Research

Erwin to be Inducted as Research Fellow


LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 4, 2011) -
The University of Kentucky College of Education's Heather Erwin will be inducted as a Research Consortium Fellow at the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD) national convention in March. Along with 10 other inductees, Erwin will join the 275 current Fellows of the Consortium, a group within AAHPERD that consists of more than 5,500 research scholars and other members who have a strong interest in research.

"I feel very honored to be inducted as a Fellow in the Research Consortium," said Erwin, an assistant professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Promotion. "I hope that current and future research in which I am involved will have positive implications for youth to improve their physical activity levels and make them lifelong movers."

Erwin's current research focus is on youth physical activity, specifically in school-based settings. This research looks at maximizing physical activity during physical education, increasing physical activity that students accumulate during recess (part of the College of Education's Physical Activity and Wellness Schools program) and integrating movement in the classroom.  She also is involved in some classroom physical activity interventions in which she and her colleagues have found that integrating just one physical activity break during the school day can significantly increase students' school physical activity.

Attainment of Fellow status within the AAHPERD Research Consortium is one of the most prestigious honors the group can bestow on a member. Fellows are selected based on evidence of scholarship, including research presentations and publications. Recognition as a Fellow signifies the development of a focused research agenda with an accompanying publication track record in an area related to human health and physical activity.

AAHPERD is the largest organization of professionals supporting and assisting those involved in physical education, leisure, fitness, dance, health promotion and education, and all specialties related to achieving a healthy lifestyle. AAHPERD is an alliance of five national associations, six district associations and a research consortium. It is designed to provide members with a comprehensive and coordinated array of resources, support and programs to help practitioners improve their skills and further the health and well-being of the American public.

For more information, visit www.aahperd.org.

MEDIA CONTACT: Jenny Wells, (859) 257-1754 ext. 254; Jenny.Wells@uky.edu