Kim Graber Honored as Shahid and Ann Carlson Khan Professor in Applied Health Sciences
By VINCE LARA-CINISOMO
Anyone who has been fortunate enough to work with Kim Graber should be thankful she wasn’t a very good cook.
Graber, the head of the Department of Health and Kinesiology in the College of Applied Health Sciences, was appointed as the Shahid and Ann Carlson Khan Professor in AHS on April 22.
In a heartfelt ceremony attended by university leadership, colleagues, students and alumni, Graber was recognized for her outstanding contributions to research, education and service over a career spanning more than three decades.
Graber, who grew up in Barrington, Illinois, said she did not think about becoming a professor because, at that time, “Career opportunities for women were limited, and girls were taught to dream about a career in teaching, nursing, or secretarial work.”
So, when she started college at Valparaiso University, she began as a student in home economics.
“That, however, lasted only a year because I didn’t enjoy cooking and wasn’t very good at it, as my family will attest,” she said during her investiture ceremony.
The event was opened by Cheryl Hanley-Maxwell, dean of the College of Applied Health Sciences, who highlighted the significance of an endowed professorship.
“Endowed professorships enable us to recognize, reward and retain outstanding scholars whose work brings renown not only to them but also to the college and the university," Hanley-Maxwell said.
Hanley-Maxwell emphasized that such honors are reserved for faculty members at the pinnacle of their fields, affirming Graber’s well-deserved recognition.
The investiture ceremony also paid tribute to Shahid and Ann Carlson Khan, whose philanthropy made the professorship possible. Hanley-Maxwell recounted the Khans’ inspiring journey from their days as University of Illinois students to becoming leading entrepreneurs and philanthropists. Shad Khan’s story, from washing dishes for $1.20 an hour to leading a multi-billion-dollar global enterprise, was shared as a testament to resilience, innovation and community spirit.
Today, the Khans' support extends across the university, including significant contributions to the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, the College of Business, the College of Veterinary Medicine and the Khan Annex to Huff Hall.
Following remarks from University Provost John Coleman, the ceremony turned its focus to Graber’s achievements. After Valparaiso, she transferred to the University of Iowa to study physical education, setting her on her current path.
Graber's academic journey took her to Columbia University for a master’s degree in movement sciences, an experience she describes as “the best year of my life.”
Graber embraced New York and would have continued for her doctorate at Columbia if not for the fact that the university didn’t offer teaching assistantships, and the accumulation of debt. So, she pursued her doctorate at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, developing a passion for understanding how individuals learn and socialize into teaching professions.
“It’s where I learned to understand research, write like a scholar and think like an academic,” she said.
Graber’s research, grounded in teacher socialization theory, has significantly influenced how scholars and practitioners view learning and professional development in education, particularly within physical education.
Graber’s work has been widely published in leading journals such as Teaching and Teacher Education, Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, Quest, and Kinesiology Review. She has been a leading voice in examining how undergraduate education shapes future educators, and her later work has expanded to issues such as legislative policy in schools, children's wellness, curriculum design, and the demographics of teacher educators.
Beyond her research, Graber is a well-recognized as an educator and mentor. Her devotion to undergraduate education has earned her prestigious awards, including the University of Illinois’ Distinguished Teacher/Scholar Award and the college's Phyllis J. Hill Award for Exemplary Mentoring.
She emphasized the joy of teaching, saying, “To play a small role in preparing individuals to make a better future for others is very satisfying.”
Her service contributions are equally significant. As department head of Health and Kinesiology, Graber assumed leadership just as the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded. Undeterred by unprecedented challenges, she spearheaded efforts to revitalize the department through strategic planning, curriculum redesign and faculty expansion. Under her leadership, the department saw a substantial decrease in the student-to-faculty ratio, bolstering its academic standing.
In her speech, Graber expressed profound thanks to Shahid and Ann Carlson Khan for their support, to her mentors and collaborators such as Tom Templin and Amy Woods, and to her colleagues, students and family. She also shared touching stories of the relationships that sustained her through her academic life, including the pivotal support of her mother, now 95 years old, whose wisdom and encouragement made her achievements possible.
“She and my dad are the reason I attended college,” Graber said. “It was a family expectation that has served me well. As she will tell you, I’ve always been fiercely independent and determined, and she had the wisdom to set me free. That freedom has led to a very rich life and fulfilling career. Thanks, mom.”
In closing, Graber thanked for Khans for their “many contributions to the greatness of the University of Illinois.
“You are role models for sharing your success with others, and that is no small feat. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”