The intent of this investigation was to examine age and gender differences in neuromuscular adaptations following 12 wks of progressive resistance training(PRT). 39 healthy, untrained individuals were divided into four groups: older men((OM); 70±1.67; n=9), older women((OW); 73.75±1.76;n=8), young men((YM); 25.9±2; n=6) and young women((YW);22.2±1.2; n=6). Subjects participated in a bi-lateral knee extensor PRT consisting of 2 sets of 10 repetitions and 1 set to volitional failure at 80% of their onerepetition maximum(1RM), 3 days per week. Prior to and after completion of the PRT, subjects' right thigh muscles were evaluated for cross-sectional area (CSA) via computed tomography, maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVC), specific tension((ST);MVC/CSA), maximal neuromuscular drive(IEMG), and 1RM. Subcutaneous needle biopsies were also taken from the subjects' right vastus lateralis pre and post PRT. CSA increased (time, P<0.05) in all four groups following the PRT (4.35%+0.94 to 7.31%+3.87). Excluding OW, each group displayed an improvement (time, P<0.05) in MVC (OM 28.7%+5.06, YM 17.4%+5.8, and YW 17.8%±10.3). OM and YM demonstrated increases (time, P<0.05) in ST after completion of the PRT, 21.67%+4.88 and 12.5%+5.1, respectively. These two groups also improved (timeXgender, P<0.05) over their gender counterparts for this variable. IEMG increased (time, P<0.05) in OM and YM (37.8%+12.3 and 43.26+12.54, respectively) and both groups also showed improvements (timeXgender, P<0.05) over their gender counterparts. 1RM increased (time, P<0.05) in all groups (34.9%+7.9 to 57.3%+8). OW showed an increase (time, P<0.05) in the CSA of the MHC type Ha fibers. No other changes in single fiber CSA occurred. While all groups displayed increases in CSA and strength, ST and IEMG data indicate that neuromuscular drive may influence strength increases seen with resistance training to a greater extent in males than females, regardless of age. / School of Physical Education

The focus of this study is a search for the voice of African American community college trustees as they work to impact the changes community colleges must make over the next quarter century. It examined the lived experiences and perceptions that selected African American community college trustees have of their roles as trustees and the impact they think they are having on the setting of priorities in the governance of their respective colleges. This topic is significant since, arguably, community colleges are the quintessential democratic institutions in society; their doors are open to everyone. In various ways, community colleges are dynamically responding to the demographic changes that are occurring in American society. Among those changes are an increasing number of African American students entering college, especially community colleges, and an increasing number of African Americans becoming community college trustees. This study found that the elected African American community college trustees who participated in this study are fully integrated into the governance processes of their colleges, but do not think of themselves a being assimilated into the culture of their boards. They believe that they bring a double consciousness to their roles as trustees and that it allows them to perceive governance issues from the perspectives of insiders who are comfortable with the status quo and from the perspective of outsiders who have been traditionally removed from the locus of institutional power. Participants see themselves as representatives of the interests of their colleges as well as representatives of the interests of groups and individuals who have little or no voice in the affairs of their colleges. Participants are long-time community leaders whose influence extends beyond their colleges into their communities; they see themselves as servant leaders dedicated to working for change in society. / Graduation date: 2005