Rate My Professor Melissa Bittner

Melissa Bittner, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the Department of Kinesiology at California State University, Long Beach, specializing in Physical Education Teacher Education (PETE) and Adapted Physical Education (APE). She joined CSULB in 2017 as an Assistant Professor and received tenure and promotion to Associate Professor. Bittner earned her Ph.D. in Kinesiology, with a concentration in Adapted Physical Education and a minor in Early Childhood Education and Development, from Texas Woman’s University in 2017; her dissertation investigated the effectiveness of video modeling on motor performance for children with autism spectrum disorder. She received her M.S. in Kinesiology from Western Illinois University in 2006, with a thesis on pre-performance routines, and her B.A. in Physical Education K-12, with a minor in Health Education 6-12, from Monmouth College in 2003. Prior to her doctoral studies, she served as an Instructor in the Kinesiology Department at Monmouth College from 2004 to 2014, where she also coached women's basketball, amassing the most wins in school history and earning Midwest Conference Coach of the Year honors in 2012. Earlier roles include Graduate Assistant at Texas Woman’s University from 2014 to 2017 and work with the West Central Illinois Special Education Cooperative from 2003 to 2004.

Bittner’s academic interests and research specializations encompass adapted physical education for children and youth with disabilities, preservice physical educator training, inclusive practices, and interventions to enhance motor skills and participation. She has co-authored peer-reviewed publications including “12 Myths and Facts about Physical Education for Students with Disabilities” (2020, Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance), “Efficacy of Structured Play Groups for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder” (Adams, McNamara, & Bittner, 2022, Journal of the American Academy of Special Education Professionals), and a chapter in Developmental and Adapted Physical Activity Assessment, Second Edition (2018). As co-director of the APE program alongside Amanda Young, she has secured major funding such as a $1.25 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) for Project CAPE, which supports 32 master’s students over five years with full tuition, stipends, and service-learning in programs like Camp Nugget and ASAPP; and a four-year Collaboration and Research Education (CARE) grant addressing shortages of personnel for students with high-intensity needs. Additional grants total over $150,000 from CSULB, foundations, and donors. Her honors include Outstanding Kinesiology Doctoral Student (Texas Woman’s University, 2017), People’s Choice Winner in the 3-Minute Thesis Competition (2016), Outstanding Graduate Research Poster (National Consortium for Physical Education for Individuals with Disabilities, 2016), and undergraduate athletic accolades such as NCAA Woman of the Year Top Ten Finalist (2003) and multiple All-American track and field honors.