Kinesiology professor honored by Alabama State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance

Sheri Thornburg-Brock, a professor in the School of Kinesiology in Auburn University’s College of Education, was named the College/University Professional of the Year by the Alabama State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (ASAHPERD) during the association’s fall conference.

“I am sincerely grateful and honored to be recognized by the Alabama State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance as the College/University Professional of the Year,” Thornburg-Brock said. “It is a privilege to serve as an educator in Alabama, and the joy my students have brought me has far exceeded any lessons I have imparted. I extend my heartfelt appreciation to ASAHPERD, my family, friends, educators in Lee County, and the remarkable students, alumni, and colleagues in the School of Kinesiology at Auburn University.”

The award is given annually to recognize an outstanding individual employed at the college or university level who has accumulated a record of outstanding performance through teaching, leadership, and service.

Additionally at the conference, three of Thornburg-Brock’s graduate students — Brady Meadows, Sydney Knight and Nathan Baxter — gave a presentation titled "Blueprint for Passing edTPA from Successful Teacher Candidates.”

Thornburg-Brock has been teaching physical education-teacher education at Auburn since 2002, where she has received numerous teaching awards and has more than 100 publications and national and international presentations. In 2023, Brock was awarded the Gerald and Emily Leischuck Endowed Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching — one of the highest honors bestowed on Auburn University faculty. 

Her research interests include social interactions during physical education group work to promote participation, positive experiences, and equitable practices through effective instruction and effective instruction and program delivery in College and University Instructional Physical Activity Program (CUIPAP).

Eligibility requirements for the award include:

• Serves in a discipline representative of the ASAHPERD at the college/university level in Alabama.
• Have at least 5 years full-time (in field) teaching experience at the college/university level in Alabama.
• Be an active professional member of ASAHPERD.

Criteria requirements include three of the following:

• Position of leadership in developing and implementing or directing/coordinating effective programs.
• Meritorious service through involvement at local, state, district, or national level or at the school or community level.
• Professional service within a discipline representative of ASAHPERD at the state, district or national level as an officer or committee member.
• Evidence of leadership and service to the profession through three of the following: teaching, publications, presentations, funded research or programs, or special projects.

 This mission of ASAHPERD is to promote and support healthy lifestyles of Alabama citizens through high-quality programs in health, physical education, recreation, dance, sport and exercise science by providing opportunities for professional growth and development; communicating the importance and value of the profession; encouraging and facilitating research findings to the profession and to the public; developing and evaluating standards and guidelines within the profession; and advocating for quality instruction by working with policymakers across the state. For more information on ASAHPERD, go to https://www.asahperd.org/.