Physical Activity, Motivation and People with Disabilities

About the Presenters

Maria Kosma, M.S. is currently a Ph.D candidate as well as a graduate research and teaching assistant in the Department of Exercise and Sport Science at Oregon State University. She has an extensive international experience by completing her baccalaureate degree in her native country of Greece, and her masters' degree in the European degree program (with long-term study in both Belgium and Finland).

Within the realms of research activities, Ms. Kosma is a lead author of a paper scheduled for publication in the May, 2002 issue of Quest, which is a premiere scholarly journal in the field. She has also authored and co-authored papers for publication consideration in other journals. Her main focus is the study of populations with different disabilities within the spectrum of physical activity/exercise, measurement, motivation, and other psychological theories.

Ms. Kosma is an active member of several National and International professional and scientific organizations such as the "International Federation of Adapted Physical Activity (IFAPA)"; the "American Alliance for Health Physical Education Recreation and Dance"; the "Oregon Alliance for Health Physical Education Recreation and Dance"; and the "National Association for Physical Education in Higher Education". Ms. Kosma currently serves as the graduate student representative to the Board of Directors of IFAPA.

Dr. Bradley J. Cardinal currently serves as an Associate Professor and Co-Director of the Sport and Exercise Psychology Lab within the Department of Exercise and Sport Science at Oregon State University.  Prior to his appointment at Oregon State, Dr. Cardinal served on the faculties of Wayne State University and Eastern Washington University.

As a researcher-scholar, Dr. Cardinal has authored/co-authored two books and more than 110 articles or book chapters.  He is a Section Editor (Psychology) for the Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, an Associate Editor for the Journal of Sport Behavior, and a Contributing Editor for Sports Medicine Alert.  While most of his scholarly attention focuses on physical activity behavior change, promotion, and retention issues, he has also published a number of papers related to "professional and ethical issues" encountered by scholars in the field. 

Dr. Cardinal is a Fellow in the American College of Sports Medicine, a Fellow in the Research Consortium of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance, a "Certified Health/Fitness Instructor" by the American College of Sports Medicine, and a "Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist" by the National Strength and Conditioning Association." 

In recognition of his professional achievements, Dr. Cardinal has received the "Dr. Art Broten Scholar Award" from the Western College Physical Education Society in 1990, the "Young Alumni Achievement Award" from the College of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance at Temple University in 1996, the "Mabel Lee Award" from the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance in 1998, and the "Dorothy V. Harris Memorial Award" from the Association for the Advancement of Applied Sport Psychology in 2000.  In July of 2001, Dr. Cardinal served as a U.S. Delegate to the International Olympic Academy in ancient Olympia, Greece. 
 

Support for this Web cast is provided by the National Institute for Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) as part of its initiative to promote greater use of disability research findings by consumers, their families, service providers, and other non-researcher stakeholders.  Specific NIDRR project support comes from RIIL (Research Information for Independent Living), RRTC on Managed Health Care & Disability, and RTC on Health & Wellness. NIDRR is part of the U.S. Department of Education, and no endorsement of the opinions expressed as part of this Web cast by the Department should be inferred.