s such a big school, which means there’s a huge range of research interests and opportunities. But at the same time, it’s small enough that the professors know you, they care about you, and you genuinely feel that. You feel their support, and it makes such a difference,” she said.

Through these relationships, Tarkington has been able to mentor younger students in her clubs and around campus, emphasizing the importance of building connections with faculty early.

“Find someone who aligns with your interests and values, and don’t be afraid to reach out. Even if it feels nerve-wracking at first, it’s so worth it. Also, if a professor asks you to do something, even if it’s outside your comfort zone, say yes. I was terrified of presenting, but my mentor pushed me to do it, and now I’m presenting at conferences without shaking,” she said.

As graduation nears, Tarkington is exploring her next steps.

“I’d love to do something in vocational therapy, but I’m trying to figure everything out. I’ve thought about a master’s in kinesiology or a master’s in public health. I really like health promotion and seeing the impact it has on the community. I want to help people and use physical activity and the knowledge I have to see that change and make a difference,” she said.