An expert in sports and active recreation for children will visit the West Virginia University campus on Monday, Nov. 7 to present “It Takes a Village to Raise a Physically Active Child.”

Dr. Thom McKenzie will cover school-based interventions and community-based obesity prevention programs during the presentation, scheduled from 1-2 p.m. in Room 172 at the Coliseum and hosted by the College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences Distinguished Lecture Series.

McKenzie studies physical activity programs which target Latino homes, communities, and schools; and community recreation centers in San Diego. He research includes existing efforts to examine physical activity in community parks in 12 U.S. cities.

McKenzie is emeritus professor of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences at San Diego State University and former adjunct professor in the department of pediatrics at the University of California, San Diego. A native of Canada, he is a past school physical education and health teacher, coach and administrator.

“Dr. McKenzie has been an investigator on many large-scale multidisciplinary research projects supported by the NIH,” said Dr. Valerie Wayda, chair, and professor, Department of Coaching and Teaching Studies at CPASS. “His expertise in designing and assessing physical activity programs for diverse populations is widely recognized. His knowledge in physical activity programs for varied populations will help provide further grasp of the College’s fitness and wellness initiatives in West Virginia.”

McKenzie has served as director of residential camping programs for the overweight, and a performance enhancement consultant with USA Volleyball National Teams for 16 years. He has authored or co-authored more than 170 scientific papers and chapters and developed numerous assessment and curricular materials

Among the numerous professional awards he has received, McKenzie has been recognized for sport and physical education program development, research, scholarship, and international public service He was inducted into the Hall of Fame, College of Education and Human Ecology at the Ohio State University.

He is currently co-principal investigator on two obesity prevention programs in San Diego and four studies of physical activity in parks and recreation centers with the RAND Corporation.

-WVU-

11/01/11

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CONTACT: Kimberly Cameon, CPASS
304-293-0827, Kimberly.Cameon@mail.wvu.edu