Rate My Professor Thomas St. Laurent

Thomas St. Laurent serves as Senior Lecturer II in the Department of Kinesiology within the School of Public Health and Health Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He holds the position of Undergraduate Program Director for Kinesiology, overseeing the curriculum and academic advising for the bachelor's program. St. Laurent earned his Master of Science in Exercise Physiology from James Madison University in 2005 and his Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science from the same institution in 2003. He is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), nationally certified, with more than 20 years of experience in coaching and teaching. His professional background includes athlete development, track and field coaching, and private sports performance training. St. Laurent's academic interests focus on strength and conditioning and exercise programming. At UMass Amherst, he teaches foundational courses such as Introduction to Kinesiology and leads initiatives like pre-college summer programs on sports performance for high school students. His office is located at 109 Totman Building, where he provides guidance to kinesiology majors.

In recognition of his teaching excellence, St. Laurent received the 2018-2019 SPHHS Outstanding Online Teacher Award from the School of Public Health and Health Sciences. He contributes to interprofessional education programs, collaborating with faculty from nursing, health promotion, and nutrition on mutual mentoring teams. Additionally, St. Laurent participates in faculty search committees and supports open educational resources for his courses. As program director, he coordinates undergraduate curriculum efforts alongside department chair Professor Richard Van Emmerik. His role ensures the kinesiology program aligns with professional standards, preparing students for careers in exercise science, coaching, and related health fields. St. Laurent maintains active involvement in department events, including fall celebrations and scholarship award ceremonies.