Xiaoxia Zhang, Ph.D., Grant Coordinator (Post-Doc Fellow), East Carolina University

Dr. Zhang is a post-doc fellow of Adapted Physical Activity at East Carolina University and the grant coordinator for the MAMC consortium. Before came to United States, she worked as a coordinator for Special Olympic East Asia Reginal Camp Shriver and was recognized as the Annual Excellent Volunteer for Special Olympic. As a teaching assistant during her PhD, Dr. Zhang has taught and co-instructed undergraduate courses including motor behavior, secondary physical education, and introduction of exercise sciences.

Dr. Zhang’s research focuses on physical activity and motor behavior towards health promotion across lifespan. She is particularly interested in 1) using behavioral approaches (e.g., movement behaviors and motor competence) to improve physical, psychosocial, and brain health (e.g., depression, cognition) as well as reduce health disparities; and 2) examining the influences of social and built environmental factors on behaviors and well-beings among children and adults with and without disabilities. She has authored 20 peer-reviewed papers (5 first author) in scholarly journals and presented over 40 conference papers in various professional organizations (i.e., SHAPE America, NASPSPA, AERA, and ACSM). She is the recipient of 2018-2019 SHAPE American Graduate Student Research Grant.

 Education:

Ph.D., Movement and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Texas at Arlington (2020)

M.Ed., Adapted Physical Activity, Shanghai University of Sport (2015)

B.Ed., Physical Education and Training, Shanghai University of Sport (2012)

Full Bio: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Xiaoxia_Zhang16