Olivia Lempner (B.S.Ed. ’26) pursues her interest in exercise and sport science through her involvement with the Mary Frances Early College of Education’s Integrative Cardiovascular Physiology Lab, as well as Exercise is Medicine at UGA, a student organization whose goal is to promote community and the importance of physical activity and exercise around campus, where she has served as director of event planning and executive director.
- Hometown: Cumming, Georgia
- Degree objective and graduation date: B.S.Ed. in exercise and sport science, spring 2026
Being from in state, once I got admitted to UGA, committing was a no brainer. I started my time at UGA wanting to pursue a path in physical therapy, so I felt as though exercise and sport science was the right major to do so.
Tell me about your work in the Integrative Cardiovascular Physiology Lab. When did you join the lab, and how has it helped you in pursuing your academic goals?
After deciding I did not want to pursue physical therapy in January of my sophomore year, I thought going on to get a master’s degree in exercise science would be a good next step following graduation. I wanted to get lab experience before deciding whether I would go on to complete a thesis with my master’s degree, so I met with Dr. S. Tony Wolf to talk about his lab. I officially joined the Integrative Cardiovascular Physiology Lab in March 2024 and have been getting more involved ever since.
Being a part of this lab has been one of the greatest parts of my time at UGA. Dr. Wolf has given me so many opportunities to learn from research that many undergraduate students do not get, including discussion of research papers during lab meetings, oral and poster presentations, data collection and analysis, and writing on a manuscript. Throughout my time in the lab I have gained more and more confidence in my abilities to be a great researcher. I believe that this experience has made me feel the most prepared for my master’s program.
What did you present at the 2026 Southeast American College of Sports Medicine annual meeting, and what was that experience like?
I did an oral presentation on endothelial function and baroreflex sensitivity responses with a mitochondrial antioxidant treatment in older adults. Making and practicing for the presentation was a great learning experience for me. I made sure to do a lot of research on the subject so I would be prepared for any questions that came my way. This allowed me to become very knowledgeable on a topic I was very intimidated by just a few months prior. Presenting in front of a room full of people was such a great practice in public speaking, as well as being able to answer questions about my topic on the spot.
What has been your favorite class in the Mary Frances Early College of Education, and why?
My favorite class in the Mary Frances Early College of Education was Exercise is Medicine with Dr. Ginny Frederick. The Exercise is Medicine initiative is something I am very passionate about and aim to explore more in my master’s program. Dr. Frederick is also so great at getting her students engaged in what she is teaching, which is something I really value in a professor. She has also been so helpful in my journey to finding the right graduate program for my goals.
Why are you passionate about exercise science and sports medicine?
I am passionate about exercise and sport science because physical activity and exercise has so many benefits for every population. For example, childhood obesity is the greatest predictor of obesity in adulthood, but only a few states require physical education. Physical activity and exercise are also great for improving quality of life in chronic disease populations. Although this is true, many populations have barriers to being physically active. Overall, there are so many ways we can study and implement physical activity in different populations that will have great implications on their health, which I think is very exciting.
What are your plans following graduation?
Following graduation, I will continue my education with a master’s degree in health and exercise science at Colorado State University with a thesis in the Physical Activity for Treatment and Prevention Lab. I chose Colorado State because of their public health approach in their classes and the PATP lab objectives align closely with my passions in physical activity research. I look forward to working with cancer survivors and other chronic disease populations to improve their quality of life through implementing physical activity programs.