Stephen Mitchell, Ph.D., a sport pedagogy professor at Kent State University in the School of Teaching, Learning and Curriculum Studies, is the new president-elect of the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE). He was elected to the position this past spring at the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance’s (AAHPERD) annual national convention in Boston. A nonprofit professional education association, NASPE aims to enhance knowledge, improve professional practice and increase support for high-quality physical education, sport and physical activity programs.
NASPE, which has been setting the standard for the profession for more than 35 years, believes that daily physical activity is critical to improve school and work performance and the overall health of individuals. As a national spokesperson for the organization, Mitchell will promote quality physical education, physical activity and sport programs and lend expertise to tackle the growing epidemic of physical inactivity in children and the importance of physical activity for everyone.
“My advocacy work at the state level has been very rewarding, and I hope to bring similar efforts in my new position, at the national level,” Mitchell said. “I plan to help project NASPE’s voice even stronger to help forge strong partnerships and identify policy items that are critical to our progress in pushing physical education to the top of the priority list in schools, communities and with governmental leaders.”
On the state level, Mitchell is the Ohio Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation & Dance’s (OAHPERD) president and advocacy committee chair. He served on the writing teams for both the Ohio Department of Education’s Physical Education Assessment project and Physical Education Benchmarks and Performance Indicators.
In addition to his new role, Mitchell will continue teaching as a Kent State faculty member, a position he has held for the last 20 years. Before that, he taught at Syracuse University and in Loughborough, England. He is a published author of two books and more than 30 book chapters and journal articles. He has served as a reviewer for 12 scholarly journals including NASPE’s own Strategies.
A resident of Kent, Ohio, Mitchell holds an undergraduate degree in Physical Education, Sport Science and History, a post graduate certificate in Education, and a master’s degree in Education Studies from Loughborough University. He also went on to receive a doctorate in Teaching Curriculum with a specialization in Pedagogy and Sport Psychology from Syracuse University.
For more information about Kent State’s School of Teaching, Learning and Curriculum Studies, visit www.kent.edu/ehhs/tlcs.
About the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE)
The preeminent national authority on physical education and a recognized leader in sport and physical activity, the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) is a non-profit professional membership association that sets the standard for practice in physical education and sport. NASPE’s 15,000 members include: K-12 physical education teachers, coaches, athletic directors, athletic trainers, sport management professionals, researchers, and college/university faculty who prepare physical activity professionals. NASPE seeks to enhance knowledge, improve professional practice and increase support for high-quality physical education, sport and physical activity programs. It is the largest of the five national associations that make up the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation & Dance (AAHPERD). For more information, visit www.naspeinfo.org.
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Media Contacts:
Paula Keyes Kun, pkun@aahperd.org, 703-476-3461
Emily Vincent, evincen2@kent.edu, 330-672-8595