Lynda Ransdell, chair of the Department of Kinesiology, was named Distinguished Scholar at the 2025 National Association of Kinesiology in Higher Education conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Ransdell served as Dean at Montana State University and Northern Arizona University, and Associate Dean at Arizona State University before rejoining the Boise State faculty in 2022 as chair of the department. She is a fellow in the National Academy of Kinesiology, the National Association for Kinesiology in Higher Education and the American College of Sports Medicine. She is also the only two-time president of the National Association for Girls and Women in Sport.
“This award is meaningful because it recognizes our work with students. We all do research with our graduate students to set them up for success in their careers.” Ransdell said. “We don’t ever think about winning awards ourselves, because the rewards we receive are seeing our students pursue successful careers, through teaching, publishing, and making a difference in the world. This award also serves as a nod to my exceptional colleagues at Boise State, with whom I have published the majority of my research.”
Ransdell’s areas of expertise include theory-based physical activity interventions, mentoring for academic success and building better female athletes. She has mentored 66 graduate students and published 120 articles in peer reviewed journals over the course of her career. She was the co-lead investigator on the Development Core of the Southwest Health Equity Research Collaborative, a multi-million dollar grant to increase basic biomedical, clinical and behavioral research that addresses health disparities in the Southwestern United States.
“In addition to her incredible contributions and accomplishments throughout her professional career, Lynda is also a phenomenal leader, colleague and person,” Joelle Powers, Dean of the College of Health Sciences said. “Lynda is a joy to work with and consistently makes all of the people and things that she touches better. We have been so incredibly fortunate to work with her and thrilled to see her honored with this well-deserved award.”