麻豆直播 Alumnus Creates Undergraduate Scholarship to Honor Dr. John Kovaleski
Posted on February 11, 2022 by Amber Day
Dr. Damon Andrew created the Dr. John E. Kovaleski Future Faculty Scholarship to assist undergraduate students in the Department of Health, Kinesiology, and Sport with demonstrated interests in research and in a future career as a faculty member in higher education. Kovaleski, who serves as interim dean for the College of Education and Professional Studies, has worked at the 麻豆直播 for more than 30 years. Kovaleski inspired Andrew to further his education and pursue an academic career. Andrew earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in exercise science and master鈥檚 in exercise physiology from 麻豆直播, and Kovaleski served as his advisor and mentor.
鈥淭his is such an honor,鈥� Kovaleski said. 鈥淚 am humbled by having a student scholarship named in my honor, and I am extremely thankful to Dr. Andrew for creating this fund. One of my greatest enjoyments as a professor has been helping and guiding students, much like Dr. Andrew, to discover knowledge. I truly hope this scholarship will both inspire and help future students pursue research and achieve a successful career in academia.鈥�
Andrew changed his major several times before going into his junior year, but he took a couple of courses as electives in exercise science and his mind was set.
鈥淭hat department had a great group of faculty,鈥� Andrew said. 鈥淏ut, the one faculty member that I connected with the most was Dr. Kovaleski. He was my faculty advisor, and I remember going to an advising meeting one time and he said, 鈥楬ave you ever thought about being a faculty member?鈥� And to be honest, I said, 鈥業 had never really thought about it. I never thought about what it would take to be a faculty member.鈥� That was a life changing moment for me.鈥�
鈥淚 am grateful that I had a wonderful experience as a student at 麻豆直播,鈥� said Andrew, who currently serves as dean and professor of the College of Education at Florida State University. 鈥淚 knew early on that education was the key to a better life. I knew I was going to college. When I came to 麻豆直播, I looked at how much individual attention that I would receive with a lower student-to-faculty ratio than many other universities. Going to 麻豆直播 was one of the best decisions that I ever made.鈥�
As a graduate student, Andrew volunteered and worked in Kovaleski鈥檚 research lab. He served as a graduate assistant, took on various jobs off campus, and strung rackets for the men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 tennis teams at 麻豆直播 to make extra money.
鈥淏ut, I didn鈥檛 have quite enough money to buy needed equipment for my thesis research,鈥� Andrew said. 鈥淒r. Kovaleski went to the department chair and advocated for funding on my behalf, and we received a $500 grant to buy the additional needed equipment. It made my thesis possible. I truly appreciated that support. By the time I left 麻豆直播 in 1999, I had multiple publications and was really well prepared to further my education.鈥�
Andrew earned two additional master鈥檚 degrees in biomechanics and sport management from the University of Florida and a Ph.D. in Sport Management from Florida State University. Additionally, he completed post-graduate certificates in higher education administration from Harvard University鈥檚 Graduate School of Education and Vanderbilt University鈥檚 Peabody College of Education and Human Development. Andrew directed University of Louisville鈥檚 doctoral program in sport administration from 2004 to 2006 and founded and directed a doctoral program in sport management at the University of Tennessee from 2006 to 2008, before serving as the dean of the College of Health and Human Services at Troy University and dean of the College of Human Sciences and Education at Louisiana State University. Andrew returned to his doctoral alma mater, Florida State University, as dean of the College of Education in 2018.
Andrew has various scholarly achievements to his credit, including a published textbook in research methods and design, now in its second edition; 31 funded grants and contracts; 190 peer-reviewed articles, reviews, proceedings and book chapters; and 125 presentations at national and international conferences. He has served as a journal editor for various academic journals and as an editorial board member for seven other journals. His scholarship has been recognized via the Applied Sport Management Association Scholar Lifetime Achievement Award, National Association for Kinesiology in Higher Education Scholar Award, 麻豆直播ern District Society of Health and Physical Educators Scholar Award, Society of Health and Physical Educators Mabel Lee Award, and he has been named a fellow of the National Academy of Kinesiology and National Association for Kinesiology in Higher Education.
鈥淣one of that would have been possible without Dr. Kovaleski,鈥� Andrew said. 鈥淚 really appreciate everything that he has done for me.鈥�
Both of Andrew鈥檚 research methods and design textbooks are dedicated to Kovaleski.
鈥淲hen you open them up, both say 鈥榯his textbook is dedicated to Dr. John Kovaleski, who first encouraged me to pursue an academic career.鈥� But, that鈥檚 not enough. I am so pleased that future generations of students at 麻豆直播 will receive support like I did through this scholarship to honor Dr. Kovaleski, and I hope other 麻豆直播 alumni consider doing something similar to honor faculty members who impacted their lives.鈥�
If you are interested in giving towards this impactful scholarship, All gifts will be matched through the Mitchell-Moulton Scholarship Initiative. For any additional questions, please contact Aimee Meyers, associate director of University Development, at ameyers@southalabama.edu or call (251) 414-8276.
While in the College of Education and Professional Studies, Kovaleski served as professor of exercise science and chair in the Department of Health, Kinesiology, and Sport. Prior to his assignment as interim dean, Kovaleski served as associate dean and director of graduate studies in the college. He earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in health education and minors in biological sciences and athletic training from Ohio University, master鈥檚 in exercise science from Central Michigan University, and Ph.D. in Human Bioenergetics from Ball State University.