Research Staff

Psychsoc Lab

Monica Branch

email: msbranch@uwm.edu

Office: Enderis Hall, Rm. 466
Phone:(414)229-5120

Teaching Assistant:

  • HMS-270 Statistics in Health Professions: Theory and Practice
  • HMS-350 Psychological Aspects of Sport and Exercise
  • HMS-351 Sociological Aspects of Human Movement

Education:
Graduate

  • M.S. Degree Student (Fall 2004 – Present)
    University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; Department of Human Movement Sciences

    • Primary Area – Sociology of Sport
    • Secondary Area – Exercise Physiology
    • Tertiary Area – Psychology of Sport
Undergraduate Degree
  • University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, August 2004
    B.S. in Human Movement Science, Major in Kinesiology.

Presentations at Academic/Professional conferences
  • Branch, M., & Duncan, M.C. (2004). Whose Body Is It? Competing Claims for the Bodies of African-American Women in Urban Music Videos. Alverno College Cultural Awareness Fair: Hip-Hop Week, Milwaukee , WI , September 6.

  • Branch, M., & Duncan, M.C. (2004). Whose Body Is It? Competing Claims for the Bodies of African-American Women in Urban Music Videos. Research Seminar in Human Movement Sciences, Milwaukee , WI , October 19.

  • Duncan , M.C., & Branch, M. (2004). Whose Body Is It? Competing Claims for the Bodies of African-American Women in Urban Music Videos. North American Society for the Sociology of Sport: Annual Conference, Tucson, AZ, November 5.

Research Interests

  • Media portrayals of female body images/ideals. Specifically, how negotiating themes of race, gender, class, and sexuality are socially constructed in the media in a way that produces and reproduces particular views of the female body.

  • Exploring a possible biological relationship between levels of estrogen and the female phenotype. Would such a relationship be responsible for the distribution of fat in common areas among women of different racial backgrounds?

  • Biobehavioral aspects that contribute to obesity in at-risk populations.

  • Examination of lifestyle vs. structured physical activity in the achievement of weight maintenance.

Professional Experience

  • Spring 2004- Present
    Assistant Researcher, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Dept. of HMS.

  • Fall 2003 – Present
    Physical Fitness Journeyman/Unit Fitness Program Manager, Wisconsin Air National Guard.

  • Spring 2003 – Summer 2003
    Fitness and Recreation Journeyman, Thumrait Air Base, Thumrait , Oman.

  • Fall 2003 – Winter 2004
    Fitness Room Volunteer, Washington Park Senior Center.

 

Memberships

  • Student Member - American College of Sports Medicine.
  • Student Member - North American Society for the Sociology of Sport.
  • Member - UWM Human Movement Science Graduate Association.
  • 2005 Student Representative:
    • UWM College of Health Sciences Search and Screen Committee.
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