Kinesiology In Higher Education Research Articles

NAKHE Leadership Mentor Program: An Opportunity for Inter-Institutional Exchange in Kinesiology

ABSTRACT College leadership in the 21st century is incredibly difficult, and leadership in Kinesiology can be rather complex in some departments. Mentoring is an important part of success in any leadership role, and individuals who receive mentoring typically outperform those who do not receive it. The National Association of Kinesiology in Higher Education (NAKHE) has an innovative and impactful initiative in place that focuses on mentoring for success in academic leadership: the Leadership Mentor Program. The Leadership Mentor Program is designed to build inter-institutional mentoring and networking between university Kinesiology departments and to increase aspiring administrator’s understanding of the job requirements of a Kinesiology administrator. Given the challenging environment in higher education today and the need to continue to examine exemplary models of leadership mentoring, the purpose of this paper is to: (a) outline contemporary challenges in academic leadership in general and Kinesiology specifically; (b) discuss some of the types and benefits of mentoring, with a focus on inter-institutional mentoring, (c) describe our experiences with the NAKHE Leadership Mentor Program from the perspective of the mentor and mentee; and (d) recommend possible future experiences for this program so as to guide individuals who are interested in pursuing this opportunity.

Passing the Torch: Perspectives on Effectively Preparing the Next Generation of Kinesiology Leaders – 2023 Praxis Lecture

ABSTRACT The 3rd annual Praxis Lecture exemplifies the National Association for Kinesiology in Higher Education’s (NAKHE’s) ongoing commitment to the principles and practices of social justice, diversity, and inclusive excellence as pillars of leadership development. This year’s lecture focused on perspectives, insights, and recommendations for NAKHE as the organization strategically prepares activities and programming to effectively develop, support, and advance future generations of leaders in the kinesiology discipline and beyond. The lecture highlighted an overview of the author’s journey as a scholar, administrator, and member of NAKHE. Additionally, a rationale for and description of six key perspectives on leadership development were offered for consideration. This lecture was dedicated to the author’s mentor, advisor, and supporter Dr. Jepkorir Rose Chepyator-Thomson of the University of Georgia’s Department of Kinesiology.

Ableism in Kinesiology in Higher Education: A Conversation Starter

In this expository paper, we reflect upon our understanding of how disabled people are discussed and treated in kinesiology and adapted physical activity in higher education and explore potential areas of unintentional harm that may be present in our everyday practice. There are three particular aspects of kinesiology in higher education that we discuss: access, language, and assessment. We discuss the challenges of access of disabled people in positions in higher education, language in higher education which serves as centers for knowledge creation, and the problematic nature of assessments based on societal norms, and for us, it is important to shine a spotlight on the many systemic limitations and barriers that disabled persons experience, in hope to amplify the importance of these issues.

Redefining International Collaborations During the Pre- and Post-Pandemic World National Association for Kinesiology in Higher Education 57th Amy Morris Homans Commemorative Lecture 2023

ABSTRACT The author discusses the potential impacts of international collaboration on learning, teaching, scholarship, and overall career. As a by-product and beneficiary of international collaborations, she recounted her journey, starting from playing sports in a village in Kenya to being a physical education teacher in Kenya and a kinesiology professor in higher education in the United States of America. She described how international education provided her with lifelong transformative experiences that continue to shape her international activities. Examples of international collaborative activities during the pre- and post-pandemic World are described. Although the Covid pandemic greatly impacted international collaborations across the spectrum, collaborative and innovative strategies continue to sustain them.

Surviving and Thriving: Understanding and Developing Your Emotional Intelligence

ABSTRACT The National Association for Kinesiology in Higher Education’s (NAHKE) efforts to connect professionals to share our strategies and passions for success within kinesiology are more valuable than ever beforel and developing emotionally intelligent leaders and administrators is very important. For the 30th Delphine Hanna Commemorative Lecture, the concept of Emotional Intelligence (EI) is explored. EI can be understood most simply as one’s ability to recognize the emotions of themselves and others to help motivate themselves or others, which lends the ability to manage emotions and relationships. Within this lecture, definitions, components, and competencies are presented in an attempt to bolster our human development and our performance in the kinesiology higher education profession. Compared to our intellectual capacities, which are somewhat inherent and difficult to improve upon, EI can be regarded as a set of skills that continue to develop with practice. Thus, an analysis of various practices that may help individuals improve EI abilities is also presented.

