Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport Welcomes New Editor-in-Chief

Effective September 1, 2009, Mark G. Fischman, Wayne T. Smith Distinguished Professor in the Department of Kinesiology at Auburn University, will begin a 3-year term as editor-in-chief of Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport (RQES), now in its 80th year of publishing history. An active researcher in the motor control arena, Fischman brings to the role of editor a dynamic career in scholarship as well as a strong working relationship with RQES, having served as section editor of the journal's Motor Control and Learning section for 6 years (1999–2005).

Fischman, who directs the Motor Behavior Center at Auburn, received his undergraduate degree in physical education from the City College of New York in 1971, a master’s degree in physical education from Madison College (now James Madison University) in 1976, and a Ph.D. in motor learning from The Pennsylvania State University in 1983. His current research interests include anticipatory planning of grip selection in humans, divided attention, and sensitivity of the fingers to short-term vibration. He is a past president of the North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity, a fellow of the Research Consortium, a fellow of the American Academy of Kinesiology and Physical Education (AAKPE), and is currently the secretary-treasurer of AAKPE.

In addition to his extensive contributions to RQES as section editor, reviewer, and author, Fischman has served as a reviewer for numerous other research journals such as Acta Psychologica, Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews, Experimental Brain Research, Human Performance, Journal of Motor Behavior, Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, Motor Control, Psychological Bulletin, and Quest.

Commenting on this new endeavor, Fischman stated, “I look forward to the challenge of following a long line of productive scholars who have helped make RQES a premier research outlet across the broad disciplines within exercise and sport. My main goal as editor-in-chief will be to ensure that the highest quality research is published as quickly as possible. I invite the editorial board, section editors, reviewers, and authors to join me in this endeavor.”

Passing the mantle to Fischman is outgoing RQES editor, Kathleen Williams, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, who served an additional year as editor to complete the journal’s transition to a fully electronic manuscript submission and review system. She now begins a 4-year term on the RQES editorial board, consistent with RQES editorial board protocol.