For over 40 years, Pam Wiley has been a familiar face around Boise State. She first arrived as a student in 1983, but over the years, she’s become a go-to mentor on disability, inclusion, and what it really means to connect with people.
It all started when a few service-learning students began helping Pam with her exercise routine. A quick invitation to guest speak followed, and before long, Pam was officially co-teaching alongside Professor Tyler Johnson in Kinesiology 305: Adaptive Kinesiology.
As a wheelchair user following a spinal cord injury, Pam brings something to this service-learning class a textbook simply can’t. She elevates the students’ learning and service by helping them see real community needs in order to identify real solutions. Instead of just learning theory, students learn from Pam’s lived experience, discovering what actual accessibility and respectful care look like in everyday life.
“[Pam’s] part of the class… throughout classes, she’ll add points from personal experience. [It’s] very valuable and adds on to the content we’re learning. She gives a different perspective because obviously our professor knows a good amount about it… but he doesn’t have the actual personal experience of having a disability.”
Carly, Adaptive Kinesiology Student
Her impact hits home most in those one-on-one moments. Pam remembers working with a pre-physical therapy student who was a bit unsure of himself at first. As they spent time together, he started picking up on the small, thoughtful details that make a huge difference—like making sure someone’s clothes are adjusted comfortably before they wrap up a workout.
By jumping into Adaptive Kinesiology every week, Pam completely reshapes how students think about accessibility and advocacy. Her goal is straightforward: she wants future professionals to see the human being first, building genuine connections with people who don’t need pity – just a little adaptation.