Moore Rejoins Kinesiology Department
Alex Moore, who joins the Westmont faculty this fall as assistant professor of kinesiology, is no stranger to the college. Moore, a Wheaton College alumnus, was an adjunct instructor at Westmont for both the kinesiology and biology departments from 2004-06. He taught a wide range of classes, including anatomy, tennis, physiology, biochemistry lab and Fit for Life, a freshman wellness class.
Alex then accepted a fellowship to study at the University of Missouri, which has one of the best microcirculatory programs in the country. He left Westmont not knowing if a job would be open when he returned. While in Missouri, he earned his doctorate in biomedical sciences.
He returned to Westmont in fall 2010 as a sabbatical replacement in the biology department, teaching physiology, genetics and cell biology. “It was fortuitous another position opened up — very providential,” Moore says. “God’s timing is perfect.”
He began the tenure-track position this fall in the kinesiology department, teaching physiology, biomechanics and a research course.
“There’s a lot of overlap in what I do, working with pre-health professional students,” he says. “I was a kinesiology major in my undergraduate work, and it’s where my heart is. My doctorate and recent experience focused more on biology, so it’s fun to come back to kinesiology.”
Moore’s research specializes in microcirculation, focusing on hair-sized arteries and the regulation of blood flow to tissue. “We’re interested in the responsiveness of these microvessels and how they change as we age,” he says. “Their responsiveness goes down when we age, leading to ischemic conditions, which is lack of oxygen to tissue.”
Moore, who ran track in high school and college, earned his master’s degree in exercise and sport science from the University of North Carolina. By teaching upper-division courses at a young age, Moore says he gained perspective. “I want to spend my career teaching students and getting them excited about a topic they have little experience with,” he says. “The prestigious fellowship allowed me to focus on my research, but I enjoy teaching. The students are at a stage of their lives where role models can make a great impact on their lives.
“My message to students is to explore and take risks. I love when a student discovers their passion and their calling and place in God’s kingdom.”
Moore met his wife, Kirsten, at Westmont when she was hired as head coach of Westmont’s women’s basketball team in 2005. They got married in 2008.