Dr. JoAnne Owens-Nauslar

For the past 37 years JoAnne Owens-Nauslar, Ed.D, the popular health and fitness motivational speaker from Lincoln, NE, has been one of the country's most vocal personalities on the issues of physical activity. Using her wit and charm, Dr. Jo is determined to help every American understand and enjoy the benefits of healthy active living. Health and humor are combined in keynote and workshop presentations entitled Secure Your Own Mask First! and/or “If Your Horse is Dead... Dismount.” Her thousands of speaking engagements have included keynote presentations for the National Youth Fitness Summit, Action for Healthy Kids Conferences, and American Association for School Administrators. Dr. Jo is past president of numerous health and physical education professional education associations.

Dr. Irene Cucina - President AAHPERD

Professor, Department of Health and Human Performance
Plymouth State University,Plymouth, NH

Irene M. Cucina was elected to the position of president-elect at the Alliance Assembly meeting at the AAHPERD National Convention and Exposition in San Diego, CA, April 2, 2011. Prior to her current position as a Professor in the Health and Human Performance Department at Plymouth State University, Irene spent 16 years as a health and physical education teacher and coach at Newton North High School in Newton, MA. Cucina's professional preparation includes a Bachelor of Science degree from Northeastern University, a Master of Education from Cambridge College, and a Doctorate of Physical Education from Springfield College.   
 A member of AAHPERD since the early 1980s, Cucina has willingly served the profession in a variety of elected and appointed positions at the state, district and national levels. Since 2009, she has served as the Eastern District representative to the Board of Governors. Cucina's term as president-elect begins now and she will move into the presidency at the Boston convention in March 2012.

Dr. Steve Jefferies - Past President NASPE

Professor in the Department of Physical Education, Health, and Leisure Services at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Washington. Dr. Jeffries is the creator and director of PELINKS4U which is a non-profit program dedicated to promoting active and healthy lifestyles. PELINKS4U is considered the “New York Times” of the physical Education profession. Dr. Jefferies is a former NASPE President.

Dr. Gale Wiedow - AAHPERD President Elect

Dakota State University, Madison, SD

Gale Wiedow is an associate professor of Physical Education and Exercise Science at Dakota State University (DSU) in Madison, SD. Prior to joining the faculty at DSU, Wiedow served as National Program Director for the National Youth Sports Program (NYSP), a federally funded summer day-camp program for economically disadvantaged and underserved youth. He has also served as department chair of HPER at the University of South Dakota where he was a tenured full professor and Associate Dean for Research and Technology. Prior to full-time teaching, he worked in recreational sports at Indiana University and the University of Nebraska. Wiedow received his B.A. and M.A. degrees in Physical Education from the University of Northern Iowa and his Ph.D. from the University of Nebraska in Administration, Curriculum and Instruction.