Alumni
Alumni Achievement Awards
Above, left to right: awardee Keyana Thompson-Shaw, awardee Francie Kraker Goodridge, awardee Aaron Seabron, Dean Lori Ploutz-Snyder, awardee Jon Paley (2025)
2026 Kinesiology Alumni Achievement Award Recipients
Brian Diefenbach (MVS '17), Early Career Achievement
After obtaining his undergraduate degree, Brian Diefenbach completed a master's degree in biomechanics from East Carolina University, with research focused on injury prevention and baseball and football performance.
Diefenbach then gained industry experience through a research internship at the Nike Sports Research Lab and as a senior research engineer at Henry Ford Health before joining the Detroit Tigers in 2022 as a biomechanist. He as since been promoted to assistant director, performance science and, most recently, director of performance science, through which he helps maximize player on-field performance.
Megan Takahashi (SM '18), Early Career Achievement
Before her senior year at the University of Michigan, Megan Takahashi earned a competitive internship with creative agency and production company, The Vault. Following graduation, she began her career in out-of-home advertising at JCDecaux before quickly reconnecting with The Vault founder Jon Paley (SM '95) and returning to the company where her professional journey began.
Today, Takahashi oversees The Vault's production of major commercial and branded content campaigns for global brands, including BMW, Disney, and Paramount+.
She also leads The Vault's summer internship program and regularly advises U-M students pursuing careers in sports, entertainment, and advertising.
Haley Geffen (SM '99), Career Achievement
Haley Geffen is a six-time Emmy Award-winning director and co-founder of Coed Studios, where she has spent over two decades leading creative teams and bringing ambitious stories to life through film, commercial, and documentary work.
After graduating from U-M, Greffen began her career at ESPN before moving into the NBA and NFL, where she discovered the power of storytelling to create human connection.
She went on to direct award-winning campaigns for brands, including Nike, Under Armour, NBC Sports, GEICO, and the Olympic Games, and in 2026, released her debut feature documentary, Safe Room.
Elmo Morales (PE '68), Lifetime Achievement
Throughout his varied career, Elmo Morales has created ways for movement to be accessible to everyone. He spent 30 years teaching physical education in Ann Arbor Public Schools, creating programs that encouraged students of all abilities to participate.
He ran the business Elmo's Ping Pong Palace under a pay-what-you-can model. And he founded the Dexter-Ann Arbor Run, helping transform the Ann Arbor Track Club from an elite competitive organization into one that welcome runners of all ages and levels.
His most enduring initiative, though, isn't related to athletics; the retail store Elmo's T-Shirts, where students, alumni, and visitors have connected for decades, celebrates its 50-year anniversary in 2027.
Overall Criteria for Awards
The Kinesiology Alumni Achievement Awards are given each year to alumni and friends who have made a significant impact in their careers, service, and philanthropy.
- Nominees must be alumni in good standing, as defined by the School of Kinesiology and the Alumni Society Board
- Nominees must have earned a Kinesiology degree
- The nomination must be based on activity, or support of activity, in the kinesiology field
- The nomination must be supported by another School of Kinesiology alum
- Current KAS Board members may be nominated
- Recipients must accept the award in person (unless deceased)
- If a recipient cannot attend the ceremony, their award will be deferred until the following year
- Current School of Kinesiology faculty members are not eligible, but emeritus faculty may be nominated
- Current School of Kinesiology staff are not eligible
Nomination Process
- Nominations can be submitted by completing the KAS Alumni Award Nomination Form
- A list of criteria for each award can be found in the Kinesiology Awards Criteria & Nominating Process document (PDF)
- Nominees can self-nominate, be nominated by a fellow alum, colleague, professor, or friend/family member
- Nominees are asked to submit supporting materials (resume/CV, nominee personal statement, 2 professional recommendations) that are reviewed by the Nominating Committee, then submitted to the entire Alumni Board for consideration
- The Nominating Committee notifies the award winners and invites them to the awards ceremony, which is the Friday of Homecoming weekend
