Dr. Liu is
being recognized as a new FACSM at a formal FACSM reception of the 2014
American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting on May 30, 2014 in Orlando,
FL.
1. What is your educational background and where have
you worked previously?
I graduated from Wuhan Sports University in China in
1979 as an undergraduate student majoring in physical education (PE), and got a
Master degree in PE in 1988 at the same university. I obtained a second Master
degree in motor behavior from University of Northern Iowa in 1997, and the
Ph.D. in sports pedagogy from University of Georgia in 2002. With respect to my
work experience, I taught PE at the Wuhan Sports University in China for 14
years (1979-1993), and then spent one year (1993-1994) as a visiting scholar at
Lund University, Sweden, focusing on motor behavior research. After obtaining
my Ph.D. in the US, I worked at Sage Colleges (in New York) teaching PE again
for two years (2002-2004), and then began to work at Slippery Rock University
(Physical and Health Department) since 2004. This year (2019) is my 15th
year of work at SRU.
2. What attracted you to Slippery Rock University, and
in particular, the education department?
SRU has had a good reputation of “Excellence” for a
long time, and this reputation of excellence derived from the excellence in SRU’s
Physical Education Department. For a long period of time in last century SRU
was the only university in Pennsylvania offering PE program and producing PE
teachers for public schools. At the same time many PE-related units, programs,
or departments have been derived from the PE Department. As a result, SRU now operates
many PE-related departments / programs such as Sports Management Department,
Dance Department, Exercise and Rehabilitative Science Department (including
Athletic Training Program), Physical Therapy School, Public Health Department,
and Adapted Physical Activity Program, etc. Students enrolled in these departments and
programs constitute approximately 20% of the total enrollment in SRU. Given
SRU’s long history and reputation in PE, it was definitely the place for me to
choose and work in.
3. What has been you most rewarding experience as a
teacher/professor?
University professor is a job that allows an individual
for professional development continuously for the lifetime in each of the three
aspects: teaching, scholarship, and service, which is a great rewarding
experience for me. I have taught more than twenty different courses in my
career, each strengthening and expanding my knowledge base and expertise. In
scholarship area, I have authored and coauthored one monograph, two chapters, 55 peer-reviewed full-length articles, more than 60
peer-reviewed research abstracts in high-tier SCI/SSCI research journals, more
than 130 presentations (85+ presentations made at national or international
conferences of professional societies). In addition, I have been inducted into
Fellow of American College of Sports Medicine (FACSM) and Research Fellow of
SHAPE America (RFSA). With respect to service experience, I have been worked as
an Associated Editor for Quarterly
Research for Exercise and Sport
(the flagship research journal in PE, physical activity, and health in the US)
for six years; as an Assistant Editor for another two international research
journals for two years respectively; as a reviewer for a dozen of research
journals, a couple of textbooks, and different national and international
conferences approximately 15 times. Finally, I have been served as the
President of International Chinese Society for Physical Activities and Health.
All these scholarship achievements and service experiences contribute to my teaching
as well. That is, they make me always feel confident and knowledgeable to be
able to provide my students with best and evidence-based theories, models, and
practices in terms of physical activity and health promotion.
4. What advice would you give to students who are
entering or are currently in the teacher preparation program, and to SRU
students in general?
My advice is that, in addition to keep a good QPA in
academic studies, students should get involved in as many professional
activities as possible. The reason is simple: at the time of graduation and job
hunting, everybody will have a bachelor degree, and many will have a decent
QPA. So what will make you stand out among your classmates? You must have many additional professional experiences,
involvements, and achievements in order to be considered outstanding or
excellent. Many such opportunities are available and near you. Take Physical
and Health Department as an example, there are quite several student organizations
(APA Council, Aquatics Club, FIT Club, PHL Epsilon Kappa, PAFM Club, SWE Club,
etc.) organizing professional activities and services, there are travel support
program for students to attend local and national conferences, and there are
faculty members who are interested in getting students in their research
projects, and more. Get involved!
5. What were you like as a college student?
I was always in the top 5% among my classmates in
terms of academic performance, professional development, ambition and motivation,
and self-regulation. I still remember how I was worried when the classroom
power was temporarily gone (because I had to stop my reading or study), and how
I decided not to view a new, popular film just because viewing a film would “waste”
my two hours of study time. I believe all my professional endeavors have been paid
off. Setting an ambitious, long-term goal would lead you to a sustainable
professional development for the lifetime.
