Category Archives: Scholarship

My colleague Dr. Witmer and I presented a peer-reviewed research paper titled Mentoring to Reduce Racial Disproportionality of African-American American Discipline Citations at the 13th Annual Mentoring Conference hosted virtually by the University of New Mexico in October 2020. The paper discusses initial findings from … Continue reading →

Summer Academy is a component of the grant-funded program called Project Teacher Development that I co-direct with Dr. Miriam Witmer at Millersville University. Originally, our grant was funded for the period from July 2018-December 2018.  However, due to a special … Continue reading →

In March 2019, I co-presented with my Millersville University (MU) colleague Drs. Miriam Witmer along with 3 MU students and 1 School District of Lancaster (SDOL) student at the 21st PA-NAME conference held at Kutztown University.  The title of our … Continue reading →

In 2018 my colleague Dr. Miriam Witmer and I received $11,267 in contract grant funding from the School District of Lancaster, and an additional $1,200 in funding from the MU Center for Public Scholarship and Social Change to conduct our Summer Academy and … Continue reading →

In support of my ongoing research interests in the areas of emotional health and wellness of military veterans, conducted field research in the town of Sainte-Mere-Eglise (France).  This was the first town in the Normandy region to be liberated on … Continue reading →

Witmer_Wimer_2017  Project Teacher Development: Transforming lives of students of color.  Chronicle of Mentoring and Coaching. 10(2): 708-712

In March 2017, Dr. Miriam Witmer, (Advisor to the MU Color of Teaching Mentoring Program), myself, and 5 students; Catherine Dillon (mentor); Angel Pena (mentee); Maddy Franze (mentor); Shyanne Lipsky (Treasurer and Events Chair for Color of Teaching Mentoring Program); … Continue reading →

In early April 2016, I co-presented at the 18th Annual Conference of the Pennsylvania Chapter for the National Association for Multicultural Education conference held at West Chester University with my colleague Dr. Miriam Witmer, instructor of educational foundations and Dr. … Continue reading →

Side-by-Side is the name of a precollege program that I co-conceived and developed with my colleagues Drs. Miriam Witmer (Instructor of Educational Foundations) and Doyin Coker-Kolo (former Associate Dean).  The new program is aimed at enhancing the educational programming for … Continue reading →

During the summer and fall of 2015 I supervised a study with Joseph (Jody) “D,” Dodds, a senior enrolled in the dual degree Biology/Athletic Training program and 4 year member of the Marauder football team.   The purpose of our collaboration … Continue reading →

In early April 2015, I co-presented with Millersville University colleagues Drs. Miriam Witmer and Doyin Coker-Kolo, and Dr. Jay Butterfield from the School District of Lancaster at the 17th Annual Conference of the Pennsylvania Chapter for the National Association for … Continue reading →

In late March 2015, my colleague Jayme Trogus, Director of the Center for Health Education & Promotion and I co-presented findings and lessons learned from infusing alcohol education into the curriculum of first year students to the attendees of the … Continue reading →

In November 2014, my colleagues Drs. Doyin Koker-Colo, Miriam Witmer, and I gave a talk titled “Side-by-Side: An Innovative Approach to Recruit Diverse Teacher Candidates” to the attendees of the 8th annual Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) summit … Continue reading →

In late Fall 2013, my colleagues Dr Doyin-Koker-Colo, Professor Miriam Witmer, and I conducted a breakout session on Strategic Planning to participants at the 7th annual Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) summit on Inclusive Excellence and International Education.  … Continue reading →

Together with my departmental colleagues Drs. Lombardi and Schaeffer, we prepared a peer-reviewed podium presentation given at the College and University Wellness and Instructional Physical Activity Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina in late April 2013.  The conference was part of … Continue reading →

C-Vista is a company located in Central Florida that purchases bi-products of fruits called “oils”to create new chemical solutions.  The solutions and powders they develop are then used in the development of new perfumes and fragrances, and occasionally in the … Continue reading →

In August 2013, I had a wonderful opportunity to travel to the country of Panama where I conducted historical research on infectious diseases at the Panama Canal.  In it’s own right, the Panama Canal is truly an amazing engineering marvel … Continue reading →

In October 2013, my colleagues Dr. Dan O’Neill, Ms. Jayme Trogus, Mr. John Baltzer and I gave a 2-hour training workshop on Strategies for Reducing High-risk Alcohol and Other Drug use on Campus to the Association of Chemical Dependency Professionals.  I … Continue reading →

