After nearly three decades of service to West Virginia University and the state, Ware Distinguished Professor recipient Dr. Linda Carson has retired from teaching.

The WVU College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences honored Carson with a tribute dinner on Friday, August 28 at 6 p.m. at the Erickson Alumni Center. Former colleagues, staff and students celebrated her contributions to children’s health and wellness in the state.

Carson joined the WVU College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences in 1979. She developed the first of many learning laboratories for WVU students in 1980 and encouraged her students to assist in active learning play classes offered on campus for families with young children. Hundreds of families and countless students have benefited from these programs, and Carson used to tell her students that the best professors they will ever have are the preschool children they meet.

“It’s hard to measure Dr. Carson’s positive impact on the college, the University and the state. Students, who participated in her learning laboratories, were eager to experience the unique, first-hand opportunities the program provides,” Dean Dana Brooks said. “Her work as a teacher and mentor has helped make students and families into life-long believers of the benefit of combining healthy activities and choices with the skill development of young children.”

During her career, Carson developed award-winning physical activity programs for infants, babies, toddlers, pre-school, and elementary school-age children in both land-based and water-based learning environments. The signature feature of Carson’s play programs is a character named Choosy who promotes healthy decision making by children and grownups. Choosy has been successfully introduced as a messenger for awareness and prevention for a public health issue that threatens the quality of life of children and their families, not only in West Virginia, but in every area of the country. More information about Choosy can be found at www.choosykids.com

Carson was recognized for designing innovative children’s programs with a focus on healthy living and active learning. She was a lead trainer for “I Am Moving, I Am Learning,” an obesity prevention initiative for the national Office of Head Start, which gained recognition from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Carson is serving on the training team for “Little Voices for Healthy Choices,” a national obesity prevention initiative introduced in 2008 for Early Head Start programs. Head Start and Early Head Start are comprehensive child development and school readiness programs serving low income children and their families.

Carson is also on the leadership team of WV Games for Health, a series of statewide projects that have utilized total body video games to enhance health indicators of school-age children by increasing physical activity levels as a direct result of active video game playing called “exergaming.” The WV Games for Health project, the first of its kind, is providing teacher training and active video game equipment for every school in the state of West Virginia.

Carson has received numerous awards throughout her career including WVU’s Outstanding Teacher Award, Ware Distinguished Professor, Patch Award for Outstanding Community Service, Eugene M. Fuller Award for the Most Outstanding Recreation Programs in West Virginia, WV Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance Honor Award for Distinguished Professional Service, National Honor Award for Excellence in Partnering from U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the NAGWS Pathfinder Award for her career contribution to the well-being and skill development of young children.

-WVU-

kc/8/25/09

Contacts:
Kimberly Cameon
College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences
Office: (304) 293-0827