Faculy of Health Sciences

Area of research
I have a rather eclectic set of research and teaching interests (and I try to dovetail research with teaching). Within Kinesiology, my research interest areas are primarily related to sport history and literature; within those broad areas, my specific focus is on narrative writing especially in its various formats. Within Health Studies/Health And Rehabilitation Sciences, I am interested in the field of health promotion and more succinctly in how motivational interviewing/coaching can be used to modify health behaviours such as those related to obesity, physical inactivity, and tobacco addictions.

What research/projects are you currently undertaking?
This past month, I just had a book published (co-authored with none other than Dr Kevin B Wamsley) on Sport in Canada: A History. Most recently, I am working on two papers in various stages of revision, with two of my doctoral students; one relates to the expression of the Peter Pan Syndrome in snowboarding and its acceptance onto the Olympic podium; and the other concerns developing a model of motivational interviewing derived from behavioural theories, coaching models, and Egan’s self-help theory. I have applied for a sabbatical during which I hope to complete a first draft of a book of historical fiction.

What is it that you enjoy about working at Western?
Without question, teaching and working with students, Undergraduate and Graduate. I am enthralled with teaching and making an impact on students that results in helping them to think and write critically.

How does Western make a difference?
To me, this is a huge question – what part of Western, difference to whom? As slogan-istic as the question seems at face value, it would be a shame for an institution of higher learning were not to make a difference. I guess my initial response would be related to the myriad ways Western makes a difference. It is the synergy of the people here, staff, students, and faculty members who create a vast network of connections or links in the classroom, in day-to-day operations, in collaborative research, in knowledge production and knowledge transfer, in dialogue, in meetings, in grading etc etc. And, I’m enough of an historian to underscore that the landscape/atmosphere here is critically important – we have a gorgeous campus with a lengthy history tied to the farm-land and subsequent golf course (the Hunt Club) on which this campus was built. The people attracted to this university, from Bishop Hellmuth to Banting to Sherwood Fox (and his wonder-ful writings like ‘Taint Runnin’ No More) to all of the myriad characters who have passed this way, all of that has made and continues to make a difference.

What are your interests outside of Western?
This is probably my favourite question to answer. Let’s see, there is only one outstanding form of music that merits mention – Queen, specifically Freddy Mercury. If pressed, Nana Mouskouri would be a close second. I have very little musical talent but am fascinated by words (from whence did Boehemian Rhapsody come?!). My hobbies are eclectic – I love reading, especially novels and historical fiction. My wife Jen and I love traveling – favourite destinations so far have been South Africa (safari), Sayulita in Mexico, and various venues in Italy with plans for Spain. Long distance running with my Rhodesian Ridgeback companion Temba is my passion; I play competitive squash, slow-pitch baseball, and hockey; scuba diving satisfies my urge to submerge; and most recently, I have taken up recreational curling (sooner or later, we all lawn bowl). Perhaps it’s all summed up by my fascination ~ from the time I was 17 ~ with motorcycles.

Check out Dr. Morrow's bio page here.

View other FHS Research Profiles.

Also from this web page: