LEWISTON, Idaho – Lewis-Clark State College kinesiology and health professor Heather Van Mullem has been selected as the winner of the American Kinesiology Association’s Jerry R. Thomas Distinguished Leadership Award in the Undergraduate Degree Granting University category for 2019-20.
The award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated exceptional administrative and leadership qualities that help contribute to the attainment of strategic goals within the kinesiology unit at the institution.
The criteria for the award includes building innovative curricula to strengthen the undergraduate core of kinesiology, expanding faculty and student research productivity focused on physical activity, establishing partnerships and outreach activities that significantly impact the unit, achieving success in obtaining new or renovated facilities for teaching and research, inspiring others to achieve at a high level, and making significant changes that enhanced the effectiveness and
efficiencies of programs and services at the college.
To be eligible, an individual must have served at least three years as a chair or director of the department. Van Mullem served three years as chair of the Movement and Sport Sciences Division prior to this summer.
There are four classifications for the award: one each for doctoral, master’s, undergraduate, and associate degree levels.
Van Mullem hold a Ph.D. from the University of Kansas, an MS from Humboldt State University, and a BS from Eastern Washington University. Her research and teaching interests are in sport studies, particularly in sport psychology and sport sociology.