Gordon Schmidt, Ph.D., FACSM was appointed Dean of Health Professions in January 2019, providing leadership, guidance, and continuity in matters dealing with accreditation and compliance with national standards; curriculum oversight; faculty mentorship including new faculty development; and administration of operations including enrollment, retention, and budget; strategic planning; and thought leadership for the school. His endeavors strive to attain an inclusive and supportive environment for student learning. Schmidt represents the school in various external and internal relations activities.
Schmidt received his undergraduate training at McGill University, and his M.S. in exercise science and Ph.D. in exercise physiology and anatomy at Indiana University. He is a Fellow and a Health Fitness Director of the American College of Sports Medicine. He has taught in schools and was department head of physical education in Québec. Schmidt has been teaching and conducting research on topics associated with muscular capacity, metabolic diseases, and coronary risk analysis across many age groups for more than 30 years.
He worked with a police agency in Indiana as the Health Management Director tasked with determining the bona fide occupational qualifications of public safety officers related to age limitations associated with physical work requirements. Following that governmental work, for 10 years, Schmidt developed novel curriculum and innovative programming in Asia with a research emphasis on intergenerational family dynamics as they relate to bone mineral density, physical activity, and nutritional behaviors. Throughout his career, there has been a recurrent theme of engagement in experiential practices, pursuit of technological development, and participation within a healthy lifestyle. Schmidt has worked with the YMCA and schools in Paterson, N.J., on a $2.5 million grant called 21st-Century Learning Communities.
Schmidt has published 38 refereed journal papers, 44 conference papers, 26 occasional papers, 5 books and book chapters, and received 14 research funded grants. In 2007, he received the WPU Excellence in Teaching award. He has been a recent member of multiple university writing teams involved with accreditation, program review, strategic planning, and building renovation.
Recent Projects and Research
- 21st Century E3 University Community Learning Center After school physical activity with Paterson YMCA. Sponsor: New Jersey Department of Education: $2,500,000
- Start Up Well: Strategies of Adherence and Racial Trends in Urban Population Well-being. Sponsor: Becton Dickinson: $12,000
- Intergenerational Coronary Risk Factor Analysis and Validation of Body Composition Techniques in Singaporean School Children and Their Families. Sponsor Ministry of Education, Singapore: $375,000
- Family Wellness: Genetic markers, physical activity patterns, bone mineral density and cardiovascular risk factors. Sponsor: National Institute of Education, Singapore: $70,000
- Inter-relationships between dietary intake, body composition and cardiovascular risk factors among different ethnic groups in Singapore. Sponsor: National Medical Research Council, Singapore: $145,000
Publications
- Zymet, S., Hodges, M., Schmidt, G. (submitted 2017) Athletic Directors’ perceptions on charging student-athletes due to budget cuts. Submitted to: Applied Research in Coaching and Athletics Annual.
- Rady, A.M., & Schmidt, G. (2013). Attitudes towards physical education amongst middle school children. The Chronicle of Kinesiology in Higher Education. 24(2), 4-8.
- Rady, A., & Schmidt, G. (2011). Traditional versus experiential learning: Ideas for physical education college recruitment. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance. 82(7), 1-5.
- Rady, A., & Schmidt, G. (2011). Traditional versus experiential learning: Ideas for physical education college recruitment. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance. 82(7), 1-5.
- Schmidt, G. (2008). Advocacy within a corporate institution, service organization and higher education. The Reporter. 79(1), 18-20.
- Sun, D. X. Schmidt, G., & Koh S.M. (2008). Validation of the RT3 research accelerometer for measuring physical activity of children in simulated free-living conditions. Pediatric Exercise Science. 20, 65-81.
Honors and Awards
- Excellence in Teaching Award – William Paterson University
- Athletic Director’s Award – William Paterson University
- Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers
- Distinguished Teacher Award – National Institute of Education
- Fellow American College of Sports Medicine
Courses Taught at New York Tech
- HSCI Community Health Interventions