2020 Award Winners

Boyd Epley Award for Lifetime Achievement: Dr. Terry J. Housh

Dr. Terry J. Housh is the Director of the Exercise Physiology Laboratory and a Professor in the Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Housh earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Physical Education and Health Education K-12 from Doane College in Crete, NE in 1977, and Master of Physical Education degree and PhD in Exercise Physiology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1979 and 1984, respectively, under the mentorship of Dr. Glen O. Johnson and Dr. Bill Thorland. Over his career, Housh has co-authored over 340 peer-reviewed publications, over 340 national and international research presentations, and twelve books in the areas of exercise and sports physiology. He has received Fellow status from the NSCA and the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). Housh’s accomplishments have received recognition with awards including the Educator of the Year, Outstanding Sports Scientist, President’s Award, and Editorial Excellence Award from the NSCA. In 2009, the NSCA named an award the “Terry J. Housh Young Investigator Award” in his honor. Currently, Housh has 22 former doctoral students in higher education positions from assistant professor to dean.

Alvin Roy Award for Career Achievement: Dr. Michael H. Stone

Dr. Mike Stone is internationally recognized as a favorite presenter at events across the nation and considered one of the leading minds in research in the field of sport science. Now at East Tennessee State University (ETSU), Stone has served as the Director of the Exercise and Sports Science Lab since August 2005. Stone helped establish the Center of Excellence for Sport Science and Coach Education in October of 2008. Stone has also helped to implement the first Sport Physiology and Performance PhD program in the nation at ETSU. During his more than 45-year academic career, Stone has been on the faculty at five different foreign and domestic universities and has seen his work published more than 250 times. Additionally, he has served multiple positions with the United States Olympic Committee, and as the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach at Louisiana State University and as a strength and conditioning coach for Basketball at Auburn University. He has coached several international and national level weightlifters—including one Olympian—and throwers in both the United States and Great Britain. He continues to consult with several professional and collegiate teams concerning their strength and conditioning programs. Stone was recognized as the recipient of the ETSU award for Distinguish Research Faculty in 2008. He is a Fellow of the NSCA and United Kingdom Strength and Conditioning Association (UKSCA). He holds the Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist® (CSCS®) certification from the NSCA and Accredited Strength and Conditioning Coach (ASCC) certification from UKSCA. In 1991, the NSCA named Stone the Sports Scientist of the Year. Nine years later, the NSCA also honored him with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

NSCA Impact Award: Dr. Steven J. Fleck

Dr. Steven J. Fleck has been the chair of kinesiology and sport science departments at several universities, and a sports science administrator in the private sector. His research interests include physiological adaptations to resistance training and application of research findings to optimize resistance training program design. His research interests are not limited to physiological adaptations and the training of elite athletes, but also include the training of the general population, from youth to seniors, as well as individuals with various diseases, such as cancer, McArdle disease, and cystic fibrosis. During his career, Fleck has designed conditioning programs for celebrities interested in general health and fitness, as well as high school, collegiate, professional, and Olympic athletes in a wide variety of sports. He has authored numerous peer-reviewed research articles in the broad area of physical conditioning as well as several books, including Designing Resistance Training Programs and Exercise Physiology Integrating Theory and Application. Fleck is the past President of the NSCA and a Fellow of both the NSCA and the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). For his work, he has received numerous awards and honors. Fleck received the Alumni Excellence Award from the College of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation; University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, where he received his undergraduate degree and has been inducted into the College of Education and Human Ecology Hall of Fame; of The Ohio State University, where he received his graduate degrees. Fleck has also been honored by receiving the NSCA’s Sport Scientist of the Year and Lifetime Achievement Award.

