Collier, Hargrove join MC kinesiology faculty

McKenzie Hargrove, left, assistant professor of kinesiology, and Charlotte Collier, clinical instructor of kinesiology, have joined the MC faculty.

The Department of Kinesiology at Mississippi Christian University (MC) has welcomed two new full-time faculty members.

Charlotte Collier, a seasoned educator, coach and former Division I athlete, has joined the department as a clinical instructor of kinesiology, while McKenzie Hargrove, who received her Ph.D. in exercise science from Mississippi State University in May, has joined the department as an assistant professor of kinesiology.

Christopher Washam, MC professor and chair of kinesiology, said his department is excited to welcome Collier and Hargrove to the faculty.

“Charlotte comes to us from Texas, where she taught kinesiology courses at the university level and served as a physical educator at a Christian school for a number of years,” he said. “She brings years of experience as a licensed physical educator to our campus.”

A native of Denmark, Collier was recruited to compete in NCAA Division I Track and Field at Utah State University, where she earned academic honors while becoming a conference champion, school record-holder and NCAA qualifier in the hammer throw. She later earned her Master of Science in Sport and Exercise Sciences from Ithaca College with a concentration in Sports Psychology and Human Performance.

Collier has taught kinesiology courses at Sam Houston State University and LeTourneau University for more than 15 years. She also served as a Division I throwing coach at SHSU, coaching conference champions, NCAA regional qualifiers and nationally ranked student-athletes. In addition to her collegiate experience, Collier spent 10 years teaching physical education, coaching cross country and track and field, and doing administrative work at Alpha Omega Academy, a K-12 Classical Christian School in Texas. Collier is married to Curtis Collier, and the couple has two children, Lukas and Niklas.

Washam said Hargrove brings expertise in the field of exercise physiology.

“Dr. Hargrove was a student-athlete and honor graduate of MC and was selected as the Outstanding Graduate Student at both MC and Mississippi State during her graduate studies at each school,” he said.

Hargrove completed her Master’s in Applied Exercise Physiology and her Bachelor’s in Exercise Science and competed in cross country and track and field at MC. While pursuing her master’s, she worked as a teaching assistant under Suzanne McDonough. As a doctoral student at MSU, she taught a variety of undergraduate courses, including exercise physiology lecture and lab, sport physiology, and exercise testing and prescription.

At MSU, Hargrove conducted research focused on physiological responses to heat stress during exercise and work in the Human Energetics and Thermoregulation Lab and partnered with the Athlete Engineering Institute to conduct research on hydration and heat safety wearables for athletes and workers. Her dissertation, “Energy and Fluid Demands of Agricultural Workers in Mississippi,” measured heat acclimatization metrics, energy expenditure and fluid turnover among local farmers in the field. Hargrove said she is excited to return to MC to make a positive impact on students and contribute to the excellent teaching and scholarship in the Department of Kinesiology.