Inside the Honors Seminar: Dr. Shores and the Power of Recreation

A study abroad experience in London sparked Dr. Kindal Shores’ passion for mental and physical health. Today, as a professor in East Carolina University’s College of Health and Human Performance, she brings that passion into the classroom through her Honors seminar, “The Value of Sport: Research, Economic Impact, and Sport in Greenville, NC.”

“I think it is important for students to develop pride in the place they call home during their time at ECU and to better understand the community around them. Sport is such a compelling lens for those conversations,” Shores said.

Sport has long shaped Shores’ life, from her background in competitive tennis to her advocacy for female athletics. That perspective informs how she teaches, encouraging students to move beyond the role of fan or participant and instead engage with sport as a powerful community movement. In doing so, she not only deepens her students’ understanding of recreation but continues to expand her own.

“That merging of personal passion and intellectual work made the course feel very natural to me,” she said.

As a former Honors faculty fellow, Shores was drawn to the curiosity and energy of honors students. In her seminar, their direct and thoughtful questions often push conversations in unexpected and meaningful directions. Working with students across disciplines has also expanded her view of this generation’s capabilities, shaped by their quick thinking and genuine investment in the material.

“Teaching this seminar has honestly been energizing. One of the biggest differences is that the seminar feels like a learning community in ways larger courses often cannot,” Shores said.

By creating a space to explore the value of sport through real-world examples, economic impact, and local context, Shores fosters meaningful engagement among her students. Grounding these ideas in Greenville allows students to see their own community in a new way.

“Those examples help students see that parks, recreation, and sport are not just topics to study—they are spaces where policy, equity, economics, and community life intersect,” she said.

For students, Shores’ seminar creates mentorship opportunities, applied learning and meaningful dialogue that connects personal passion with academic inquiry. At the same time, teaching the course continues to shape her own perspective, offering a space to refine ideas about recreation, engage with new viewpoints, and amplify student voices in the conversation.

“It allows me to bring together my passions for teaching, community-engaged scholarship, and sport, while learning from students whose curiosity and perspectives sharpen my own thinking.”

Ultimately, Shores’ seminar reflects the reciprocal nature of the Honors College opportunity, where learning is shared with students, faculty and the community. By challenging students to see beyond the game, she equips them to think critically about the communities they live in and the roles they play within them. In doing so, the course leaves a lasting impact that extends far beyond the classroom, shaping not only how students understand sport but how they understand connection, place, and purpose.