Nutritional Research Achievement Award: Dr. Andrew Jagim

Jagim is currently the Director of Sport Medicine Research for the Mayo Clinic Health System in La Crosse, WI. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education and Exercise Science at the University of North Dakota and later completed a Master’s degree in Human Performance at the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse. He went on to complete his PhD in Kinesiology with an emphasis in Exercise Physiology at Texas A&M University, working under Dr. Richard Kreider in the Exercise and Sport Nutrition Lab. His primary research area focuses on the nutritional requirements, knowledge and intake of athletes and relationships between performance and health. He also has a focused interest on the safety and efficacy of dietary supplements. This work has led to several publications in peer-reviewed journals and presentations at multiple national conference events. He is currently investigating the prevalence of low energy availability in collegiate athletes in addition to examining the impact of nutritional supplementation on recovery following surgery. Jagim is also a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist with Distinction through the NSCA and a Certified Sports Nutritionist through the International Society of Sports Nutrition. In addition to his time spent with research, Jagim has worked as a personal trainer and a sports nutrition consultant for a variety of clients and athletes. He currently sees patients looking for consultation regarding sports nutrition and training strategies in the Sports Medicine Department for Mayo Clinic Health System in La Crosse, WI. Jagim is also a co-host for the podcast Clinically Pressed which is focused on the translation of research findings for athletes, coaches, and exercise enthusiasts.

Sports Medicine / Rehabilitation Specialist of the Year: Dr. Ben Reuter

Ben Reuter, PhD, CSCS,*D, ATC is an Associate Professor in the Department of Exercise Science and Sport Studies at California University of Pennsylvania. He earned his undergraduate degree in Health and Physical Education, with an emphasis in Allied Health from Gettysburg College and his Master’s degree in Athletic Training from Old Dominion University. He completed his PhD in Exercise Physiology at Auburn University. Reuter has been a member of the NSCA since 1988, and a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) since 1990.

Educator of the Year: Dr. Chad Kerksick

Dr. Chad Kerksick is an Associate Professor of Exercise Science and Director of the Exercise and Performance Nutrition Laboratory in the School of Health Sciences at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, MO. His research focuses on the impact of exercise and nutritional interventions on health and performance in healthy, competitive and clinical populations in addition to studying intramuscular responses to resistance training. Kerksick has published over 90 articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals, given over 150 research presentations, authored multiple chapters, and edited two books on sports nutrition. Kerksick formerly served as the NSCA State Director for New Mexico. He currently serves on the NSCA Foundation Board of Directors and is a Senior Associate Editor for The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research and an Associate Editor of Strength and Conditioning Journal.

Personal Trainer of the Year: Alexis Batrakoulis

Batrakoulis is an internationally renowned fitness expert involving in the health/fitness and strength conditioning industries in the past 25 years. He currently works as a freelance personal trainer and exercise physiologist, educator, subject matter expert, author, and speaker having presented in over 40 different countries across four continents and is based in Greece. He holds a B.S. in Physical Education and Sports Science, an M.S. in Exercise and Health, and is preparing to earn a Ph.D. in Exercise Physiology from the University of Thessaly. He has authored over 20 international peer-reviewed publications on exercise, including research articles, abstracts, and textbook chapters. His primary research interests focus on the study of high-intensity interval neuromuscular training in obesity. Recently, he was selected to author a chapter in each of the latest editions of the NSCA’s and ACSM’s Personal Training textbooks. He is the Founder of the International Obesity Exercise Training Institute teaching internationally approved continuing education courses on exercise and health for fitness professionals around the world and also is an ACE International Master Trainer. He was named as the 2018 IDEA Personal Trainer of the Year and was the 2019 IDEA Fitness Innovation Award recipient. Additionally, he serves as a member on three ACSM Committees (Exercise is Medicine Credential, Professional Education, and International Health & Fitness Summit Program) and is the Deputy Director of the Professional Standards Committee of EuropeActive in charge of EREPS. He also serves as a member of the NSCA Personal Training Quarterly Editorial Review Panel, NSCA Personal Trainers Special Interest Group Executive Council, and NSCA Membership Committee. Furthermore, he is the CSCS and NSCA-CPT Sponsor for the NSCA Education Recognition Program in the Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences at the University of Thessaly directed by Dr. Ioannis Fatouros.

Terry J. Housh Outstanding Young Investigator: Dr. Gerald T. Mangine

Mangine is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Exercise Science and Sport Management at Kennesaw State University where he primarily teaches courses on strength and conditioning, research methods, and statistical analysis. He is a strong believer in the NSCA’s mission to bridge the gap between science and application. Prior to earning his PhD at the University of Central Florida, he spent over a decade working in the field as a personal trainer and strength coach, and before that, he was a collegiate athlete. Mangine draws upon those experiences to guide his research so that it advances scientific knowledge and has practical relevance to professionals in the field. His scientific contributions have focused on program design, sport supplementation, athlete testing, and prediction of sports performance.