Reflections on Developing a Career in Kinesiology and Public Health

This paper provides reflections on my academic career in kinesiology and public health from an autobiographical perspective. Themes include the importance of movement and physical activity in my development and career choices, a recognition of the importance of physical activity for health outcomes, experiences in studying physical activity in a public health framework, and observations on kinesiology in higher education. I also reflect on the importance of the physical education and physical activity environment that brought me a sense of belonging, enjoyment, and accomplishment that has lasted throughout my career. As in sports and professional activities, I have tried my best and never given up until I felt the task was done.

Moving toward the Internationalization of an Academic Society: Twenty-First Century Perspectives and Collaborations

ABSTRACT International perspectives and collaborations are critical to the health of the kinesiology discipline during this supercomplex age. To that end, the National Association for Kinesiology in Higher Education (NAKHE) has adopted internationalization goals that support international faculty, joining forces with other academic societies across the world to promote innovation in programming, and to create international scholar leaders. Ideas related to specific internationalization virtues within kinesiology that were developed with international colleagues in Montreal, Canada at the PHE Canada Research Council Forum (May 2019) and at the Association Internationale des Écoles Supérieures d’Éducation Physique (AISEP, International Association for Physical Education in Higher Education) Conference at Adelphi University, Garden City, New York (June 2019) will be discussed. Themes coalesced into specific virtues including Collaboration, Valuing Diversity, Openness to Interdisciplinarity, Innovation, and Leadership. These themes will be discussed and put into the context of NAKHE’s internationalization efforts.

Considering the State and Status of Internationalization in Western Higher Education Kinesiology

ABSTRACT While internationalization is among the top strategic priorities of universities and colleges globally, research into the expanse of internationalization in the kinesiology discipline is not well researched. Given this gap, critical consideration of the state and status of the phenomenon is needed. Knowing more about what is being done in the name of internationalization within kinesiology and reflecting on how those actions and outcomes are aligned, or not, with key theoretical guidance is necessary in order to plan for improvement accordingly. For these reasons, this paper first provides a primer on internationalization in higher education, including how the phenomenon has come to be defined as well as key contemporary critiques associated with it. In particular, we highlight Beck’s (2012) theoretical concept of ‘eduscape’ to critically consider the influences of globalization on internationalization within higher education kinesiology as well as Khoo, Taylor, and Andreotti’s (2016) principles of intelligibility, dissent, and solidarity to consider the ways kinesiology scholars engage critically with internationalization processes. Presented next is a review of the kinesiology literature that is explicitly focused on internationalization. Then, the results of a pilot survey into the views of National Association for Kinesiology in Higher Education (NAKHE) members and other Western kinesiology scholars on internationalization is reported next. The paper concludes with recommendations as to how NAKHE and the broader community of Western kinesiology scholars might best navigate internationalization moving forward. We recommend the complexity-informed and principle-driven approach of inclusive leadership as a means of pursuing cognitive justice in the 21st century.

Ubuntu: I Am Because You Are - 2021 Praxis Lecture Dedicated to Dr. Doris R. Corbett

ABSTRACT These are my remarks from the first annual Praxis Lecture at the 2021 annual meeting of the National Association for Kinesiology in Higher Education (NAKHE). In this essay, I share highlights of my nearly 30-year journey as a member of NAKHE, provide an overview of how the Praxis Lecture came into existence, describe the essence of Ubuntu, and give some examples of why I dedicated the lecture to Doris R. Corbett and how she exemplifies the essence of Ubuntu.

