Fit to teach
Posted: March 15, 2016
From skydiving and whitewater rafting to donating her hair to Locks of Love, Lynda Tierney Konecny, DHEd, MS, CHES, ’08, challenges herself to do at least one memorable thing each year.
Meeting that challenge drives her out of her comfort zone and pushes her further than she thought possible. As a former major in the military, an athlete, and now a professor, nothing stops her from living her life to the fullest.
“I learned a couple lessons at an early age,” says Dr. Konecny. “Life is short and unpredictable, and I’m in control of and accountable for my success or failure.”
She was earning a master’s degree in counselor education/college student personnel when she joined the Army’s Reserve Officers’ Training Corps. After graduating from her master’s program and completing her Officer Basic Course for the Army, she volunteered to go to Saudi Arabia in support of Operation Desert Storm. As a new second lieutenant, she spent nine months on active duty.
“Even though the learning curve was steep, it was a great way to start in the military,” Dr. Konecny says.
Her military experiences left her with lasting memories, from working with outstanding soldiers to meeting her husband, who served in the Army on active duty. The Army Reserves helped Dr. Konecny fulfill the desire to serve her country and allowed her to easily transition into new locations. After returning to the states, she pursued her civilian career in college student services and began taking fitness classes at a nearby workout facility. One day, an instructor suggested she get certified to teach, so she did.
“I became a nationally certified group fitness instructor, and a little later, went through training to become a certified personal trainer,” recalls Dr. Konecny, who is also a 15-year triathlete.
With added specialty education in Pilates on her résumé, job searches became much easier as she and her husband were often relocated. Her frequent moves eventually landed her in ATSU’s Admissions department. There, she discovered a new program offering – Doctor of Health Education. The program seemed to fit her career goals and interests perfectly, so she applied and was accepted. Ultimately, though, balancing school, work, family, and the military became too much.
“I had to make one of my toughest decisions and leave the Reserves,” says Dr. Konecny, who received an honorable discharge at the rank of major.
With a strong military background and an affinity for health and fitness, she now shares her breadth of knowledge with students as an associate professor at CGHS. She works closely with students on their dissertation projects, building interesting, challenging, and extremely rewarding relationships.
“Having a variety of experiences in my civilian career, fitness, and the military allows me to relate to a wide range of students,” Dr. Konecny says. “The path I followed through the years has proven invaluable as an educator.”