William J. Kraemer Outstanding Sport Scientist: Dr. Michael Ormsbee

Ormsbee is the Associate Director of the Institute of Sports Sciences & Medicine and an Associate Professor in the Department of Nutrition, Food & Exercise Sciences at Florida State University (FSU). He is also an honorary research fellow at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in Durban, South Africa. Ormsbee is a Fellow of both the American College of Sports Medicine and the International Society of Sports Nutrition and is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (with Distinction) through NSCA. His research expertise involves the interaction of exercise training, nutrition, and supplementation to improve metabolism and achieve optimal body composition, human performance, and health in athletic and clinical populations. Ormsbee was honored as the 2014 FSU Undergraduate Teacher of the Year, 2017 Nutrition Researcher of the Year by the NSCA, 2018 FSU Graduate Student Mentor of the Year, and 2020 FSU Distinguished Teacher of the Year. His course, “Changing Body Composition Through Diet and Exercise” is available worldwide through The Great Courses. Follow Dr. Ormsbee on Social Media: @mikeormsbee

State/Provincial Director of the Year: Dr. Vanessa Cazás-Moreno

Cazás-Moreno earned her PhD from Concordia University Chicago with a focus in Leadership and Human Performance, her Master’s degree in Kinesiology with a concentration in Strength and Conditioning from California State University (CSU), Fullerton and Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology with an emphasis in Sport Management and History. She is currently a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Human Performance and Sport Science department at Tennessee State University (TSU), Nashville. Before teaching at TSU, she was a manager of a sport and medical facility, an adjunct faculty member at CSU Fullerton, a strength and conditioning coach in the private sector, and a wellness coach for special populations (i.e., COPD, stroke, cardiac patients). Cazás-Moreno is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist with Distinction through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) and a reviewer for their flagship journal, The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. Also, she is USA Weightlifting, Level 1 certified. Her primary research interests are in human performance, specifically strength and conditioning, and post-activation potentiation. Cazás-Moreno has published multiple peer-reviewed articles and national abstracts, contributing to the human performance field. Currently, she is actively serving her industry as the NSCA Tennessee State Director.

SCJ Editorial Excellence Award: Dr. Paul Salamh

Salamh is an assistant professor at the University of Indianapolis. His research and teaching expertise are in the areas of the shoulder complex and sports medicine. Salamh has been an invited lecturer both nationally and internationally bringing the most current evidence-based ideas and practices to a variety of healthcare professionals around the world. He sits on the editorial board for the Journal of Clinical Trials in Orthopedic Disorders and is a review editor for Injury Prevention and Rehabilitation. Additionally, Salamh has authored over 35 peer-reviewed journal articles.

JSCR Editorial Excellence Award: Dr. Paul Comfort

Dr. Paul Comfort is a Reader in Strength and Conditioning and programme leader for the MSc Strength and Conditioning at the University of Salford. Paul is also an adjunct professor at Edith Cowan University. Paul is a founder member and accredited member with the United Kingdom Strength and Conditioning Association, has been a member of the NSCA for nearly 20 years and is a CSCS*D. He is also a senior associate editor for the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. Paul has co-authored >150 peer reviewed journal articles along with numerous book chapters and is co-editor of the textbooks, ‘Advanced Strength and Conditioning: an evidence-based approach’ and ‘Performance Assessment for strength and Conditioning.’

JSCR Editorial Excellence Award: Dr. Jason Winchester

Dr. Jason Winchester did his Ph.D. in Exercise Physiology with a minor in Biomechanics at Louisiana State University. He is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and has been recertified with distinction (CSCS *D). Dr. Winchester has been highly active within the NSCA for almost two decades. He is currently a Senior Associate Editor for the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research and, within the NSCA, has served on both the Exam Development Committee and the Job Task Analysis Task Force for the Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) Certification. In addition, he has served as a Grant Reviewer for the NSCA Foundation, an Abstract Reviewer for the National Conference, a Session Moderator for the National Conference, an Abstract Judge for the National Conference, as chair of the Student Link Executive Council, as an expert reviewer for the Strength and Conditioning Journal, and has been active in the Research Consortium. Dr. Winchester has been featured, both in the form of interview and in having his research highlighted, in popular media outlets such as Women's Health, Men's Journal, Muscle and Fitness Online, Bicycling Magazine, and the Globe and Mail Newspaper. In addition, he has coached athletes in collegiate and amateur settings, and has worked as a Sport Science Consultant for groups such as USA Track and Field. Dr. Winchester is currently an Associate Professor in the School of Physical Therapy at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, TX.

