Email 
PrintFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
State University of New York at Cortland's Lynn Couturier Named President of National Educators Organization
RESTON, VA, April 2, 2010 –– Dr. Lynn Couturier, chair of the Physical Education Department at SUNY Cortland, was recently elected president of the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE), at its national convention in Indianapolis, Indiana. The mission of NASPE, a nonprofit professional education association, is to enhance knowledge, improve professional practice, and increase support for high quality physical education, sport and physical activity programs. NASPE, which has been setting the standard for the profession for over 35 years, believes that daily physical activity is critical to improved school and work performance and the health of individuals.
As a national spokesperson for NASPE, Dr. Couturier will address the organization's role in advancing the professions NASPE serves as well as advocating for quality sport, physical activity and physical education programs to tackle obesity in children and health-related problems, and the importance of physical activity for everyone. This month Dr. Couturier will host a press conference at the National Press Club in Washington, DC where Dr. Howell Wechsler of the Division of Adolescent and School Health (DASH) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will release new research findings showing the positive impact of school-based physical education and physical activity on academic achievement. NASPE will announce a new campaign called "Let's Move in Schools."
"Since its inception, NASPE has been setting the professional standards for our field and promoting the importance of quality physical education, sport and physical activity experiences," said Dr. Couturier. "My professional life has been committed to these same ideas so it's truly an honor for me to serve as president of this organization."
Prior to working at SUNY Cortland, Dr. Couturier's positions in higher education involved teaching, coaching, and administration. She has also coached interscholastic and youth sports and taught briefly at the elementary level. After earning her undergraduate degree in physical education from Springfield College in 1981, and graduating summa cum laude, she went on to earn her Master's degree in Biomechanics from the University of Illinois and then returned to Springfield College for her Doctorate in Physical Education. Additionally, she recently completed a Masters in American Studies from Trinity College (CT).
Dr. Couturier's personal commitment and willingness to serve includes being the chair of the AAHPERD Structure and Function Committee and as a member of the NASPE Initial Physical Education Teacher Education Standards Review Committee. She is a lead reviewer for NASPE/NCATE accreditation and has served as a reviewer for Strategies. Dr. Couturier was Chair of the NASPE Coaches Council and a member of the Coaching Education Task Force as well.
She has served in several capacities for the National Council for Accreditation of Coaching Education (NCACE), including chair of Reviewer Training and chair of the Task Force for Guidelines Revisions. Dr. Couturier has also served the AAHPERD Eastern District as Vice President for Recreation and by chairing numerous committees. She has been recognized for her service to the District with the EDA Honor Award. Recently, she has had papers published in The Journal of Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (JOPERD) and The International Journal of the History of Sport and has given presentations at the state, district, and national level.###
Contact:
Paula Kun
pkun@aahperd.org
703-476-3461
The preeminent national authority on physical education and a recognized leader in sport and physical activity, the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) is a non-profit professional membership association that sets the standard for practice in physical education and sport. NASPE’s 15,000 members include: K-12 physical education teachers, coaches, administrators, researchers, and college/university faculty who prepare professionals in these areas. NASPE seeks to enhance knowledge, improve professional practice, and increase support for high-quality physical education, sport and physical activity programs. It is the largest of the five national associations that make up the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation & Dance (AAHPERD). For more information, visit www.naspeinfo.org.
AAHPERD, an alliance of five national associations, six district associations, and a Research Consortium, provides its members with a comprehensive and coordinated array of resources, support, and programs to help practitioners improve their skills to further the health and well-being of the American public. It is the largest organization of professionals involved in physical education, recreation, fitness, dance, health promotion and all specialties related to achieving an active, healthy lifestyle. AAHPERD serves 20,000 members and has its headquarters in Reston, Virginia, 25 miles west of Washington DC. To learn more, visit www.aahperd.org.