Team Members
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 Raeann Bramwell is a sophomore in Kinesiology. Her goal is to further her education in Kinesiology or go into the sports medicine field and get a career emphasizing the importance of exercising. She currently teaches Zumba at the K-State Rec Complex, and assists with a kid boxing class at a local gym. Her research interests include the promotion of physical activity in kids from an early age, and adults throughout the life course. In Raeann’s free time, she likes to workout, dance, and read cheesy romantic comedy novels! |
 Emma Brunner is a sophomore majoring in kinesiology with a minor in nutrition. After graduating from K-State in the fall of 2022, she plans on attending physical therapy school. Emma is interested in studying how spending time outdoors impacts the healing process after an injury. She is involved in organizations on campus including K-State First as she is the Learning Assistant for the Pre-Physical Therapy Cat Community. In her free time, Emma loves to cook, play frisbee, and hang out with her pet chinchilla named Darwin. |
 Nate Clennan is a senior in Kinesiology/Pre-Med. He will be attending KU School of Medicine beginning in Fall of 2019 and is hoping to become a Doctor of Emergency Medicine. He is currently doing research on social media connectedness and physical activity in adolescents. In his free time, he loves to go to the Rec Complex to play Basketball with his friends. He also loves playing the guitar, which he has been practicing since 4th grade. |
 Emi Hayashi is currently a junior at Kansas State University. She plans to obtain her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology in May of 2020. Upon graduation, she hopes to attend Wichita State University’s physician’s assistant program. After completing her master’s Emi wants to work in an orthopedic outpatient clinic. Her research interests emphasize physical activity, exercise as medicine, and Park Prescriptions. She will be giving an oral presentation at the 2018 Kansas Public Health Association Conference and is an author on two abstracts submitted to the 2019 Active Living Research Conference. She is now assisting Aidan Murray with the assembly of an advisory board for the implementation of a Park Prescription program in Manhattan, KS. Emi is eager to share her excitement for park-based physical activity with the public as she helps plan a challenge for an upcoming event in Manhattan, Relevate’s 2nd Annual Amazing Race: Empowering Youth. Emi enjoys being active with friends, baking, and exploring nature. |
 Aidan Murray is a junior in Kinesiology, minoring in pre-medicine. Aidan is interested in how the built environment affects a population’s physical, social and mental health. Specifically, Aidan is interested in the Park Prescription Program, which focuses on getting healthcare providers and community partners to encourage individuals to utilize parks, trails and open spaces in order to improve community health. Shadowing physicians and being a Certified Nurse Aide has sparked his interest in this sector of the public health field. Aidan loves to compete in sports, especially football and basketball. |
 Oziel Pruneda is a senior studying at Kansas State University that will be obtaining his Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology in Fall of 2020. His current interests include physical activity promotion, built environment factors that contribute to socioeconomic status in urban core populations, and exploring means of affordable health care through safety net clinics, private or publicly funded programs. Oziel’s recent research collaborations consists of analyzing and organizing data sets and conducting literature background reviews for changed physical activity behaviors post-COVID-19 restrictions. Upon graduation, he plans to pursue a Master’s Degree in Public Health and continue advocating for his Latino/Hispanic community through health and lifestyle promotion. |
Kendra Marstall is a junior double majoring in French and Kinesiology/Pre-OT, with a minor in Gerontology. After graduating in the spring of 2022, she plans on attending occupational therapy school and earning her doctorate in occupational therapy. Kendra’s research interests include studying how the built environment and access to green spaces impacts daily living, physical activity habits, and mental health. She enjoys being physically active, and in her free time, she likes to read, dance, and experiment with new baking recipes. |
Dr. Gina Besenyi, Director of the PARCS Lab, is an assistant professor in the Department of Kinesiology in the College of Human Ecology. Gina has a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology, a Master of Public Health concentrated in Physical Activity and Nutrition from Kansas State University and a PhD in Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior from the Arnold School of Public Health at the University of South Carolina. Gina's research explores how built environments contribute to active living behaviors and population-level health outcomes across geographic and cultural contexts and how disparities within these relationships might be understood and rectified, including through citizen engagement in creating healthier communities. Within this broader field of environmental health promotion, she has a specific interest in the role of parks, green space and recreational facilities, and how availability, accessibility and quality of such community resources influence physical activity, especially among youth populations. She is an up-and-coming expert in how innovative technology such as geographic information systems (GIS) and mobile applications can be utilized within this public health research agenda to promote community participation and healthy environments. Gina has collaborated and consulted with researchers, organizations, and communities across the U.S. and internationally on numerous health projects. In her free time, Gina enjoys a variety of outdoor activities and loves to spend time with her family.