Rate My Professor Thomas Moran

Thomas E. Moran is a professor of Kinesiology at James Madison University, where he specializes in Adapted Physical Education within the Physical & Health Education Teacher Education (PHETE) concentration. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Virginia and both his M.S.Ed. and B.S.Ed. from the State University of New York College at Cortland. Joining the faculty in 2008, Moran has progressed to full professor and holds key leadership positions, including Executive Director of Empowerment3—the Center for Physical Activity and Wellness for Underserved Youth Overcoming Barriers—and Project Director of Overcoming Barriers, a program launched with a 2010 federal grant through the Institute on Disability and Community Inclusion. These initiatives encompass 14 community-based programs serving over 100 adults and children with disabilities, supported by approximately 300 JMU student volunteers. As Principal Investigator, he secured a $244,091 grant from the Virginia Board of People with Disabilities for the project "Improving Health and Wellness through Empowerment."

Moran's research interests encompass the impact of disability labeling on physical educators, community-based programming for individuals with disabilities, motor skill assessment training, and inclusion pedagogy. He teaches undergraduate courses in Adapted Physical Education, Motor Development/Motor Learning, and Physical Activity Behaviors, as well as graduate courses in Special Populations and Special Topics in Adapted Physical Education. Notably, he developed an online/hybrid course, KIN 429/515 Special Topics in Adapted Physical Activity, to train professionals serving diverse ability levels in community, educational, and fitness settings. In 2014, Moran was selected as one of only two university professors nationwide to participate in the White House Summit and Research Forum on Improved Health and Fitness for Americans with Disabilities, presenting on Overcoming Barriers. His excellence in teaching, research, and public service earned him the 2018 State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) Outstanding Faculty Award, one of 12 recipients statewide. Certified as an Adapted Physical Educator (CAPE), Moran's work promotes physical activity to enhance health, empowerment, and inclusion for people with disabilities.