Outgoing Board Member: Dr. Margaret Jones

Dr. Margaret Jones served three years on the Board of Directors in the Member Position and has also served as Secretary/Treasurer. She is a Professor of Kinesiology and an affiliate of the Center for Sports Performance at George Mason University. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee, Master of Education degree from the University of Houston, and PhD from the University of Georgia, as well as completed a NIH Postdoctoral Fellow at Cornell University. Past experience includes 15 years at Springfield College as the Director of the Strength and Conditioning Master’s degree program and Director of Strength and Conditioning for Intercollegiate Athletics, where she supervised program design and implementation for 500 athletes from 24 sports. An active Member of the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) since 1995, Jones received the NSCA Educator of the Year Award in 2008 and Fellow of the NSCA (FNSCA) in 2012. In 2016, she was the recipient of the NSCA’s Senior Investigator Grant in support of her work with cluster resistive exercise in resistance trained women athletes. Currently, she serves as a Senior Associate Editor for the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research and an Associate Editor-in-Chief for the Strength and Conditioning Journal. Jones’ research uses resistance exercise to address questions related to human performance and athlete health. She has authored many publications in peer-reviewed academic journals and has presented consistently at regional, national, and international conferences. She holds the NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist® with Distinction (CSCS,*D®) and United States of America Weightlifting (USAW) certifications.

Outgoing Board Member: Coach Patrick McHenry

Coach Patrick McHenry served the NSCA Board in the position of Educational/Institutional Strength and Conditioning Professional for the last six year. He is the Director of Strength & Conditioning at Castle View High School. He designs the lifting & speed/agility programs for all the strength training classes as well as works with the school’s 23 varsity sports. Patrick has a Masters Degree is in Physical Education, emphasis Kinesiology from the University of Northern Colorado. He is a CSCS,*D and an RSCC with the National Strength & Conditioning Association. Patrick is also a Certified Club Coach with USA Weightlifting. In 2003, Patrick was the regional Strength Coach of the Year for American Football Monthly, in 2005 was the NSCA High School Strength Coach of the year, and in 2006 received the Editorial Excellent Award from the Strength and Conditioning Journal. Patrick received the 2010 Strength of America Award from the President’s Council on Fitness. He has presented at state, national and international conferences, and has published in books, journals, manuals, and videos.

Outgoing Board Member: Dr. Michael G. Miller

Dr. Michael G. Miller has served the NSCA Board as the Sports Medicine Professional member for the past six years. He has also served in the role of Vice President of the Board. Dr. Miller is a Professor and Director of the Graduate Athletic Training Program at Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI. He has an EdD from West Virginia University and a PhD from Western Michigan University. Dr. Miller authored and co-authored numerous abstracts, manuscripts, texts, text chapters, and has been a CSCS and member of the NSCA since 1992. He is also a Certified Athletic Trainer, Fellow of the National Athletic Trainers' Association, and Fellow of the National Strength and Conditioning Association.

Outgoing Regional Coordinator: Dr. Don Melrose

Don Melrose has served the NSCA as the Midwest Regional Coordinator for the State/Provincial Directors Committee from 2013 - 2020. During this time he served as the committee's Vice-Chair from 2017 - 2018 and as the Chair from 2018 - 2020. Dr. Melrose is an Associate Professor of Kinesiology and is the Director of the Exercise Physiology Laboratory at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. Trained as an exercise physiologist at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, Melrose has been a Division I head strength and conditioning coach, fitness consultant, and competitive lifter and bodybuilder. Melrose has spoken locally, regionally, and nationally and has authored materials on a variety of topics relating to the Internet and steroids.