AAPAR Staff

Mariah Burton Nelson, MPH
Executive Director
"Beyond Workouts":Mariah's Blog
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A former college and professional basketball player, Mariah has spent her career promoting lifelong physical activity and recreation—for women and men, seniors and kids, and people with disabilities. She majored in psychology at Stanford University and was the leading scorer on the basketball team all four years. One rebounding record remained unbroken for 24 years. She later played professionally in France and in the first women's pro league in the United States (the WBL). She earned her master's in public health from San Jose State University.

In May 2006 Mariah assumed the role of AAPAR Executive Director. She works closely with AAPAR's board of directors to ensure organizational efficiency, member satisfaction, and fiscal responsibility. Since her arrival, AAPAR has created the Par Three Consulting Service, the Every Body Can Physical Activity Video Contest, the $12 million Head Start Body Start grant from the Office of Head Start, the bicycle safety curriculum grant from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and Play On! Playground Learning Activities for Youth Fitness.

In her role as a sports expert, she appeared on "ESPN," "Today," "Good Morning America," "Dateline," "Nightline," "Larry King Live," "Geraldo Rivera," and many other shows. She has written for the New York Times, the Washington Post, USA Today, Self, Shape, Ms. Magazine, Golf Illustrated, Working Woman, and numerous other publications.

She is the author of six books, including We Are All Athletes and Making Money on the Sidelines. She donates all proceeds from Making Money on the Sidelines to AAPAR. Her first four books were published by Random House, Harper, Harcourt Brace, and William Morrow. 

Known for her original and humorous keynotes, she has addressed hundreds of college, corporate, association, and government audiences.

Mariah has received numerous awards for communication and leadership, including the National Association for Girls and Women in Sport's Guiding Woman in Sport Award. In 2007 she was named one of the 100 Most Influential Sports Educators in America by the Institute for International Sport.

For physical activity and recreation, Mariah rides her bike, lifts weights, plays golf, studies yoga, and coaches her mother, Sarah, who set two Arizona State breaststroke records for women aged 75-79.

Her signature message: "Think of yourself as an athlete. I guarantee you it will change the way you walk, the way you work, and the decisions you make about leadership, teamwork, and success."

See a demo video of Mariah's speeches.

Christopher Neumann, MS
Associate Executive Director  
Chris is a native of New York and moved to the Washington, D.C., metro area in 2004. He earned his BS in health science and an MS in health policy and management, both with concentrations in community health education, at the State University of New York at Stony Brook. Before serving as Senior Program Manager, Chris worked at Stony Brook and George Mason universities. Some of his higher education experience includes teaching courses in HIV risk reduction, substance abuse education, and student leadership.  

When Chris isn't working with the wonderful staff and members of AAPAR, he enjoys cycling; in fact he rides his bike to work almost every day. Chris also plays basketball, his favorite sport, at his gym and with the neighborhood college students who remind him regularly that he is not getting any younger! As a little known fact, Chris was a competitive skateboarder in his elementary and middle school days. Back then, skateboarding was not as popular as it is now, so Chris competed against—and usually beat—competitors who were much older.  

Chris lives in Reston, Virginia, with his wife, Colleen, a psychologist who specializes in eating disorders.

Sam Iverson
Program Manager  
Sam Iverson was born in Azerbaijan and moved to the United States in 1990. She graduated from Shepherd University, a small liberal arts college in the panhandle of West Virginia, with a degree in recreation and leisure studies and a minor in exercise science. She worked for her university as a student athletic trainer and has been surrounded by athletes her whole life.  

Taking after her aunt in Germany, Sam grew up playing volleyball. Now, with the guidance of her husband, she has turned to motorcycle road racing. Sam has made huge gains in a sport that is dominated by men.  

An avid lover of the outdoors, Sam hikes, backpacks, whitewater rafts, and rock climbs. When not busy racing or rafting class IV rapids, she loves to travel. She has lived and visited many beautiful countries and hopes to visit more.

  

Libby Alkire, MA
Administrative Assistant  
Libby has a strong background in special events management and consultation as well as experience working in project and office management for nonprofits. Bringing strong organizational and customer service skills to AAPAR, she provides program and administrative support for the association and supports daily office functions, including database management and communications. Libby worked for the Head Start Body Start National Center for Physical Development and Outdoor Play before joining AAPAR. She has a master's degree in public administration from the University of South Carolina and a BA in communication from California Polytechnic State University.