Michelle Grimes

About

Michelle Grimes, Ed.S. is an Assistant Instructional Professor and Fitness Director in the Department of Health, Human Performance, and Recreation and has recently served on the undergraduate faculty since 2010.  She received her Bachelor's, Master's, and Educational Specialist Degrees from PSU in 1993, 1995 and 2018. She is currently pursuing her Educational Doctorate Degree from Lindenwood University. 

Ms. Grimes teaches in the discipline of Physical Education and coordinates all Group fitness classes for the HHPR Department. She has taught for over 30 years in the fields of physical fitness, coaching and aquatics  Her experiences include teaching K-12  and Higher Education Physical Education, and coaching basketball, volleyball, track and field, and tennis.  In addition, Ms. Grimes has been teaching first aid/cpr courses, lifeguarding, pool management, and water safety for the American Red Cross for over a decade. She is a volunteer for the Special Olympics and the Salvation Army. She is a member and national presenter for SHAPE America and for the Kansas Alliance for Health, Physical Education, and Recreation.

Her fitness background includes personal training and teaching diverse formats of group exercise including boot camp, cycling, strength training, aqua-classes and yoga, while coordinating a robust group fitness schedule. She has coordinated many special events including the legendary Kansas Kids Fitness Day on PSU's  campus and coordinated numerous special events within the surrounding communities such as NFL Flag in Schools program and most recently with the Kansas City Chiefs Fit Gym Football Club. She has written several grants and presented at the state and national level. She holds many fitness certifications with the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), the Athletic Fitness Association of America (AFAA) and the American College of Sports Medicine. Ms. Grimes also has certification with the NFL organization for game day stadium safety management. Michelle has two daughters, Ashleigh and Aleigh who are alums of PSU and two granddaughters, Oakleigh and Jovie Randall. 

Responsibilities

• Pedagogy
• Advisor for Physical Education undergraduates
• Fitness Director
• Teaching courses in Physical Education 

Education

• Ed.D., Lindenwood University (anticipated May 2026)
• Ed.S., PSU
• M.S., PSU 
• B.S., PSU 

Courses Taught

• Lifetime Fitness Concepts
• Lifeguarding
• Swimming
• Theory & Fundamentals of Activities I
• Theory & Fundamentals of Activities II
• First Aid/CPR/AED
• Scientific Foundations of Coaching
• Coaching Swimming
• Cardio Conditioning Athletic Aerobics Classes
• Professional Conference
• Coaching Practicum
• Topics in Physical Education