Kinesiology Gets Moving! The NAKHE Leadership Development Workshop Goes Outside

ABSTRACT In 2010, The National Association of Kinesiology in Higher Education (NAKHE) began a summer program to develop leadership in kinesiology professionals. The Leadership Development Workshop (LDW) was designed to help young academic professionals develop skills for leadership advancement in higher education. In 2017, NAKHE decided to host the LDW in Flagstaff, AZ, on a campus known for promoting outdoor activities. During early discussion and planning, the steering committee decided to try something new and shift the focus of the LDW to outdoor leadership that can influence professional development and productivity. This idea was suggested, in part, because of new and emerging research on improved brain function related to learning when people are physically active. The 2018 LDW attendees across all kinesiology disciplines worked side-by-side to solve group initiatives, adventure course activities, and geocaching challenges on top of supporting one another to brainstorm solutions to complex leadership challenges. This paper will describe a leadership workshop that combined leadership topics with outdoor activities that encouraged participants to “think outside the box” when dealing with common administrative concerns. Planning, implementation, and assessment of this workshop will be addressed in the hopes that this model can serve as a “Best Practice” for future professional meetings.

Achieving Inclusive Excellence in Kinesiology: Insights, Strategies, and Perspectives

ABSTRACTInclusive Excellence (IE) serves as the central topic of the 28th annual Delphine Hanna Commemorative Lecture. Moreover, the professional accomplishments of Delphine Hanna, a kinesiology trailblazer, are explored. I present the concept of Inclusive Excellence and articulate its applicability to academic leadership in the field of kinesiology. Particularly, I provide a definition of Inclusive Excellence, guiding principles, an overview of the history of Inclusive Excellence, and examples of promising strategic practices. Lastly, I present a case-study outlining Auburn University’s integration of Inclusive Excellence principles and implementation of practices. Recommendations for the National Association for Kinesiology in Higher Education (NAKHE) organization are presented.

Identity Politics and Kinesiology

ABSTRACTRecognizing the increased focus on identity politics in higher education and the broader culture, the National Association for Kinesiology in Higher Education (NAKHE) recently focused on the topic of identity politics at the 2016 Leader Development Workshop. My aim in this article is to introduce and explain concepts related to identity politics, a term commonly understood to involve the ways in which various aspects of identity (e.g., race, religion, social class) may influence decision making. The term “identity politics” has become both informative as well as divisive. To this end, I want to prompt us to think about how identity politics relates to our discipline of kinesiology, especially as it pertains to those in leadership positions.

Reflections on Leadership: Theory, Experience, and Practice

ABSTRACTThis article, which was delivered as the Thirty-Sixth Annual Dudley Allen Sargent lecture at the 2017 conference of the National Association for Kinesiology in Higher Education (NAKHE), discusses transformational leadership theory as an effective approach to inspiring subordinates and creating a culture that results in a shared vision and common approach to a positive organizational future. Contrasting a transformational versus transactional approach, it uses both published papers and leadership reflections from many of NAKHE’s most successful emerging and experienced professionals to provide suggestions on leadership methods that can be incorporated to facilitate transformative change.

Recruiting, Funding, and Hiring of Doctoral Students in Physical Education Teacher Education

ABSTRACTThis article examines trends and issues surrounding recruiting, funding, and hiring of doctoral physical education teacher education (D-PETE) students and graduates. Sources for this examination were background data collected by Boyce and her colleagues, the existing literature on these topics, and qualitative data gathered from 30 sport pedagogists during one round-table session at the National Association for Kinesiology in Higher Education (NAKHE) conference in January 2015. All three sources indicated the importance of recruiting and funding of students and hiring of graduates to the future of D-PETE programs. A number of paths were identified which sport pedagogists could follow in order to keep D-PETE programs safe and help them flourish. Unfortunately, agreement as to which of these paths the field should take was often in short supply. In the conclusions section, suggestions for future research of recruiting, funding, and hiring are made with the goal of providing data which could lead to sport pedagogists making more informed decisions regarding the future direction of D-PETE.

