NUHS professor serves as judge at Olympics

August 15, 2008 — The 2008 summer Olympics in Beijing are in full swing, and while many of us are glued to our TVs watching, National University of Health Sciences professor Robert Appleyard, PhD is participating — as an official judge.

While attending Washington State University where he earned his bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degrees, Dr. Appleyard was on the rowing team at and spent his free time indulging his passion for the sport.  In 1980, while living in Seattle, he became involved in helping run competitions.  Ever since then, he’s been a volunteer official with U. S. Rowing, which is the national governing body for the sport.  Dr. Appleyard has judged rowing competitions all over the country, at high school, college and master levels, and at the international level.  He’s also been working with U.S. National Rowing Team events for 15 years.

But for Dr. Appleyard and his family, the trip to China will hold another very special and nostalgic meaning for them. The Beijing Olympics in 2008 will be the Appleyards’ second trip to China.

Their 11-year-old daughter, Hannah, was adopted from China.  While in China for the Olympics, the Appleyards are planning a family side trip to the Fujian province to experience their daughter’s heritage and visit the very same orphanage where they adopted Hannah.

When he’s not indulging his passion for rowing, Dr. Appleyard shares his enthusiasm for the field of physiological sciences with students at National University of Health Sciences where he is currently the chair of its Department of Basic Sciences.

Source: National University of Health Sciences, www.nwhealth.edu