Michelle Gray, an exercise science professor in the U of A College of Education and Health Professions, was recently named a fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), the most prestigious distinction within the college.

Gray, head of the Department of Health, Human Performance and Recreation, will be honored at the ACSM annual meeting in Boston at the end of May.

“For many years, Michelle has been a steadfast supporter and contributor to ACSM. That, coupled with her high research productivity and mentorship of students in the lab and classroom, makes her an ideal fellow,” said Matthew Ganio, associate dean for academic and student affairs in the College of Education and Health Professions. Ganio was one of several who nominated Gray for the honor.

ACSM fellows demonstrate continued service and high standards of professional development and have made significant contributions to their discipline. Gray has been a continuous member since 2002, beginning as a student member and then transitioning to a professional member in 2007. She attends professional meetings at the national and regional chapter levels.

“While I have held nearly every position in the Central States Chapter of ACSM —student representative, Arkansas representative, president-elect, president, past-president and regional chapter representative — this national recognition affords me the opportunity to provide leadership at the national level,” Gray said.

Nic Greene, director of the Exercise Science Research Center at the U of A, works closely with Gray. He said the honor is a tribute to Gray’s hard work as a researcher and teacher in the exercise science field and to her service to the ACSM. “I am very proud of Dr. Gray, not only for this achievement but also for her work as a colleague. This honor has long been deserved,” he said.

Gray is not only an ambitious researcher and teacher. She also serves as a one-on-one mentor for students and is a reviewer for 11 journals,  serving as an associate editor for the Journal of Medical Internet Research. She’s also involved in one of the longest-running faculty-led study abroad trips, Health Teams Abroad.

Gray joined the faculty of the College of Education and Health Professions in 2010. She was named head of the Department of Health, Human Performance and Recreation in 2021. The department offers degree programs in exercise science — also known as kinesiology — public health, recreation and sport management, athletic training, and teaching K-12 physical education and health.

The ACSM advances and integrates scientific research to provide educational and practical applications of exercise science and sports medicine.