College Names Colleen Ferris Chair of Health, Physical Education and Exercise Studies Department

August 21, 2015

Colleen Ferris of West Sand Lake has been named chairperson for the Health, Physical Education and Exercise Studies Department at Hudson Valley Community College.

Ferris, an assistant professor, has taught at the college since 1999 and served as interim department chair since 2013. She earned a bachelor's degree in 1995 from SUNY Cortland and a master's in 1997 from the University of Massachusetts.

Working with faculty members, Ferris developed three new academic certificate programs while serving as interim chair. The 10-credit Coaching certificate is aimed at those seeking mandated coursework to become an interscholastic athletic coach in New York State. The 25-credit Fitness Specialist certificate is for those who wish to find or build upon a career in the growing fitness industry. The 24-credit Worksite Health Promotion certificate is for students who want to start a career designed to motivate individuals towards a more healthy and wellness-oriented lifestyle. All three will be offered for the first time this fall.

Ferris served as the Hudson Valley women's basketball coach from 1999 to 2009, compiling a record of 151 - 134.

The Health, Physical Education and Exercise Studies Department oversees more than 200 students in the programs mentioned above, as well as the Physical Education Studies associate degree program, which is aimed at preparing students for transfer to four-year programs in a variety of health, fitness and recreation related fields.