A few years ago I conducted a peer-reviewed research project that created quite a stir at the national level.  In fact, my research resulted in two published correspondences from an accreditation agency, the same agency whom I was volunteering for … Continue reading →

Being featured on the same radio program as the Governor of Pennsylvania was a pretty cool experience. In my interview appearing on the Radio PA Weekly Roundtable,  (August 10, 2012 show)  I discuss what happens to new stadiums and the … Continue reading →

Few events have the power to generate worldwide interest like the Olympics.  Designed to bring nations together as a symbol of unity, the Olympic spirit is a captivating ideal.  But well beyond the opening ceremonies and lighting of the flame … Continue reading →

In these articles I share my thoughts about the research I’m conducting on Olympic sites and the various connections it has with public health.  One of the articles is titled “Location, Location Location” and was published in the Millersville University … Continue reading →

In June 2012 I had the amazing opportunity to participate in Rio+20, which is the short name for the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development named after the 1992 Earth summit held in Rio de Janeiro twenty years earlier.  Approximately … Continue reading →

Vaisala is a company based in Finland that develops, manufactures and markets products and services for environmental and industrial measurement.  It has nearly 1,400 employees and serves customers in more than 140 countries.  In 2011, the company recorded net sales … Continue reading →

As discussed in the preceding post, scholarship  that is recognized by others through the citation and referencing process is one of the hallmarks of a strong career in academia because it brings recognition to a University and to a Department. … Continue reading →

Faculty scholarship can bring recognition to a University and to a Department for many years into the future.  And having one’s scholarship recognized by others through the citation and referencing process is a hallmark of a strong career in academia. … Continue reading →

The American Association for Health Education is the oldest and largest health education association.  Formed in 1937, this membership organization represents health educators and health promotion specialists from every level of academia as well as practitioners in all corners of … Continue reading →

As part of my field research in Cambodia, I participated in Khmer Cuisine Cooking at the Tigre de Papier Restaurant and toured a Wet Market in Siem Reap.  One of my teaching and research interests is the prevention of childhood … Continue reading →

In addition to my language study in Costa Rica as discussed in the preceding section, I have also audited several Spanish courses at Millersville University with Dr. Rivera-Hernández who is on the faculty in the MU Foreign Languages Department. I … Continue reading →

In 2010, I traveled to San Jose, Costa Rica where I lived with a Spanish-speaking host family and completed Spanish language classes Monday through Friday for four weeks.  As the population in the United States is expected to further shift … Continue reading →

Like thousands of other academics who work in elementary, secondary and higher education settings, I have won a few a grants and lost many more.  I keep writing proposals, revising the rejections, and resubmitting the applications with the hopes that … Continue reading →

In this short article published in the Millersville University campus newsletter called MU Exchange, a student reporter interviews me about about my research and study in Cambodia and Vietnam   Click here to read the article titled: Learn About Ancient Sports.PDF … Continue reading →

My colleagues Dr. Alex DeCaria from the Earth Sciences Department and Mr. Hank Fijalkowski from the intercollegiate athletics department and I collaborated across departments to write and receive a faculty grant to study the effectiveness of hand-held lightning strike detectors.  … Continue reading →

Shown below are a couple of photos from my featured podium presentations at the Congreso Internacional de Actividad Fisica y  Entrenamiento Deportivo (International Conference on Physical Sport Training) held at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso (PUCV) in Chile.   I … Continue reading →

On this peer-reviewed scientific poster presented in 2010, Dr. Hal Strough and I discuss research findings from our survey on assimilation strategies.  We presented our study at the South Eastern Athletic Trainers’ Association Biennial Educator’s conference held in Atlanta, GA.  … Continue reading →

In this peer-reviewed article with my colleague from Dr. Erika Goodwin, she and I discuss Problem-Based Learning (PBL).  PBL is an educational method that identifies a problem as a context for student learning. It emphasizes critical thinking skills, deductive reasoning, … Continue reading →

For nearly 30 years, the Berlin Wall was a tangible symbol of human rights suppression.  Constructed by the Soviet’s Eastern Bloc in the early 1960s during the Cold War, this onetime barrier no longer exists now having been torn down, … Continue reading →

In July 2008 I was invited give a featured presentation on Binge Drinking Reduction Strategies for military staff at the Lakenheath Royal Air Force (RAF) base located in Suffolk, England.  This military base is also host to the United States … Continue reading →

