Associate Professor
Ph.D., Kinesiology- Coaching and Teaching Studies, West Virginia University, 2014
M.Ed., International Education, Framingham State
University, 2009
B.A., Physical Education, Federal University of
Rio de Janeiro, 2001
Physical Education Curriculum and Instruction
Physical Activity in Public Health
Dr. Luciana Zuest is an Associate Professor in the Department of Kinesiology at Towson University. She is a teacher educator and certified in Public Health by the National Board of Public Health Examiners. With over 20 years of pedagogy experience, Dr. Zuest teaches courses focused on curriculum and instruction in health and physical education. Dr. Zuest’s scholarly pursuits are centered on the development, implementation, and evaluation of professional development programs for physical educators and fitness professionals. Her current research agenda has been mainly focused on addressing weight stigma within fitness settings through digital interventions.
Fogaça, J., Zuest, L., Lee., S., Squires, N., & Clifford, D. (2024). Weight Inclusive Thinking for Fitness Spaces (WIT FITS): A three-month follow-up from a weight stigma intervention targeting exercise professionals. The Recreational Sports Journal.
Zuest, L., Lee., S., Fogaça, J., Squires, N., & Clifford, D. (2023a). Effects of weight stigma intervention on exercise professionals’ attitudes towards fatness: A randomized control trial. The Recreational Sports Journal, 48(1), 3-13.
Zuest, L. Lee., S., Lau, R., Fogaça, J., & Clifford (2023b). Weight Inclusive Thinking for Fitness Spaces (WIT FITS): A pilot study on the effects of an online intervention on exercise professionals' anti-fat attitudes". International Journal of Kinesiology in Higher Education
Zuest, L. (2022). 31st Commemorative Delphine Hanna Lecture- Physical education and the quest for relevance in the age of precarity: Lessons from the weight inclusive thinking project (WIT). Quest, 74(2), 137-151
Zuest, L., Lee, S., Leedeman, J., & Clifford, D. (2022). Creating weight-inclusive climates in fitness spaces. Kinesiology Review, 11(3), 251–260
Zuest, L., Lee, S., Leedeman, J., Li, S., & Clifford, D. (2021). Promoting body size diversity in university recreation centers. Quest, 73(4), 357–374
Lee, S., Zuest, L., Leedeman, J, Li, S., & Clifford, D. (2021). Health and weight attitudes of university recreation center leaders. Journal of American College Health.
Zuest, L., (2020). Physical activity experiences of adolescent girls living in a rural community. Women in Sport and Physical Activity Journal, 28(2), 161-172. DOI: