Academics

Kinesiology professor selected as Institute Resident Scholar for fall 2015

Schultz recognized for work on women's sport, physical culture

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Jaime Schultz, assistant professor of kinesiology, has been selected as an Institute Resident Scholar for fall 2015 for her project, “Women’s Movement: Sport, Physical Culture and 1970s Feminisms.”

Schultz’s residency will be jointly sponsored by the Institute for the Arts and Humanities (IAH) at Penn State, and by the College of Health and Human Development (HHD).

In 2015-16, Schultz and nine colleagues from several disciplines will be granted released time from teaching, a $1,000 grant for research or materials and the use of an office in Ihlseng Cottage during the residency semester.

“The IAH residency means a great deal to me, and I was thrilled to receive it,” Schultz said. “There were a number of people involved who really went to bat for me, for which I am so grateful. First, it means a tremendous amount that the IAH, and especially Dr. (Michael) Bérubé (Edwin Erle Sparks Professor of Literature and director of the IAH), would be willing to award the residency to someone outside the traditional departments included in the arts and humanities. Second, I was so heartened by the support I received from Dr. (Nancy) Williams, who is the chair of kinesiology and the way she has championed the multi-disciplinarity of our department. And finally, Dr. (Ann C.) Crouter (Raymond E. and Erin Stuart Schultz Dean of HHD) backed the whole process, and I'm delighted to be a part of a college that values so many different types of scholarship.”

Schultz said her particular scholarship concerns historical and cultural studies approaches to sport.

“I primarily focus on issues of sex, gender, sexuality and race,” she said. “The IAH residency allows me time to work on my fourth book, which locates women's sport and physical culture in the large context of 1970s feminisms.”

Crouter said to her knowledge, Schultz is one of the first faculty members in HHD to serve as a scholar in residence for the IAH.

“This exciting opportunity will not only give her a chance to focus on an important book project but is also a way to interact with a variety of colleagues from different academic units across the University,” Crouter said. “It is going to be a great experience.”

Bérubé said Schultz’ project is an important contribution to social history. And while IAH scholars usually come from the two colleges in which the IAH is housed (the College of Liberal Arts and the College of Arts and Architecture), Schultz was chosen because her work on feminism and sport falls within the purview of humanities, he said.

“I think it's indicative of the increasingly interdisciplinary nature of our work that we would get such a strong application from HHD,” Bérubé said. “A couple of years ago, the IAH co-hosted a conference on the life and death of American national pastimes, and we worked with faculty in kinesiology and law. Jaime contributed a paper to that conference. So we are very glad to be able to welcome Jaime as our first Resident Scholar from HHD.”

Williams added, "Dr. Schultz is an outstanding kinesiology faculty member who has developed an exciting program of research in the area of historical and sociocultural issues related to sport and physical activity.”

Williams said Shultz’s work examining intersections between the 1970s revolution in women's sports and the feminist movement improves understanding of complex modern day issues through historical events.

“With respect to teaching, as Dr. Schultz' scholarship comes alive in the classroom, she improves the cultural competence of our students as they gain a deeper understanding of race, gender, sexuality and other complex constructs illustrated through sports and physical activity related issues," she said.

For more information on the Institute for the Arts and Humanities, visit iah.psu.edu.

For more information about the College of Health and Human Development, visit hhd.psu.edu.

Jaime Schultz, assistant professor of kinesiology, has been selected as an Institute Resident Scholar for Fall 2015 for her project, “Women’s Movement: Sport, Physical Culture, and 1970s Feminisms.” Schultz is the first resident scholar from the College of Health and Human Development. Credit: Penn StateCreative Commons

Last Updated January 9, 2015