Meet CHS Alum Angelica Wall: "Kinesiology Opens Up Multiple Pathways"

Published October 12, 2023
By Darlene Muguiro
UTEP College of Health Sciences

Angelica Wall’s UTEP story is unlike most CHS students. The Pueblo, Colorado native began her academic journey close to home at Adams State University, enrolling in a bachelor of science degree in kinesiology. Despite a great start and a promising college basketball career, Wall was drawn to the idea of completing her degree elsewhere. While completing her research, she became excited about transferring to UTEP, where both academic and extracurricular activities outnumbered other programs.

“I was actually at a point where I was considering changing my degree. But once I came to UTEP and visited with the Kinesiology professors and saw the resources available to students, I decided not to,” she said. “I was also impressed by the Department’s research activities and involvement in the community through different events, like Miner Dash.”

Wall says that like many prospective students, when first going into a kinesiology degree, she assumed career opportunities were limited to teaching physical education and coaching. She agrees that it is a common misconception.

“In talking to other students and recent graduates, the majority went into those professions, but I knew that I didn’t want to do that,” she said. “In reality, there are so many different paths, you just have to do your research and put in the work.”

Wall says that prior to attending a Cardiac Interventions course taught by Katherine Poteet, adjunct faculty for the Kinesiology Department, she had intended to apply to medical school after graduation, to become an orthopedic surgeon.

“Kathy worked in cardiac rehab, and she explained to us during class what the field was like. At that point, I was very interested in that career, and I quickly found my passion,” she said. “Kathy helped me so much in getting to where I am right now, and I love what I’m doing.”

In her current position as an exercise physiologist in cardiac rehabilitation for Ascencion, Wall is part of a healthcare team working with cardiac patients to restore function and a normal daily routine. She helps create exercise prescriptions based on patients’ health history, and monitors them during exercise and rehabilitation sessions, checking vital signs and communicating with patients’ doctors.

Wall recalls Poteet’s lab section fondly, saying those experiences were the most interesting and eye-opening during her time at UTEP. Despite using healthy, young “subjects” (class peers) for the assignments, Wall was able to practice important skills that she now uses on a daily basis with her patients.

“We learned how to take vital signs, setting up EKGs on each other, and so we had a taste of what it would be like after graduation to go into these positions,” she said. “Now, looking back, I realize how different it is for a healthy person to complete these exercises, compared to our patients, who really have to work hard.”  

Wall says her singular regret is not starting at UTEP earlier, so she could take advantage of student clubs and research opportunities. Her advice to her former self, and for any transfer student, is to engage fully in their college experience.

“If I could go back in time and tell myself anything, I would say that it’s okay to be a transfer student, and to apply to be part of the Kinesiology Club, and departmental research projects and internships,” she said. “It’s important to gain as much experience as possible before graduation, to help bridge that gap between being a student and a professional.”

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Go Miners!

For more information about the Department of Kinesiology programs, please visit: https://www.utep.edu/chs/kinesiology