Executive Director’s Corner
Welcome to the Fall 2025 edition of the Morrison Bruce Center (MBC) newsletter! This semester has been full of energy, collaboration, and programs that reflect our updated mission: The Morrison Bruce Center empowers women and girls to lead confident, healthy lives through physical activity, education, and community. In the sections that follow, you will find highlights from our Fall initiatives- each one a testament to this mission and the dedication of our leadership team, students, and community partners. Thank you for being part of this journey with us, and we look forward to continuing to grow together in the months ahead.
With gratitude,
Cathy McKay, Ed.D, CAPE, Executive Director of the Morrison Bruce Center
Pictured above are Cathy McKay, Executive Director and Jill Lassiter, Associate Director
What's in this Issue?
Executive Director's Corner
Families In Motion
Healthy Kids
EmpowHER
Older Women's Wellness for Life (OWWL)
Marketing, Research, and Development Committee
Global Sports Mentoring Program
Stay Connected
Families In Motion, Fall 2025
Ali Downey, MBC Intern
Healthy habits start early and grow stronger when families move, learn, and play together. The Morrison Bruce Center’s Families in Motion program partners with local preschool programs to host evenings dedicated to movement, education, and family engagement. This initiative reached over 60 families and is designed to introduce fun, interactive ways to explore the five dimensions of wellness: physical, emotional, social, environmental, and intellectual. Each dimension was represented through staff-led activity stations that encouraged families to grow together in a playful, supportive setting. Through hands-on activities and movement-based learning, Families in Motion empowers parents and children to build lifelong healthy habits together. This program brings wellness education directly to local preschools and continues to expand its reach each year, connecting with families who are eager to move, learn, and thrive side by side.
Healthy Kids, Fall 2025
Grace Mitchell, MBC Intern
The Healthy Kids program has reached 30 children in the 3s and 4s classrooms at JMU’s Young Children's Program (YCP) this semester! Healthy Kids is a weekly program that teaches preschool students about healthy nutrition, building strength, and developing motor skills, using age-appropriate lessons and learning activities. Each class starts with a movement song and three yoga poses, then moves into small group activity stations, before finishing with a large group review and farewell song. We are pleased to report that each Healthy Kids session had a 1:2 staff-to-child ratio thanks to volunteers from the JMU Kinesiology department and JMU athletics. Our high engagement focus has been a vital part of the learning for participants. Ms. Denise, a teacher at the YCP, said, “they (the kids) look forward to Healthy Kids at the beginning of the week and cannot wait for Friday” and “it is absolutely amazing to see their growth over such a short amount of time.”
EmpowHER, Fall 2025
Addison Messick, MBC intern
We are thrilled to report that over 85 participants joined us to develop strength, stamina, and confidence in the weight room during our Fall 2025 EmpowHER session! EmpowHER is a weekly exercise program designed to instill confidence and consistency in the weight room, inclusive of all ages and fitness levels. Each session provides a full-body workout designed with progressive structure and led by an encouraging and well-prepared staff who emphasize proper weightlifting techniques to ensure safety, strength, and long-term progress. This semester, over 70% of our participants attended at least 80% of our EmpowHER sessions, with some earning perfect attendance! Many of our EmpowHER participants have been returning for years, demonstrating strong continued engagement. One of the participants, Marcella O'Brien, said, “EmpowHER gives me the motivation and push that I can’t give myself at home!”
Older Women’s Wellness for Life (OWWL), Fall 2025
Avery Morris, MBC Intern
Every year, 25 women participate in the Morrison Bruce Center’s Older Women’s Wellness for Life (OWWL) program– an empowering, all-day event designed to help postmenopausal women enhance their health, vitality, and overall well-being. OWWL provides each participant with individualized fitness and health assessments, followed by a personalized physical activity plan to support sustainable lifestyle changes. The day also features interactive workshops and inspiring guest speakers, creating a supportive and motivating environment where women can connect, learn, and thrive. Participants consistently praise the personal attention they receive from students and staff, and the program’s strong return rate speaks to its lasting impact. As one participant shared, “I come every year for the fun and support,” while another stated, “I’ll be back next year.” OWWL continues to thrive each year, bringing women together through movement, education, and community, while offering student staff meaningful, hands-on experience that prepares them for future careers in health and wellness.
Marketing, Research, and Development Committee, Fall 2025
Emily Barner, MBC Graduate Assistant
The Morrison Bruce Center’s Marketing, Research, and Development Committee, led by Graduate Assistant Emily Barner and composed of student members Addison Messick, Ali Downey, Avery Morris, and Grace Mitchell, works to promote the Morrison Bruce Center and strengthen connections within both the JMU and greater Harrisonburg communities. Through interactive tabling events at the JMU Wellness Fair and Festival Dining Hall, we engage students and share resources that support healthy, active living. Our social media efforts highlight programs, staff members, and faculty collaborators to keep our audience informed about the exciting things happening at the MBC. Using research-backed information, we strive to make the latest findings accessible and relevant, bridging the gap between science and the community.
Global Sports Mentoring Program: Empowering Women and Girls through Sport, Fall 2025
Cathy McKay, MBC Executive Director
The Global Sports Mentoring Program (GSMP) unites leaders from around the world who use physical activity and sport to strengthen their communities. For the first time, the Morrison Bruce Center was selected as a mentor site for the GSMP espnW Women in Sports program - a partnership between the U.S. Department of State, espnW, and the University of Tennessee Center for Sport, Peace & Society. Through mentorship, professional development, and cross-cultural learning, GSMP equips delegates with the skills, connections, and confidence to lead initiatives that expand opportunities for women and girls. At JMU, this experience sparked meaningful collaboration and shared learning with students, faculty, coaches, and staff- creating space for dialogue, innovation, and leadership development with our GSMP delegate, Jelena Pavićević, from Serbia. We’re proud to champion an initiative that advances opportunities for women and girls; strengthens the Morrison Bruce Center’s commitment to empowering women and girls to lead confident, healthy lives through physical activity, education, and community; and reflects James Madison University’s mission to prepare educated and enlightened citizens who lead productive and purposeful lives.
Stay Connected!
Stay connected with us on Instagram and Facebook @morrisonbrucecenter. A big thank-you to our Fall 2025 student staff for all their hard work and their steady efforts to carry our mission forward.
From left to right:
Back row: Emily Barner, Audrey Colangelo, Makensie Hennigan, Grace Mitchell, Avery Morris, Emily Perricone, Sarah Butler, Gabriella Schreiner, Sam Holbrook
Front row: Destiny Washington, Grace Timmins, Addison Messick, Ali Downey, Marija Krnetic
