Sean Collins, a Lynchburg exercise physiology professor, was recently presented the State/Provincial Director of the Year Award by the National Strength and Conditioning Association.
The NSCA, a nonprofit with more than 45,000 members around the world, works to promote, support, educate and certify those working in the strength and conditioning field. Its ranks include strength coaches, researchers, educators, personal trainers, and others.
The award is given annually to the NSCA state/provincial director “who has accumulated the most points, according to the stated criteria.” As Dr. Collins explained, “The point system is a method for accounting for the activity of state directors.
“Basically, it accounts for all the tasks a state director has completed, both required and voluntarily, over the course of the year that expands the mission of the NSCA to its members at the state level.”
Dr. Collins has been Virginia’s state director for four years. In that position, he plans and runs the NSCA’s state clinic and conference; speaks at state, regional, and national conferences; recruits new members; works on academic publications; and assists the Board of Directors.
At Lynchburg, Dr. Collins works with exercise physiology students in the School of Health Sciences and Human Performance. He directs the Walker Human Performance Laboratory, which allows students and faculty to examine numerous aspects of health and wellness. He also serves as the faculty mentor for the women’s varsity lacrosse team.
Asked about his teaching philosophy, Dr. Collins said, among other things, that he wants his students to become “critical thinkers,” “passionate practitioners,” and “lifelong learners in the field” of exercise physiology.