Dr. Bruce Elmore
Professor of Physical Education
B.S., State University of New York at Cortland
M.S., University of Illinois
Ph.D., University of Illinois
Office: 103 Mabee Sports Complex
Phone: (479) 979-1327
E-Mail: belmore@ozarks.edu
Dr. Elmore grew up in a family where both parents were educators, and says he liked the life it could offer. "During my senior year of undergraduate work, I discovered and fell in love with a course called 'exercise physiology.' Right then I knew what I wanted to do and that meant becoming a college professor so I could specialize in health-fitness. It was during graduate school that I realized that large land-grant research institutions were not for me: I needed to be in a college where teaching was emphasized and respected." Dr. Elmore found a perfect match when he joined the University of the Ozarks faculty in 1988...he had found an academic setting where classes were small and the faculty came to know the student, not just the name of the student.
When asked to think back on his early days at Ozarks, Dr. Elmore says the most important thing he learned from his students was patience. He recalls, "As an educator it used to frustrate me when students didn't apply themselves. Over time, I've realized not to give up on those students, rather to work to make it happen." His work was recognized and rewared by fellow faculty members very quickly; he received the University's Bagwell Outstanding Faculty Member award in 1989. His efforts to help his students has been an on-going process. He says even now, many of his new students are surprised by the amount of science-related coursework they encounter while studying physical education. He names off some of the courses students take while pursuing a physical education major: "I start my sophomores with 'Human Anatomy' and follow that with 'Human Physiology.' Later, we offer material in biomechanics, nutrition, applied anatomy, first aid, care and prevention of athletic injuries, exercise physiology, and fitness programming. We purposely start with understanding basic form and function of the body and progress to the benefits/effects of physical work/exercise on the body. Those pursuing public school teaching take additional coursework and practical experiences designed to train teachers."
Dr. Elmore has some advice to offer students. "If I were 18 again, I would take more courses outside my major. At that time I thought I needed to just take courses in physical education. I have come to realize though, that a broader foundation would have prepared a stronger foundation for my future, not so much in the classroom (graduate school prepared me for that), but for my interests that lie outside my profession."
