American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance - AAHPERD

Irene Cucina,
Plymouth State University, Plymouth, NH
President

Irene Cucina is a professor in the Health and Human Performance Department, the assistant chair of the Department and the Graduate Health and Physical Education Program Coordinator at Plymouth State University. Cucina's teaching expertise is in teacher certification and she works with both the health and physical education teacher candidates. Her primary area of research is curriculum and assessment. Cucina has served on 11 athletic training thesis committees and is the advisor of the Phi Epsilon Kappa Honor Society as well as the chair of the University Council of Teacher Education. She received her undergraduate degree at Northeastern University majoring in Athletic Training, Physical Education and Health Teacher Certification, her M.Ed. from Cambridge College, in curriculum and supervision and her doctorate at Springfield College.

E. Paul Roetert
Chief Executive Officer

Paul Roetert is the Chief Executive Officer of AAHPERD. He holds a PhD in Biomechanics from the University of Connecticut and completed his Bachelors and Masters of Science in physical education at California State University, Fullerton. He has authored four books and numerous chapters and articles related to the fields of health, fitness, sport science and medicine, and strength and conditioning; and has given hundreds of scientific and invited presentations in the U. S. and worldwide. Prior to joining AAHPERD, he served as the Managing Director of Player Development for the United States Tennis Association.

David A. Birch, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
AAHE

David A. Birch is a professor of health education at the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa. Previously, he was a faculty member at Indiana University and Penn State University. Birch is past president of the American Association for Health Education (AAHE) and has held leadership positions in several professional organizations. He is currently a member of the editorial boards of the American Journal of Health Behavior and the American Journal of Health Studies. Birch is a Charter Fellow of AAHE and a Fellow of the American School Health Association. He has authored numerous professional articles along with other publications. Birch served at the state level for the Maine Department of Education and has ten years of public school teaching experience in Prince George's County, Maryland.

Frances E. Cleland

NASPE

Frances E. Cleland is a professor within the Department of Kinesiology at West Chester University where she serves as the assistant chair of the HPE Teacher Certification Division and teaches K-12 HPE teacher education courses. Cleland is the NASPE representative on the AAHPERD Board of Governors. She has been very active in her state, district and national HPERD organizations since 1984. She is a published author as well as a national and international presenter. Currently Cleland is working on the 5th edition of Developmental Physical Education for All Children. Cleland earned her Masters and P.E.D. at Indiana University, Bloomington.

Neil J. Dougherty, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ
AAPAR

Neil Dougherty is a professor in the Department of Exercise Science and Sport Studies at Rutgers University.  He holds an Ed.D.  from Temple University and has over 30 years of experience as a teacher, administrator and consultant on issues related to law and sport management in sport and physical activity.  Dougherty is a prolific author and speaker who has delivered over 50 AAHPERD national presentations.  He has been actively involved with AAPAR and its predecessor associations throughout his career, and served as president of AAALF from 2001-2003.

Lori Dunn, Seattle Public Schools
Northwest District

Lori S. Dunn is the K-12 Physical Education Program Manager for the Seattle Public Schools. Dunn received her bachelor's from Eastern Washington University and two master's degrees in Education (administration and counseling) from Azusa Pacific University. Previous to joining the Seattle Public Schools Dunn taught physical education for 23 years. In 2006 she was selected as the NASPE National High School Physical Education Teacher of the Year. Dunn is a past president of Washington and the Northwest District AAHPERD, and has served on many other committees for AAHPERD. Her professional interests are in teaching, curriculum development and advocating for quality programs.

Chic Hess 

Southwest District

Chic Hess is a forty-year, veteran teacher of health and physical education who has traded his athletic coaching career for the opportunity to serve as Hawaii AHPERD's president and Southwest District's AAHPERD president. He has also served as the chairperson for NASPE's Sport History, Philosophy, and Sociology Academy and on the AAHPERD Nominating Committee. He received his doctorate in education from Brigham Young University. Hess is an unpublished screenwriter who has written some of his best work while on his beach in Kailua, Hawaii.

