Physical Activity and Health: An Interactive Approach

Kelli McCormack Brown is an associate professor in the Department of Community and Family Health at the University of South Florida College of Public Health. She holds a doctorate degree in health education from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, is a certified health education specialist, is the 1993 American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (AAHPERD) Mable Lee Award recipient for excellence in teaching, research and service, and is a Fellow of the Research Consortium of AAHPERD. Before coming to the University of South Florida, she taught for seven years at Western Illinois University (1987 - 1994) and was the chairperson of the Department of Health Sciences at Illinois State University (1994 - 1996). She is a Co-Principal Investigator of the Florida Prevention Research Center funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Back in the classroom today, she uses her educational and practical experiences to facilitate critical thinking and problem-solving skills and encourages the use of technology in obtaining reliable health information to make informed personal health decision-making. David Q. Thomas is a Professor and Interim-Director of the School of Kinesiology and Recreation at Illinois State University. He holds doctorate and master's degrees in physical education (emphasis in exercise science) from Arizona State University. His area of expertise is in applied aspects of physical activity and fitness. Dr. Thomas is a Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine and a Fellow of the Research Consortium of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance. He has served as the chairperson of the Physical Fitness Council of the Association for Active Lifestyles and Fitness, and as President of both the Massachusetts and Illinois AHPERDs. He is devoted to physical activity and enjoys jogging, weight lifting, and recreational sports. Jerome E. Kotecki is a Professor of Health Science in the Department of Nutrition and Health Science located within the College of Health at Ball State University. Dr. Kotecki earned his doctorate in health education and his master's degree in exercise science from Indiana University. Dr. Kotecki has published more than forty scientific research papers on the prevention, arrest, and reversal of the most common chronic diseases facing Americans today. He has authored or coauthored multiple textbooks on the importance of healthy lifestyle habits to enhance the multidimensional components of human health and prevent cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and other chronic conditions. An experienced teacher and researcher, he is devoted to helping students adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles. Dr. Kotecki has been recognized for his contributions to the scholarship of teaching and learning by his department, college, and university.'