Class of 2025: Christina Cucolo

Christina Cucolo has embraced a guiding principle that defines her journey as a kinesiology student: exercise is a powerful form of medicine. Inspired by her grandfather’s battle with Parkinson’s disease, Cucolo transformed a deeply personal connection into a commitment to advancing health and well-being through movement. Her experiences at UVA, from designing exercise programs for individuals with developmental disabilities to conducting pediatric oncology research, have shaped her into an advocate for the transformative power of movement and prepared her for a bright future in medicine.

Q: What inspired you to choose a career in kinesiology?  

When I was in middle school, my granddad was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease – a neurodegenerative disorder that affects movement. As I approached college, I knew I wanted to understand the biology of the disease and eventually pursue a career in the medical field to help others like him. Seeing my granddad in such a vulnerable state ignited a passion for clinical care and a desire to support individuals and their families when they do not know where to turn. While I understand not everything has a cure, maximizing quality of life is important to me.  

As I began taking biology courses in college, I felt something was missing. I wanted to understand the body on a macroscopic level and learn more about human anatomy and movement. When my granddad passed away in October of my first year, I knew I wanted to change the future for Parkinson’s patients and decided that studying kinesiology would bring me one step closer to making a difference.

Q: Why did you choose the UVA School of Education & Human Development for your program of study?

Coming to UVA from a small high school with just 48 students in my graduating class, I feared I would feel like a fish out of water at a large university. However, as I began speaking with my friends who were upperclassmen in the School of Education and Human Development, I learned how the EHD faculty work hard to foster a tight-knit community—one where students are encouraged to work closely with one another and where professors are available to help students outside of the classroom, academically and otherwise.  

In addition to the supportive community the School of Education and Human Development offers, I quickly learned of how well-known and established the professors in the kinesiology department are, and I am grateful to be taught by leaders in the field.

Q: What is the most significant thing that has shaped your time here?

All my professors have helped mold me into the individual I am today, but one who truly supported me was Professor Kuenze. I began attending his office hours to better understand course content, but Professor Kuenze quickly became a mentor. He helped me get through difficult times by offering words of advice and lending an ear when I needed someone to talk to. Despite not taking any classes with him during my fourth year, I still stopped by his office whenever I was having a rough week. His advice to follow my aspirations, not a specific timeline, is something I will always carry with me.

I’d also like to highlight one of the first kinesiology courses I took at UVA: Professor Block’s Kinesiology Developmental Disabilities, where I learned the importance of movement and exercise for individuals with disabilities. I had the incredible opportunity to work with a student at the Virginia Institute of Autism and learn from Professor Block how to design an exercise program for an individual with autism. This fulfilling experience introduced me to how movement plays a role in the life of every individual.

Q: What is one thing you learned in your studies that really took you by surprise?

In the medical field, exercise is often overlooked as a form of treatment or preventive care, but the kinesiology major taught me how imperative movement is to improve quality of life. In my future career, I will always view exercise as a form of medicine—whether I am treating an 8-year-old who is recovering from a concussion or assisting an 80-year-old in regaining strength after a hip replacement.  

Q: What is coming next for you after graduation?

I will be taking two bridge years as I prepare to apply to medical school. During this time, I will work as a research technologist at Nemours Children’s Hospital in Wilmington, Delaware, in a pediatric oncology lab studying neurofibromatosis.