Williams went on to express her appreciation for the AKA.
"I will always be appreciative of the AKA for its dedication to advancing the skills and experiences of leaders in the field; it’s a wonderful organization. I have thoroughly enjoyed my many years of service to the AKA and have benefited greatly from the chance to work with many amazing colleagues from Kinesiology departments all over the country.”
Kim Graber, professor and head of the Department of Kinesiology and Community Health at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, currently serves as AKA president.
“Dr. Williams is a consummate professional who is committed to fostering the professional growth of faculty and students within her department at Penn State and faculty and administrators at other universities across the nation,” Graber said. “Her contributions are cutting-edge, inspirational and always in the best interests of further strengthening the field of kinesiology. She is highly deserving of this special recognition.”
Williams has served as head of the Department of Kinesiology at Penn State for over a decade. In addition, she has held leadership positions in the AKA, including President, Director of the Leadership Institute and chair of multiple committees, including the Workshop Program Planning Committee and Strategic Planning and Assessment Support Committee.
“Dr. Nancy Williams stands out as an exceptional professional, renowned for her remarkable service as a member of the American Kinesiology Association,” according to AKA award selection committee-member Jared Russell, associate dean for academic and faculty affairs and professor at the School of Kinesiology at Auburn University. “As an esteemed member of AKA, she has demonstrated unwavering dedication to our organization and profession. Through her tenure in various leadership roles and committees, Nancy has proven herself as a passionate advocate for the discipline of kinesiology.”
Williams’ service as a mentor to the next generation of scientists and leaders in the field was a particular factor in her selection as recipient of the Thomas Award, according to Russell.
“Her outstanding contributions and commitment to advancing the field and empowering others within it resonates deeply within our discipline. Dr. Williams’ multifaceted expertise and steadfast advocacy make her an invaluable asset to both her colleagues and the broader kinesiology community,” Russell said.
“Nancy has been a recognized leader in the field of Kinesiology education for decades, and has been extremely engaged, thoughtful, and generous in her service to the AKA,” said Craig Newschaffer, Raymond E. and Erin Stuart Schultz Dean of the College of Health and Human Development at Penn State. “She is highly deserving of this award.”
Williams’ research is centered on physiological and behavioral underpinnings of interactions between energy balance, reproductive function, bone health and exercise performance.
She recently received the Pauline Schmitt Russell Distinguished Research Career Award from the College of Health and Human Development, which honors a senior faculty member who has made outstanding research contributions to their field across a major portion of his or her career.
Williams holds a Doctor of Science degree in applied physiology from Boston University, a Master of Science in exercise physiology from Ohio State University and a Bachelor of Science in biology from Bucknell University.