- Award winners receive two tickets to the Homecoming football game on Saturday
Past Kinesiology Alumni Achievement Award Recipients
2020-Present
2025
Keyana Thompson-Shaw, Early Career Achievement
Aaron Seabron, Career Achievement
Francie Kraker Goodridge, Lifetime Achievement
Jon Paley, Dean's Medal
2024
Max Klepper, Early Career Achievement
Kelsey Nolan Shafer, Early Career Achievement
Dawn P. Coe, Career Achievement
Jon Jansen, Career Achievement
A.J. Duffy III, Lifetime Achievement
2023
Katharine Bohlmann, Early Career Achievement
Jason Krochak, Early Career Achievement
Alicia Jeffreys, Career Achievement
Steve McCarthy, Career Achievement
Mike Amine, Lifetime Achievement
Tom Goss, Lifetime Achievement
2022
Zac Hiller, Early Career Achievement
Steve Weinreich, Career Achievement
Carol Ray, Lifetime Achievement
Richard Ray, Lifetime Achievement
2021
Joshua Bartelstein, Early Career Achievement
Brandon Rhodes, Early Career Achievement
Andrew Karson, Career Achievement
Patty Freedson, Lifetime Achievement
Victor Katch, Dean's Medal
2020
Hayes Grooms IV, Early Career Achievement
Jessica Berman, Career Achievement
David Schueler, Career Achievement
Sheryl Szady, Lifetime Achievement
2010-2019
2019
Leah Ketcheson, Early Career Achievement
Daniel Schachne, Early Career Achievement
Jim Nagy, Career Achievement
J.J. Putz, Career Achievement
Barry Franklin, Lifetime Achievement
Jordan Field, Distinguished Service
2018
Dan Gaiman, Early Career Achievement
Erin Prober-Charlupski, Early Career Achievement
Danny Koblin, Career Achievement
Brian Movalson, Career Achievement
Noel Cimmino, Distinguished Service
2017
Nick Shaw, Early Career Achievement
Mike Israetel, Early Career Achievement
José Kottoor, Career Achievement
Melva Thompson-Robinson, Career Achievement
Donna Fry, Lifetime Achievement
2016
Liz Godek, Early Career Achievement
Donté Scott, Early Career Achievement
Robb Dunn, Career Achievement
Andrew Pudduck, Career Achievement
Nancy "Eric" Erickson, Lifetime Achievement
Pete Kempf, Distinguished Service
Shelly Kovacs, Distinguished Service
George Wade, Dean's Medal
2015
David Oxfeld, Early Career Achievement
Michael Stack, Early Career Achievement
A.J. Duffy III, Career Achievement
John Rotche, Career Achievement
Don Eaton, Distinguished Service
Clare Canham-Eaton, Distinguished Service
2014
Eryn McVerry, Early Career Achievement
Shavannia Williams, Early Career Achievement
Thomas Wilcher, Career Achievement
Jon Urbanchek, Lifetime Achievement
Sheryl Szady, Distinguished Service
Jeannine Galetti, Dean's Medal
2013
Aaron Shea, Early Career Achievement
Roger Zatkoff, Dean's Medal
2012
Robert Haddad, Early Career Achievement
Joan Bickner, Dean's Medal
2011
Geoff Prentice, Early Career Achievement
Albert Green, Career Achievement
Art Weltman, Career Achievement
2010
Shawn Regan, Early Career Achievement
Jonathan Paley, Early Career Achievement
Robert John Moffatt, Career Achievement
William McArdle, Lifetime Achievement
Herb Deromedi, Lifetime Achievement
2000-2009
2009
Jessica Berman, Early Career Achievement
R. Richard Ray, Career Achievement
Shirley Howard Cooper, Lifetime Achievement
2008
Justin Schulman, Early Career Achievement
Carolyn Clymer Voorhees, Career Achievement
John Faulkner, Lifetime Achievement
2007
Chris Parker, Early Career Achievement
George Brooks, Career Achievement
Joan Farrell, Lifetime Achievement
2006
Todd Gershwin, Early Career Achievement
Charlie Kuntzleman, Career Achievement
Joe Vaughn, Lifetime Achievement
2005
Dick Honig, Career Achievement
Rod Grambeau, Lifetime Achievement
2004
Scott Jeffer, Early Career Achievement
Marvin Gans, Career Achievement
Steve Galetti, Lifetime Achievement
Phyllis Ocker, Lifetime Achievement
Phyllis Weikart, Lifetime Achievement
2003
Mark Hildebrandt, Early Career Achievement
Steve Sarns, Early Career Achievement
Reggie McKenzie, Career Achievement
Joyce Lindeman, Lifetime Achievement
2002
Pam Davis, Early Career Achievement
Ken Burnley, Career Achievement
William Hardy, Career Achievement
2001
Roger Harvey, Early Career Achievement
Carrie Meek, Career Achievement
David Lohrmann, Career Achievement
Pat Materka, Lifetime Achievement
2000
Guy Reiff
Yevonne Smith
1992-1999
1999
Barbara Roark Passmore
Susan Kandarian
Ruth Harris
Newt Loken
Kenneth Simmons
1998
Don Dufek
Patty Freedson
Andy Kozar
Anthony Mitchell
1997
George Wade
Mary Borst
Carrie Meek
Kathy Clark
Tom Wilcher
1996
Mary Lou Hook Allen
Cece Dumbrigue
Al Renfrew
Jon Urbanchek
Debbie Coyle
1995
Micki King
Dick Kimball
Irv Wisniewski
1994
Barbara Forker
Tom Goss
Christine Wells
Kelli Bert
1993
Marie Hartwig
Elmo Morales
Roger Zatkoff
Tim Fagan
1992
Dave Nelson
Don Canham
Griz Zimmerman