Dr. Tracey Matthews, Dean, College of Health Professions and Wellness

Dr. Tracey Matthews, Dean
 Professor
Merrill Hall, Room 373
256-782-5428
tdmatthews@jsu.edu 

Dr. Tracey Matthews is the Dean of the College of Health Professions & Wellness at Jacksonville State University (JSU) in Alabama. With a distinguished 28-year career in higher education, she has taught undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs in kinesiology and served as department chair and dean at three universities.

While at JSU, Dr. Matthews spearheaded several initiatives including securing 1.76 million in federal for a state-of-the-art health simulation center. This center will provide an innovative environment for hands-on training, allowing students and professionals to practice and refine their skills in a controlled and safe setting. Collaborating with the University Development office, she has assisted in the cultivation of approximately $2 million in alumni/community donors for planned giving, naming and scholarship opportunities. She also serves as chair for the University-Wide Program Review and University Wellness committees and was involved with the University’s SACSCOC reaffirmation accreditation.

Professionally, Dr. Matthews served as a member of the American College of Sports Medicine ActivEarth Taskforce and in Chair roles for a Measurement & Evaluation Council, and Editorial Board of the Measurement and Evaluation in Physical Education & Exercise Science Journal. She received the honor award from the Measurement and Evaluation Council in 2012. Her expertise has led to presentations at international, national, and regional conferences on topics including assessment, measurement, physical activity, wellness, and Interprofessional Education. Dr. Matthews is also co-author of "Designing and Conducting Research in Health and Human Performance," used in undergraduate Kinesiology and Physical Education curricula, now in its second edition. Dr. Matthews also serves as President of Rotary of Calhoun County.

Academic/Research Interests:
  • Physical Activity and Children
  • Measurement
  • Mentorship
Courses Taught:

(Previous to JSU)

Undergraduate:

  • Measurement and Evaluation
  • Research Methods in Athletic Training

Graduate:

  • Research Methods
  • Thesis and Dissertation Proposal Design
  • Statistics
  • Doctoral Statistics
  • Structural Equation Modeling
Education:
  • Bancroft School of Massage Therapy, 1989
  • University of Connecticut, BS, Sport Biomechanics 1997
  • Springfield College, MS, DPE (1995 and 1997)
Dr. Tracey Matthews