Caroline Blackman is a senior clinical exercise science major with a health promotions minor from Concord, North Carolina.
Caroline is currently working on two different research projects in the biology and autonomic studies lab. The first study is a Down Syndrome study under Dr. Scott Collier, and the second is a collaborative anxiety study that most of the department is a part of. She gets to work directly under Dr. Rebecca Kappus for this one.
In the Down Syndrome study, the researchers are looking at “arterial thickness and the autonomic nervous system function of individuals with Down Syndrome and how/if they change with exercise intervention.” Caroline described how the study works and what it measures. The research participants arrive at the lab where the researches do baseline tests to measure cardiovascular fitness, arterial stiffness, and autonomic nervous system functions. The participants then work with the researchers for 6-8 weeks doing resistance training. After the training period, they run the same tests as they did in the baseline period and check for any changes. “It’s a really unique study because not a lot of research has been done with this population,” Blackman said.
The second study is an anxiety study, which is still in the early stages. The researchers will be comparing different cardiovascular factors between anxious and non-anxious college students. It will study how prolonged anxiety affects the human body. The department will be recruiting subjects soon and anyone who would like to participate can sign up to receive information. Caroline stated, “It’s not guaranteed that everyone who is interested will be chosen because there are quite a few requirements that have to be met in order to be eligible to participate.”
Caroline has always wanted to help people. She has been interested in the healthcare field and human sciences all her life, and when she came to college, she decided the major she chose “just felt right.” Physical therapy was her goal at the time, so exercise science was the best choice of major for a pre-PT student. After studying the different options she has with a Bachelor’s degree in exercise science, she started looking more into prosthetics and orthotics.
When Caroline is not in the lab or in class, she can be found working at Red Onion during the week and at Boone United Methodist Church on Sundays. She is also a volunteer for the department of therapy at Watauga Medical Center. That’s not all though, Caroline is also the Vice President of Scholarship and Academics for Sigma Kappa sorority, where she has been a member since her freshman year.
“I really enjoy everything that I do. It’s hectic because I am also trying to figure out what my life will be like after graduation this Spring, but I’m just trying to enjoy every moment I can and make as many memories as possible before I have to leave!” said Caroline.
Caroline is not only an incredible student, but she is also an incredible person. We know that she will do great things after she graduates and we wish her the best of luck in all of her future endeavors!
Photo Sources:
Caroline Blackman’s Facebook page