Lynn V. Johnson, Plymouth State University, NH
Eastern District

Lynn Johnson is a professor in the Health and Human Performance Department at Plymouth State University in Plymouth, NH. She teaches courses in the Physical Education/Health Education Teacher Certification program.  Prior to teaching at Plymouth State University, she taught at the University of Vermont, taught and coached (softball) at Springfield College and spent several years teaching K-12 physical education in Vermont. Johnson received her undergraduate and M.Ed. degree from Springfield College and her Ed.D. in Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Vermont. Lynn is a past president of Eastern District Association and Vermont AHPERD. Over the last 25 years, Johnson has presented at state, district, national and international conventions and workshops, primarily in the area of standards-based teaching and authentic assessment in physical education.

Shawn Ladda, Manhattan College, Bronx, NY
NAGWS

Shawn Ladda is Professor and Chair, in the Department of Physical Education & Human Performance at Manhattan College located in the Bronx, New York. She also serves her institution as the Faculty Athletics Representative.  Shawn is a Past President of the National Association for Girls and Women in Sport (NAGWS). She earned her B.S. from Penn State, M.S. from Springfield College, and a M.Ed. and Ed.D. at Columbia University-Teacher's College. Shawn's research and professional interest include history of sport, the female athlete, quality physical education, coaching, and technology. 

Celia Regimbal, University of Toledo, OH
Midwest District

Brad Strand, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND
Past President

Brad Strand is a professor with the Department of Health, Nutrition and Exercise Sciences at the North Dakota State University in Fargo. Brad is a curriculum and instruction specialist who has written extensively and spoken widely on pedagogy, fitness education, youth sports, sport ethics, and administrative issues. He has co-authored five books, published 57 refereed articles, and has given over 180 presentations. Strand taught Social Studies and Physical Education and coached in a Minnesota public school. After he received his Ph.D. from The University of New Mexico he taught at William Paterson College, NJ, Utah State University, and North Dakota State University.

Gale Wiedow, Dakota State University, Madison, SD
President-Elect

Gale Wiedow is an associate professor of Physical Education and Exercise Science at Dakota State University (DSU) in Madison, SD. Prior to joining the faculty at DSU, Wiedow served as National Program Director for the National Youth Sports Program (NYSP), a federally funded summer day-camp program for economically disadvantaged and underserved youth. He has also served as department chair of HPER at the University of South Dakota where he was a tenured full professor and Associate Dean for Research and Technology. Prior to full-time teaching, he worked in recreational sports at Indiana University and the University of Nebraska. Wiedow received his B.A. and M.A. degrees in Physical Education from the University of Northern Iowa and his Ph.D. from the University of Nebraska in Administration, Curriculum and Instruction.

Milton R. Wilder

Southern  District

Milton R. Wilder is a professor emeritus of Health, Physical Education and Recreation from Delta State University, Cleveland, MS. He served as chair of the Division of HPER for 18 years and coordinator of graduate programs in HPER for 11 years. Prior to joining the faculty at Delta State, Wilder taught at the University of New Orleans and the University of Alabama in Birmingham. He has served Southern District as a vice president, Links editor, and president and as a member of the strategic planning committee. He also served on the AAHPERD Bylaws Committee. Wilder's B.S. degree is from Samford University in Birmingham, AL, the M.S. and the Ed.D. from the University of Alabama in Birmingham. After retiring in 2011, Wilder returned to his native state of Alabama. 

Emily H. Wughalter, San José State University, San José
Research Consortium

Emily Wughalter is a professor in the Department of Kinesiology at San José State University where she teaches undergraduate and graduate courses on Motor Learning, Research Methods, Measurement and Evaluation, and Women in Sport.  Since receiving her doctoral degree in 1981, she has been involved in state, district, and national HPERD organizations.  She has served as president of the AAHPERD Research Consortium and the Western Society for Physical Education of College Women; she has published in several publications and presented at numerous national, regional, and local meetings.  In 2009 Wughalter received the Outstanding Professor Award from the President of San José State University.

John Zody, Fort Hays State University, Hays, KS.
Central District

John Zody is a professor with the Department of Health and Human Performances at Fort Hays State University where he teaches undergraduate and graduate classes for both teaching and non-teaching majors. He received his B.S. and M.S. degrees from Fort Hays State University, and an Ed.D. from the University of Arkansas. Zody's professional interests are in the exercise sciences, research, and adventure education. He is a past president of Kansas and the Central District AAHPERD, and has been treasurer for both while serving on many committees for AAHPERD. He also has an impressive record of presentations and publications at the state, national, and international levels.