New Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Whitley Atkins
Please tell us about yourself. Where are you coming from prior to taking your UNM faculty position?
Most recently, I was in a postdoctoral position at the Institute of Exercise and Environmental Medicine in Dallas, Texas.

Please share with us your research interests over the last few years.
During my PhD, my research was focused on hydration, thermoregulation, and the prevention of heat related injuries or illnesses. My dissertation expanded upon my previous experience and interest in female health and investigated the effects of oral contraceptive on thermoregulation and hydration post-exercise. During my postdoc, I worked with clinical populations in the heat and investigated ways to improve exercise tolerance in burn survivors.

What research interests do you see starting or continuing at UNM?
I plan to continue hydration and thermoregulation research as well as sex differences in those areas. As our climate continues to warm, it is important to research how our environment may risk the health of different populations. Therefore, I plan to research the implications of a warming environment on vulnerable populations.

Why did you choose to come to UNM and become a member of the Exercise Science Faculty?
I chose to come to UNM because I felt like the Exercise Science program and faculty were very cohesive. I prefer to work in a collaborative environment and felt like that existed here.

What do you enjoy most about teaching?
I strive to teach problem solving rather than memorization in my classes and I get motivated by seeing students learn how to think critically. Being exposed to their individual thought processes is really cool!

What has motivated you to achieve in your academics?
I struggled through the first part of my academic career and it wasn't until I discovered research that I was able to be really passionate and motivated. I love to be creative and answer questions-research is the perfect vehicle for that.

What are your hobbies you have and those you have with your pets and/or family?
I am big into endurance sports so I am usually running or cycling in my free time. I still race occasionally enough to stay motivated to train hard. I have a really awesome dog, Ivy (see below), who is a great hiking partner and we hike as much as we can. I also have a super cute cat, Ziggy (see below), but in typical cat style, he is less into hobbies and more into relaxing.