Obesity & Weight Management

Biography

Lynn Romejko Jacobs' prior appointment (1980) to S.M.U. found her developing a passion and interest in adult fitness as the physical supervisor at the Dallas Cardiac Institute working to rehabilitate patients who had undergone heart surgery. She also spent two years as an Athletic Director for the oil corporation, the Western Company of N.A. in Ft. Worth, Texas. Designing employees' fitness programs along with coordinating incentives and benefits within the company were strategic to the success of this experience. These two experiences prepared her for a continued growth in adult fitness and wellness. Lynn joined the faculty at SMU in 1980 as an Assistant Professor and now currently enjoys the appointment of Full Professor . During her early years she designed and implemented a well received exercise program for the faculty and staff, the "Out to Lunch Bunch". She assisted Dr. Birdie Barr in implementing a comprehensive wellness program with employee benefits in the early 1980's. Teaching highlights during this period of the '80's focused on: ballroom/folk dance, corporate fitness practicum and internships for the Physical Education majors on the Corporate Fitness Track. In the 1990's, Lynn took part in a spearhead committee to design the current "CHOICES for Living Program" along with Dr. Birdie Barr and Dr. Peter Gifford. This committee designed our current wellness program that delivers two general education requirements for all SMU students-Concepts of Wellness and CHOICES II activity classes. The mission of this program is to:"empower students to make meaningful choices". Also, during this time (1990), Lynn initiated the wellness experience out at the SMU in Taos, Fort Burgwin Research Center in Taos, New Mexico, one of the SMU auxiliary campuses. She designed and developed the course "Mountain Sports" which is still sought after by many SMU students when studying at the Taos campus. She also initiated the indoor cycling course,"spinning" for the CHOICES II activity curriculum. Along with Dr. Peter Gifford, Lynn helped to create and develop a new major, Applied Physiology and Sport Management (September 2007-present). During this time, she was named the Director of Applied Physiology and Enterprise (concentration of the major, Applied Physiology and Sport Management). She taught the courses in Nutrition and Applied Physiology and Enterprise along with supervising the majors' internships for the Applied Physiology and Enterprise concentration. Lynn is also the advisor for these majors. Awards Lynn finds meaningful to her spanning years of 43 teaching are: Distinguished University Citizen Award, Southern Methodist University (provost's office, May 17, 2008- given once a year to faculty that have distinguished themselves through service within the university and out in the community); Hope Award for teaching excellence, S.M.U., 2003; Sam Taylor Fellowship scholarship, October, 1982 and the Outstanding Big Sister Award for Tarrant County, 1981. Dr. Peter Gifford and Lynn designed a research project, (Fall, 2009). The topic: "Reality versus Perception: Percent Body Fat and Body Mass Index Scores in College Student". Some of Lynn's earlier research relates to her current research pursuits: "An Analysis of the Somatograms of the Reference Woman, Young Caucasian Women (ages 20-24) and Young Hispanic Women Currently Residing in Texas", AAHPERD Research Poster Consortium Session, April 1994, Denver, CO. Lynn's long term commitment to the SMU wellness program can be exhibited in several of her publications and presentations: "Did Wellness Work at SMU?" Health Values, Vol. 10 No. 5, September/October, 1986 (co-authored with Dr. Marilynn Barr), "SMU Wellness: the Holistic Approach" seminar at Hunt Oil Corporation, Dallas, TX. 1998, "SMU Wellness" , presentation at GTE Corporation Headquarters, Irving, TX. November 1993, "Physical Education to Wellness: Undergraduate Wellness Requirement" AAHPERD National Convention, Washington D.C., 1993, and 7th Annual Hawaii International Conference on Education, "Wellness and the College Student: Innovative Instructional Strategies and Meaningful Student Outcomes"(Gober, 2008), Academic, International, published in proceedings, January, 2009. This international conference presentation has been requested to be submitted as a possible publication to the Research in Higher Education Journal. Lynn Jacobs' Teaching Philosophy "I absolutely love the dynamic exchange between student and teacher not knowing quite how any session in the classroom will end up. The possibility of me as the teacher changing a space in the world so that the students I taught are different than they were before I taught them amazes me. I do have an unshakable belief in the individual's capacity to learn and change. Teaching is igniting one to think and live differently. This belief has kept me in the profession for thirty- six years. Yes, it is a transformative experience through a creative relationship. Both teacher and student are transformed; both are learning partners and facilitators of the process. No longer in education is the scenario the sage on the stage; it is the guide on the side. Teachers can no longer hide behind the podium." Education: B.A. Southern Methodist University, 1974, Texas Secondary Teaching Certificate in Physical Education, Health and Speech Arts M.A. Southern Methodist University, 1978 Ph.D. Texas Woman's University, 1989, Kinesiology (exercise science emphasis) Dissertation: "An Analysis of the Somatograms of the Reference Woman and Young Caucasian Women (age 20-24 years)" Reference Woman of the 1940's (Behnke's) with Reference Woman of the 1980's. The research focuses on comparing body type differences expressed through somotagrams (circumference measurements). Current Professional Licensures and Certifications: "Primary Group Exercise Certification", Aerobics and Fitness Association of America, National. (February 2007 - Present). Lead adults in group exercise with safety and sound biomechanical and physiological principles "Adult and Child CPR&Airway Management", NOLS-Wilderness Medicine Institute, International. (March 30, 2008 - March 30, 2010). Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation. This certificate is used while working with students in a physical setting. "Wilderness Safety", NOLS, International. (March 30, 2008 - March 30, 2010). Safety, rescue and lifesaving procedures to use in the wilderness. This certificate was used to teach in the SMU in Taos program. "Spinning License/Certification", Madd Dogg Athletics, International. (July 2005 - July 2009). I am certified to teach spinning on specialized indoor bikes and train people to improve their cardiovascular endurance. Volunteer Work: Mentoring of a Sudanese refugee family of nine through Texas Catholic Charities (2002-current). Activities include fieldtrips, teaching sports, art, cooking and involving the S.M.U. wellness students who receive credit for their required out of class experience portion of the Concepts of Wellness Course. Soupmobile: raising money for this homeless meal delivery program and dispensing the food (2003-2006) Meal on Wheels: delivering food to the clients through Highland Park Methodist Church(2000-2002).

Research Interest

Obesity , weight management