Thom McKenzie, PhD

Dr. Thom McKenzie is Emeritus Professor of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences at San Diego State University and former Adjunct Professor, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego. He is a former school physical education and health teacher, coach, and administrator. He has authored or co-authored over 150 scientific papers and chapters, developed numerous assessment and curricular materials, and presented over 300 papers at state, national, and international conferences.

Dr. McKenzie is a Fellow of four professional organizations: the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), the American Academy of Kinesiology and Physical Education (AAKPE), the Research Consortium of the American Alliance of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (AAHPERD), and the North American Society of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, Sport and Dance Professionals.

Dr. McKenzie has been a major investigator on nine multidisciplinary research projects supported by the National Institutes of Health. These include SPARK (Sports, Play, and Active Recreation for Kids), CATCH (Child and Adolescent Trial for Cardiovascular Health), MSPAN (Middle School Physical Activity and Nutrition), and TAAG (Trial of Activity for Adolescent Girls). He has been Co-Principal Investigator on two obesity prevention programs (AVENTURAS which targets Latino homes, communities, and schools; and MOVE, which targets 30 community recreation centers in San Diego) and is an investigator with RAND on four studies of physical activity in parks and recreation centers in six US cities.

Dr. McKenzie�s expertise in designing and assessing physical activity programs for diverse populations is widely recognized. He is a member of the Science Board, President�s (US) Council for Physical Fitness and Sports (2006-2009). In 2003 he received the prestigious International Olympic Committee President�s Prize for sport and physical education program development, research, and scholarship from AIESEP (International Association for Physical Education in Higher Education). He was the AAHPERD Alliance Scholar in 2004, the R. Tait McKenzie Award winner in 2005, and the NASPE Curriculum and Instruction Academy Honor Awardee in 2006, and the Dudley A. Sargent Lecturer Awardee, NAKPEHE, in 2007. In 2009 he will receive the McCloy Lecture award from the Research Consortium, AAHPERD, and the Public Service Award from the International Society of Behavior Analysis (SABA).