Tara Blackshear, Ed.D.

Associate Professor

Name

Contact Info

Phone:
410-704-3172
Office:
Burdick Hall, 120 G
Email:
tblackshear@towson.edu
Hours:
Wednesday 2-4pm
or by appointment

Education

Ed.D., Exercise and Sport Science, The University of North Carolina-Greensboro

M.Ed., Physical Education, Florida A&M University

B.S., Physical Education, Florida A&M University

Areas of Expertise

Health, Physical Education, and Physical Activity
Social, Cultural, and Structural Equity in Health, Physical Activity, and Education

Select Publications 

  • Blackshear, T. B., & Culp, B. (2023). Critical Race Studies in Physical Education. Human Kinetics.
  • Blackshear, T. B. (2022). #SayHerName: Black women physical education teachers of the year. Journal of Teaching in Physical Education.
  • Blackshear, T. B., & Culp, B. (2022). The ‘Hidden Figures’ of physical education: Black Women who paved the way in PE, Momentum Magazine, Winter 2022, 21-24.
  • Blackshear, T. B. (2022). The use of FITNESSGRAM® in PETE: Is it appropriate? International Journal of Kinesiology in Higher Education, 6(1), 2-14.
  • Blackshear, T. B. (2021). Dads matter, too: Fathers’ impact on physical activity in Black women. Journal of African American Women and Girls in Education, 1(3), 10-27.
  • Blackshear, T. B., & Culp, B. (2021). Transforming PETE’s initial standards: Advancing racial equity and social justice in physical education, Quest, 73 (1), 22-44.
  • Blackshear, T. B. & Kilmon, K. (2021). Natural hair: A vital component to Black women’s health. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, 8, 1573-1582.
  • Blackshear, T. B. (2021). Women undergraduate students’ perceptions of father involvement and the connection to physical activity, International Journal of Kinesiology in Higher Education,  
  • Blackshear, T. B. & Seyfried, L. (2021). Does education close the Black-White physical activity and obesity gaps, Journal of American College Health, 69(2), 222-226.
  • Blackshear, T. B. (2020). #SHAPEsoWhite. Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy, 25(3), 240-258.
  • Blackshear, T. B. (2020). Short and sweet: HIIT training in PE. Strategies: A Journal for Sport and Physical Educators, 33(2), 3-12.

Research

  • Health & Physical Activity Promotion 
  • Fitness Testing & Assessment in Physical Education 
  • Equity – Race and Gender

Professional Memberships

  • SHAPE America: The Society of Health and Physical Educators
  • American College of Sports Medicine
  • SHAPE Maryland: The Society of Health and Physical Educators

Service

  • Physical Education Teacher Education Fitness Testing Liaison
  • Department of Kinesiology Strategic Planning Committee Member 

 Courses Taught

  • KNES 238 Physical Fitness Programming and Assessment in PE
  • KNES 244 Creative Movement & Gymnastics in Physical Education 
  • KNES 294 Elementary PE Content Knowledge and Performance I
  • KNES 317 Motor Behavior in Physical Education 
  • KNES 325 Teaching Physical Education in Secondary School