Professional Academic Societies: Stewards of the Future

ABSTRACTAcademic disciplines are vulnerable in the 21st century to the forces Barnett called supercomplexity, and we argue that academic societies such as the National Association for Kinesiology in Higher Education are especially well positioned to prepare 21st century scholars to respond to contemporary changes in the disciplines and in institutions of higher education. Academic societies can respond by helping to train scholars to be stewards of their disciplines, and the means by which disciplines will do so is to focus on the character of the scholar through the development and reinforcement of specific virtues. Following the arguments of Plato, Ernest Boyer, and Alasdair MacIntyre, we argue that the development of stewards can help kinesiology respond to contemporary issues.

The Professoriate and the Future of Higher Education Kinesiology

ABSTRACTThis article broadly addresses academic freedom and higher education in America, accentuating the viewpoint that change is not new. A historical overview of the state of the professoriate and social contexts are examined to situate the field of kinesiology into the context of the university. Ideas regarding the future of the field are addressed with an emphasis on the conduct of higher education scholars within this context. It is hoped that this article will not become an autopsy documenting the assault on the field, marginalization of the academy, and end of kinesiology in higher education, but will rather be a call to action for moving forward as a profession.

Sweat the Small Stuff: Understanding the Essence and Impact of Stewardship in Kinesiology

ABSTRACTWhat is thought of when hearing the word stewardship? Many people would need clarification for what this term means and in what context it is being applied. How is stewardship perceived in relation to kinesiology? The content of this lecture will be contextualized with the author’s story. The stewardship of Delphine Hanna will be reviewed, as well as that of a few of the 2016 National Association of Kinesiology in Higher Education Conference attendees. The author will attempt to impart that the power of good stewardship lies in the small stuff of what people do in their lives. More specifically, good stewardship begins with establishing honest relationships with those whom one is to be a steward. Attempts toward stewardship are incomplete unless there is commitment to recognizing the importance of those entrusted to a steward’s care. Stewardship in relation to the role of an administrator will be reviewed, as well as the role of faculty and the members of the National Association of Kinesiology in Higher Education.

Who We Are: (In)Visible African American Women Setting Traditions of Excellence and Paving Paths for Transformation

The purpose of this lecture is to provide the voice and visibility of African American women who have upheld the tradition of excellence set by Amy Morris Homans in the development of physical education in higher education for women and set pathways to transition our field to be more inclusive and diverse and have served as transformative leaders and role models for me and countless other teachers, scholars, and administrators. I used a combination of personal experiences and reflections on the legacy of Amy Morris Homans to describe how our collective wisdom, strength, and resilience in the face of social, political, and historical barriers have enabled us all to transform physical education and kinesiology in higher education. Final recommendations include continued commitment to facing our fears and making conscious efforts to embrace opportunities to be more inclusive in our programs.

The National Association for Kinesiology in Higher Education: An Academic Society for the 21st Century

Thank you for joining us this year at the 2015 NAKHE Conference.1 Before we begin, I would like to thank the members of the NAKHE Board of Directors for their leadership throughout the past year. W...

Thinking Pluralistically: Dynamic Decision Making in Kinesiology

In this age of postmodern supercomplexity, universities face increased demands from many precincts in our society to respond to such issues as broader access, graduation rates, costs, and relevance, to name just a few. The cultivation of professional conditions that will help higher education and its kinesiology professoriate to not only to survive, but flourish, in an age of supercomplexity is a necessary adaptation for the future. No obvious single, coherent moral framework exists to use as a guide for today’s (and tomorrow’s) faculty. This article argues, then, for a pluralistic way of thinking by applying reason to the diverse moral frameworks in kinesiology in higher education. The purpose of this article is to explicate a moral positioning in kinesiology based on this pluralistic approach so that decision making can extend beyond the current boundaries of pragmatic thought, now prevalent in higher education. Specific examples of this approach and some accompanying strategies are offered.