Faculty – Health, Wellness, and Exercise Science

Courtney Lewman is an Assistant Professor in the Health, Wellness and Exercise Science department. She joined the department in Fall 2022. She advises students in the Exercise Science – General Healthcare, Exercise Science – Sports Management, and Athletic Healthcare degree programs. She is an alumnus of Benedictine College and played collegiate soccer for four years as a member of the Lady Ravens. For six years, Courtney worked at the Atchison Hospital, now known as Amberwell Atchison, in the Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation department. Her academic degrees have laid the foundation for a career that blends her love for sports and healthcare. Courtney and her husband, Andrew, share the joy of raising three beautiful children. She enjoys spending time with friends and family, cheering for the Chiefs and the Jayhawks, and swinging golfclubs the on the golf course or kicking the ball around with her children. Lewman grew up in Independence, MO, and currently resides in Atchison, KS.

Michael D Kostick is an Assistant Professor in the Health, Wellness and Exercise Science department. He joined the department in Fall 2024. He advises students in the Exercise Science – Teaching Physical Education and Health, Exercise Science – Coaching, and Strength and Conditioning degree programs. Michael taught 5-8 health and physical education before pursuing a Masters and Doctoral degree. Additionally, he has coached high school football and baseball, and collegiate ultimate. Michael’s professional and personal interests surround the intersection of Catholicism with wellness and health and physical education. Before completing his doctoral program, he studied at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmittsburg, MD. Michael is originally from Central Pennsylvania and is an avid Pittsburgh sports fan. He and his wife, Brianna, are active parishioners at St. Benedict’s Catholic Church and St. Joseph’s Ukrainian Catholic Church in St. Joseph, MO. They currently reside in Atchison, KS.

Matt McElroy is an Associate Professor in the Health, Wellness, and Exercise Science department. He joined the department in Fall 2024 and advises students in the Exercise Science – General Healthcare and Athletic Healthcare degree programs He earned both his degrees from Kansas State with his academic focus centered around exercise physiology, particularly cardiovascular and muscular physiologies. Before coming to Benedictine College, he was a Biological Sciences instructor for Highland Community College in Highland, KS. Matt and his wife, Jenny, have 2 boys. He spends a lot of his free time coaching the various teams that his sons play on.  Matt is a fourth generation K-State graduate, bleeds purple, and spends lots of time in Manhattan attending as many K-State sporting events as possible with his family. He grew up in Hiawatha, KS, and currently lives in Holton, KS.

Jarod Crowley has served as an Athletic Trainer at Benedictine since 2004. Prior to beginning his career at BC, Jarod earned a double major in Athletic training and Physical Education at Graceland University in Lamoni, Iowa. While a senior at Graceland, he also obtained the credential of Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist.

After college, Jarod interned at Neosho County Community College in Chanute.  While there, he obtained his Athletic Training Certification in the fall of 2001 and was hired on as a full time staff Athletic trainer.

In the fall of 2002, Jarod returned to Graduate School at Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville Missouri where he obtained his Master’s of Education with an emphasis in Athletic Administration.

As an Athletic Trainer, Jarod’s main duties include the care, prevention, and rehabilitation of the student-athlete population here at Benedictine College.

Immediately following her graduation from Benedictine College in 1985 Kelly began working as an Admissions Counselor. In 1987 she took a job as a District Manager for the Kansas Lottery. In 2011, after 23 years at the Lottery, she returned to Benedictine College to work in the Alumni Office. Her parents, all of her aunts and uncles, a brother and three children have attended Benedictine. Her grandfather and father are former faculty members. She currently teaches the Benedictine College swim courses.

Annie Hart joined the Health, Wellness, and Exercise Science Department in July 2022. She is currently teaching Wellness for Life, Physical Fitness, Pickleball, and Foundations of Human Movement. After beginning as an adjunct professor, Hart quickly began teaching additional classes as a part time instructor in the 2023-2024 school year. Additionally, Hart teaches the Health, Movement, and Physical Activity class for practicing teachers in the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program in the Education Department. Hart also serves as Benedictine College’s Senior Woman Administrator for Athletics.

Hart completed her Doctorate of Education (Ed.D.) at Rockhurst University in May 2022. Dr. Hart utilizes her research about motivation in Catholic schools in her work with students, athletes, and coaches, which compliments Benedictine’s mission to educate men and women in a tradition of faith and scholarship.

Before pursuing her Ed.D., Hart earned a master’s degree in Higher Education with an emphasis in Athletic Administration from the University of Missouri-Kansas City in 2015. Hart’s undergraduate degree is also from Rockhurst University, where she majored in Elementary Education, graduating in 2011.

Hart served as the PE Teacher and Athletic Director at St. Benedict Catholic School in Atchison from 2011-2022. Hart’s PE classes were a student favorite, and Hart was recognized for her efforts as a teacher and leader by being named Atchison VFW Post 1175 Teacher of the Year and Atchison Rotary Club Teacher of the Year in 2017. In her role as Athletic Director at St. Benedict, Hart helped St. Benedict Catholic School infuse the Catholic faith into all athletic events and earn a dozen league championships across six sports. Hart also served two terms as president of the Northeast Kansas Middle School League. While at St. Benedict, Hart coached both track and field and volleyball.

Hart grew up in Independence, Missouri and now lives in Atchison, Kansas. After moving to Atchison to begin her teaching career, Hart has made it her home, enjoying the wonderful Atchison community which is famous for its Benedictine hospitality.

Patrick Hodapp came to Benedictine as the assistant athletic trainer but quickly became the Head Athletic Trainer in 2003. Before coming to Benedictine College, he completed his undergraduate and graduate degrees at the University of Kansas.  He has previously worked for the Kansas Center for Athletic Medicine and served as the Assistant Athletic Trainer for Kansas City Wizards (Sporting KC) during the 2000 Champion season through 2003 season.  Patrick then made the move to Benedictine College shortly after. As the Head Athletic Trainer, Patrick is responsible for the overall well-being of the student athletes focusing on prevention, care, treatment and rehabilitation of the more than 650 student athletes at Benedictine College.  Patrick also teaches four classes in the HWES department as a part time faculty. He resides in Atchison with his wife (Lindsay) and daughter (Lilly).