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SPECIALIZATION
My area of specialization is Pedagogical
and Therapeutic Kinesiology (i.e., Adapted Physical Education). Academic
preparation notwithstanding, I am interested in organizational
relationships between administrators, faculty and students and the
distribution of power.
TEACHING AREAS
Like most in academe, teaching is one passion
that drives my academic existence. I love teaching especially about individuals with
disabilities, instructional strategies, curriculum theory and design, and
seminars. Also, I enjoy teaching most activity classes including swimming,
baseball/softball, fitness and conditioning, adapted aquatics, badminton,
tennis, racquetball, weight training and developmental activities.
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RESEARCH INTERESTS
Research is another academic passion of mine. My research interests
are dedicated to the study of attitude, attitude change and predicting
behavior toward individuals with disabilities. While my research on
disability type and contextual variables varies (from sport to group
homes), my commitment to this line of inquiry remains. I take
particular pleasure from collaborating with colleagues on three
different research
projects. For example, I am part of a research team with colleagues
here in the US and in Europe. Our team is assessing attitudes of
people in Europe to predict their behavior toward individuals with
mental retardation. This project required me to change the focus of
the Physical
Educators’ Attitude Toward Teaching Individuals with Disabilities
(PEATID III) survey by redesigning it using the
Theory of Planned Behavior
(Ajzen, 1991).
This version (i.e., PEATID IV:
under construction) represents a slight shift in my research and
working on this research team is outstanding. Data collection for
this project is currently underway. We expect to make our results
available in Spring 2006.
Another colleague
and I are developing a survey to assess attitudes of staff members at fitness
clubs toward individuals with multiple sclerosis. For this project we are
developing a survey using the Planned Behavior Theory. Data collection
on this project should begin sometime before Summer 2005. We hope to share our
results in the Spring 2006.
Also, I am
starting on a project I have wanted to do for years. A colleagues and I are in the
developmental stages of planning and implementing a project to assess the
influence (if any) of a
label of a disabling condition on attitudes and predicting behavior of teachers.
This is another exciting project that should build on our body of knowledge in
adapted physical activity.
For those of you
that are interested, my work appears in various journals like the Adapted
Physical Activity Quarterly, the Journal of the Association for Persons with
Severe Handicaps, Issues in Teacher Education, the Journal of Physical
Education, Recreation and Dance, International Journal of Rehabilitation
Research, Teacher Education and Special Education, Mental Retardation, American
Corrective Therapy Journal, Perceptual and Motor Skills, Quest, Illinois Journal
of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, and the Journal of Rehabilitation.
Though my vitae
probably needs updating, you can find a list of my publications by clicking
here.
I still serve as
the Chair of our department as my colleagues continue to graciously tolerate me
in this role. Working at a comprehensive university, where teaching is fun, but
the demands on my time leave very little time for anything else - including my
two kids. But, I am not complaining! I love working here at CSUSB as it is a
great place to work and SoCal is an amazing place to live.
RANDOM NOTES
I am proud
to announce that the first person to earn a Ph.D. from our McNair’s Scholar Program here
at CSUSB was Dr. David Tobar, a former student with whom I had the pleasure of
serving as his mentor. David finished his M.S. and Ph.D. at the
University of
Wisconsin and is now working at Bowling Green University. David’s success is a
tribute to his work with Professor William Morgan, a commitment to scholarship,
and the McNair’s Scholar Program here at CSUSB. Visit the link and view
the picture of David and me. This
picture was taken at a reception in his honor in September 2004.
Speaking for everyone here at CSUSB, we are very proud of David.
Although I thoroughly enjoy late night life in a jazz blues club, I also
enjoying reading, jogging, swimming, and watching for shooting stars. I'll
continue to love sunshine, listening to snazzy, sultry jazz/blues
music, and visiting with good friends. For me, a good day is a decent bottle of
wine, good music, visiting San Clemente Beach, and staying in contact with
friends across the country. For me, it is still ‘California
dreamin’ . .
 .
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Department of
Kinesiology 
