Dr. Lee Burton

Title: Associate professor of physical education, wellness and sport science & program director for athletic training

Burton has presented on numerous sports medicine topics nationally and internationally at sports medicine and personal training symposiums. He has authored book chapters and articles in a variety of sports medicine journals, and has produced instructional videos concerning functional applications for treatment, assessment and conditioning of active individuals. He co-authored "Movement: Functional Movement Systems" with Gray Cook in 2010.

He consults with a wide variety of organizations and individuals including the NFL, NHL, MLB, NBA, military/government entities and Walt Disney World as well as the Cooper and Mayo Clinics on injury prevention and performance enhancement. He has presented to the Football Association of the United Kingdom, and is currently working on several research projects on injury prevention within the military.

Burton received his bachelor's degree in athletic training from Appalachian State University, his master's in education with an emphasis in athletic training from Old Dominion University and his doctorate from Virginia Tech with an emphasis in health promotion and wellness. He attained his certification of athletic training through the National Athletic Trainer's Association-Board of Certification and his certification of strength and conditioning through the National Strength and Conditioning Association.

Dr. Richard Ferguson

Title: Professor of physical education/sport psychology & chair of the department

Ferguson is a consultant certified by the Association of Applied Sport Psychology, and is listed on the United States Olympic Committee Sport Psychology Registry. In addition to teaching on the college level, he is a mental training consultant to numerous professional, amateur and Olympic sport athletes. He has clients around the world including the Ragged Mountain Olympic Development Running Program.

He has written extensively on running psychology and is a contributor to a number of running publications, including "Running Journal" and "Run Ohio" magazines. He is also a contributing editor for "Running Journal." His recent publications include "The psychology of high performance track and field," and "Running Psychology."

Ferguson twice qualified for the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials and is currently an international competitive Masters runner. He was the 2002 Road Runners Club of America National Champion at 15K in the 40-44-year-old age group. He represented the United States in the 2009 World Masters Track and Field Championships in Lahti, Finland where he placed 19th in the marathon in the 50-60-year-age group. In the summer of 2010, he was the overall champion in the Boucle de Jambonade Mountain Race in Pouzac, France.

Ferguson received his bachelor's degree in physical education from James Madison University and his master's and doctoral degrees in sport psychology from the University of Virginia.

Dr. Richard Ferguson, chair and professor in the physical education wellness and sport science department, had an article published in "Running Journal." To read his article visit Running Journal.

Barbara Kushubar, '75

Title: Associate professor of physical education, wellness and sport science

Kushubar brings more than 24 years of experience that includes teaching, coaching and sport administration, into the classroom. She provides students with not just a theoretical approach to subjects like sport management, sport administration and sport law but draws on her years of experience as a successful coach and tournament organizer to bring these subjects to life. Students benefit from her practical advice and draw on examples from her own personal experiences. In her introduction to athletic training class, students gain hands-on experience by completing training hours as early as their freshman year. Gerontology students learn from trips to local care facilities and interact with professionals working in the field.

Always a competitor, Kushubar remains active in local golf and tennis organizations. In addition, she models the importance of community service with involvement in The First Tee Foundation, Danville City Schools Health Board and other local charitable and sports organizations. She serves as a consultant to local schools in the development of health/wellness programs for students.

Kushubar holds a bachelor's degree in health/physical education/wellness from Averett and a master's degree in sports medicine from the United States Sports Academy.

Dr. Michelle Hsiu-Chen Liu

Title: Assistant professor of physical education teacher education

Liu's research focuses on the social development of children through the implementation of a physical education teaching model. Her primary goals are to: help pre-service teachers develop professional knowledge and skills for the classroom; provide a variety of practical teaching experiences for pre-service teachers to apply their classroom learning to real-world teaching; and help pre-service teachers establish positive relationships with local schools.

She co-authored an article in 2010 entitled "Teaching Kindergarten Learning-Related Social Skills through a Modified Teaching Personal and Social Responsibility Model," which was published in The Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance. She has made presentations at the National Physical Education Teacher Education conference in Myrtle Beach, and at the Association Internationale des Ecoles Superieures d'Education Physique conference in Sapporo, Japan.

She has taught a wide range of students, from kindergarten to the university level, between Taiwan and the United States. In addition to teaching, she played women's fast-pitch softball at the national level for Taiwan and coached fast-and slow-pitch softball at the college level. She participated in several national and international women's fast-pitch softball competitions and was awarded the National Fast-Pitch Softball Player of Taiwan from 1986-93.

Liu received her bachelor's degree in physical education from Fu-Jen Catholic University in Taiwan, a master of education degree in human performance/health promotion from the University of New Orleans and a doctorate degree in sport pedagogy from the University of Idaho.