“Immediately after the end of World War II, the Soviet secret police set up a number of special camps in the Soviet Zone of occupation and interned an indeterminate number in them.”  This phrase above is from the CheckPoint Charlie museum … Continue reading →

Stonehenge is a must go place when in England.  This iconic place is located about 90 minutes from central London and listed as an UNESCO World Heritage site.  On the day that I visited it was rather cold (for the … Continue reading →

Visiting a museum dedicated to my favorite Rock-n-Roll band no doubt ranks high on my bucket list. You see, I grew-up listening to the Ramones, a NYC punk rock band who played simple rock beats really (REALLY) fast.  I was … Continue reading →

Over the past several years  have given several podium presentations at the annual Keystone Health Promotion Conference—a statewide conference for school health educators, school nurses, community health educators, worksite health promotion practitioners, and other advocates of health promotion. The theme … Continue reading →

In this peer-reviewed article, my colleague Dr. Hal Strough and I discuss the various opportunities and approaches for encouraging student involvement in professional activities at the national, state, and local levels; and the benefits of implementing such activities into the … Continue reading →

Together with two faculty members from the Psychology Department, I received two (2) separate grants totaling $9000 awarded by the Tobacco Free Coalition of Lancaster county, a subsidiary of the Drug and Alcohol Commission.  Our purpose was to study and … Continue reading →

In this peer-reviewed article with my colleagues Drs. Christine Lauber and Erika Goodwin, we discuss the characteristics of effective Problem-Based Learning (PBL) teams and how genders approach this type of curricular learning strategy.  Click to open the full text article: … Continue reading →

A must-see tourist destination while traveling through Lancaster, PA is Central Market.  Located just off the city square, the market is great way to spend a few hours in the morning enjoying the sights, sounds, and smells of the oldest … Continue reading →

On this peer-reviewed scientific poster presented at the 2005 Athletic Trainers’ Association Educators Conference, my colleagues Drs. Killian, Lauber and I share our findings from a study about issues in athletic training education.  Our sample size consisted of 316 respondents … Continue reading →

Title IX is a federal law enacted in 1972 that prohibits discrimination in schools and universities based on being male or female. The law forbids sex discrimination in areas such as financial aid, housing and athletics. Based on an article … Continue reading →

On this peer-reviewed poster presented at the 2005 National Athletic Trainers’ Educators conference my colleague Dr. Lauber and I discuss the leading theories in motivation and offer insights on how personality potentially shapes behaviors among Certified Athletic Trainers (ATCs) serving … Continue reading →

In this well-received presentation titled: The Dog Ate My Jump Drive: Student Accountability Issues in Distance Learning given at the Instructional Technology Showcase/Luncheon sponsored by the Millersville University Center for Academic Excellence, Office of Professional Training and Education, and the … Continue reading →

In this presentation given on April 18, 2006 with my colleagues Drs. Lombardi and Schaeffer for the 2006 Millersville University Annual Assessment Luncheon titled “Assessment Cycle Continues: Using the Tools to Maintain the Momentum;” we discuss various assessment tools and … Continue reading →

Numerous theories have been developed to explain human motivation.  In this peer-reviewed article, my colleague Dr. Christine Lauber and I created a fictional employee named Mike.   We describe his needs and desires; and the ways his behavior could potentially … Continue reading →

In 2007 my colleague Dr. Christine Lauber and I were featured as plenary session speakers at the prestigious National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) Eduators Conference where we discussed various types of motivation and offered insight on how motivation shapes behavior, … Continue reading →

In 2004, I gave an electronic roundtable presentation at the HEDIR (Health Education Directory) Technology Seminar in New Orleans –a division of the American Association for Health Education (AAHE) that year.  The seminar was a  showcase for health educators to … Continue reading →

In this study conducted with two colleagues from the Millersville University Department of Psychology along with a pulmonologist—which is the name for a physician who’s specialty deals with diseases of the lungs and respiratory tract—we present findings from an initial … Continue reading →

In this peer-reviewed mixed methods (quantitative and qualitative) research article I discuss national accreditation issues and the innovative study designed to determine interrater reliability among accreditation site-visitors. Click open to read the article: Journal of Allied Health.PDF

In this two part peer-reviewed article, my colleague Dr. Christine Lauber and I offer general teaching strategies to enhance communication among men and women in the classroom and clinical education settings.  Click here to read part 1: ATT Gender 1.PDF … Continue reading →

In this paper co-authored with colleagues from the University of Dayton, we discuss race and culture and the ways individual backgrounds shape how we see and experience the world around us.  The paper  was presented at the American Educational Research … Continue reading →

In this peer-reviewed journal article I discuss a student class assignment that I created called the Video Intervention Project and how using technology enhances student learning by applying a theory known as Cognitive Dissonance.  Click here to read the article: American … Continue reading →

In this letter to the editor published in the NATA News I offer some theoretical explanations including Maslow and the movie A Beautiful Mind for why there is a misuse of abbreviations in the athletic training profession.  

