Doctoral Graduate in Physical Education and Sport Studies Receives Dissertation of the Year Award

Brian Culp, a 2005 doctoral graduate of the College of Education's physical education and sport studies program, has received a statewide award for his dissertation from the Georgia Association of Teacher Educators (GATE).

GATE honored Culp with the Distinguished Dissertation in Teacher Education Award at an October 13 awards luncheon at Jekyll Island. One dissertation is selected each year for this eminent award. Culp's dissertation titled, Teaching Methods and Life Experiences of Urban Elementary Physical Education Teachers, focused on examining methods of instruction that African-American and Caucasian elementary physical education teachers use in urban schools.

The results of his study showed that multicultural education is lacking in many schools. Culp said he believes that teacher education programs should have mission statements and strategic plans that take into account the needs of diverse learners.

“Issues regarding race, social class and culture, and their effects on education are not going to disappear,” he said.

The Georgia native hopes that his research will inspire teacher education programs and their candidates to find ways to effectively meet the needs of all children in their classes to the best of their ability.

He was nominated for the award by Rose Chepyator-Thomson, an associate professor in the department of kinesiology. Culp earned his master's in sports administration from Georgia State University and his bachelor's in health and physical education from UGA.

He is currently an assistant professor of health and physical education at Armstrong Atlantic State University in Savannah.

Thursday, October 12, 2005

Writer: Angela Hains, 706/542-5889, anicole7@uga.edu
Contact: Brian Culp, 706/245-8593, culpbria@mail.armstrong.edu