In this paper presented at the 23rd Annual Friends Association for Higher Education (FAHE) conference, my colleagues and I discussed how to maintain a writer’s support group. Our paper was titled: Maintaining a Research Agenda at a Small Teaching College: … Continue reading →

In this brief article, I discuss the removal of football helmets and the associated risks and related communication issues in the Emergency Medical Services journal. Several professional opportunities resulted from my writing about this issue.  For instance: 1) I received … Continue reading →

In November 2004, I was awarded a contract from Delmar Learning, a division of Thomson Publishing to co-author a book with Dr. Hal Strough titled: Risk Management and Acute Care for Athletic Trainers. The vision for our book was to … Continue reading →

Considered by many to be a seminal article in sport sciences, the results of our study on the use of Breathe-Right nasal strips in sports which I directed and co-authored with my former student Marc Trocchio and colleagues Anna Parkman … Continue reading →

In this peer-reviewed article with my undergraduate student Marc Trochhio and two colleagues from the University of Charleston, we discuss our quantitative research performed on athletes using the Breathe-Right nasal strips made popular by hall of fame NFL player Jerry … Continue reading →

In this peer-reviewed research article co-authored with my doctoral dissertation advisor and other colleagues, we discuss our study of  gender differences among boys and girls in elementary math classrooms and our advice for classroom teachers.  Journal of Educational Research.PDF

The purpose of this research with faculty from the Millersville University Department of Educational Foundations along with the School of Education Dean was to investigate the administrative functions of an emerging school-university partnership for urban school teachers.  Findings from our … Continue reading →

Published in the Ohio Journal of Teacher Education, this study investigated the often controversial issue of School Choice, which is the practice of giving families the opportunity to choose the school where their children will attend.  My study was published … Continue reading →

In this article published in Advance for Physical Therapists, the nation’s physical therapy weekly, I describe a research study completed by one of my former students Christopher Wise about potential preferences for student admission into Physical Therapy programs.

In this article with my former undergraduate student Dr. Aaron A. Settle, ATC, CSCS  now a member of the faculty and past-president of the senate at West Virginia State University, we discuss Service-Learning for the Athletic Training Curriculum. Service-learning is … Continue reading →

In this peer-reviewed article titled: A Model for Assessing Student Learning in Wellness at a State-Supported Regional University, my colleagues and I describe Millersville University’s approach to assessing Wellness–a course that blends traditional health and physical education courses into a … Continue reading →

Our paper titled  When Ideology Sabotages the Truth: The Politics of Privately-funded Educational Vouchers in one Urban School District  was presented at the American Educational Studies Association Annual Conference in Mexico City.  Since the presentation, the paper has been cited … Continue reading →

In 2001 I co-authored a peer-reviewed poster presentation for the National Athletic Training Educators’ Conference.  The theme for the conference was “The ATC in Higher Education” which reflected the evolution of athletic training education as a specialty with higher education. … Continue reading →

In this article I discuss the popularity of ice skating during the Winter Olympics and the medical care that should be provided to young skaters by paramedics and EMTs.  Click to read the article:  EMS journal.PDF

On this peer-reviewed poster presented at the National Athletic Trainers’ Educators Conference in January 2003, my colleague Dr. Lauber and I discuss lessons learned from our study of best-practice clinical instruction in nursing and how those educational principles and learning … Continue reading →

On this peer-reviewed scientific poster, my colleague Dr. Lauber and I discuss findings at the Athletic Trainers’ Association Educators conference in January 2003.   Our sample size include 186 men and 131 women working in accredited athletic training education programs.  Findings … Continue reading →

Shown below are several photographs and x-rays that were originally taken as 35mm slides for my podium presentation given at the 1994 West Virgina Athletic Trainers’ Association (WVATA) meeting on Emergency Planning in Athletics. The people shown in the photographs … Continue reading →