national strength and Conditioning association announces 2024 election results

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO — The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) announces the results of its 2024 Elections, as selected by NSCA Members. These chosen individuals, nominated for their dedication and contributions to the NSCA and professional community, will help shape our future and further our mission to advance strength and conditioning research and education.

ACADEMICIAN/RESEARCHER REPRESENTATIVE

Shawn M. Arent, PhD, CSCS,*D, FACSM, FISSN, FNAK

PERSONAL TRAINER REPRESENTATIVE

Alexis Batrakoulis, PhD, CSCS,*D, CSPS,*D, NSCA-CPT,*D, FACSM

NOMINATION COMMITTEE

Brent Alvar, PhD, CSCS,*D, TSAC-F,*D, FACSM, FNSCA

Rachel Selman, DPT, CPSS, CSCS

Dr. Shawn M. Arent is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Exercise Science at the University of South Carolina in the Arnold School of Public Health, which houses one of the top-ranked PhD and sport science programs in the nation. He is also the Director of the USC Sport Science Lab. Previously, he was a Professor at Rutgers University, where he directed the Center for Health and Human Performance and the graduate program. His research focuses on the relationship between training, nutrition, and stress and the implications for health, performance, and recovery. Dr. Arent has been honored with the 2017 NSCA William J. Kraemer Outstanding Sport Scientist Award, a Lifetime Service Recognition from the US Army 3-314th Field Artillery Thunder Battalion (the first such award given to a civilian), and the 2016 International Foundation for Nutrition and Health Director’s Award for Excellence. Additionally, he has worked with the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) as well as teams and athletes with the NHL, MLB, NBA, NFL, US Ski and Snowboard, the US Soccer Federation, and several teams at the youth, high school, and collegiate levels.

Dr. Alexis Batrakoulis is a multi-award-winning exercise professional with almost three decades of experience who currently works as an Adjunct Professor, personal trainer, and fitness educator based in Greece. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education and Sports Science, a Master of Science in Exercise and Health, and a PhD in Clinical Exercise Physiology. He has authored over 75 international peer-reviewed publications on exercise with almost 1,000 citations, including a chapter in the latest editions of the NSCA’s and ACSM’s personal training textbooks. He is the Founder of the International Obesity Exercise Training Institute (IOETI), teaching internationally approved continuing education courses for personal trainers in 45 countries across five continents. Dr. Batrakoulis serves on several NSCA committees and as a reviewer for Personal Training Quarterly (PTQ), and previously served as a sponsor of the NSCA Education Recognition Program (ERP) in Greece. He is also the Vice Chair of the NSCA’s Personal Trainers Professional Development Group and was recognized with the 2020 NSCA Personal Trainer of the Year Award.

Dr. Brent Alvar is a Professor and Graduate Program Director in the Department of Kinesiology at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, CA. He has been a member of the NSCA since 1996 and was President of the NSCA from 2021-2024. Dr. Alvar began his career as a Personal Trainer and Strength Coach, working with the general population and various clinical populations. In addition, he has been instrumental in developing many college and university academic programs in sports and tactical strength and conditioning from the Associate’s level to PhD. His research focus is around dose-response of resistance training and the various components of exercise testing and prescription related to human performance and occupational preparedness. Dr. Alvar is also extremely involved in the tactical area of the NSCA, helping develop the NSCA’s Essentials of Tactical Strength and Conditioning and the NSCA’s Tactical Strength and Conditioning Course. His teaching is centered on evidence-based practice, research methods, clinical exercise prescription, as well as sport and tactical strength and conditioning. He spends his time guiding young scholars in their professional and research pursuits and feels this is the most important aspect of his career.

Dr. Rachel Selman attended the Georgia Institute of Technology where she played soccer and graduated with honors with her Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry. She completed her hands-on training with the Georgia Tech women's basketball team as well as the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Sports Medicine Department before earning her Doctorate in Physical Therapy at Mercer University. Dr. Selman attended additional training in dry needling through the Spinal Manipulation Institute and orthopedic pelvic health through the Herman and Wallace Pelvic Rehabilitation Institute. She is a clinical running specialist working with athletes of all ages and genders to maximize performance throughout the lifespan. Dr. Selman is the author of the first peer-reviewed rehabilitation protocol for postpartum athletes published in the International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy and is the Founder of Athletic Motherhood Co., a continuing education program geared toward educating providers on improving outcomes for pre- and post-natal athletes. She currently owns Synthesis Physical Therapy, a clinic that provides 1:1 service to recreational and elite athletes in Charlotte, NC, where she empowers clients to be the best versions of themselves using movement as medicine.

Election results were formally announced tonight, July 12, at the 2024 NSCA National Conference Awards Banquet in Baltimore, MD.

Media Note: To schedule an interview with election winners, please contact marketing@nsca.com.

About the National Strength & Conditioning Association

Founded in 1978, the National Strength and Conditioning Association® (NSCA®) is a recognized 501(c)(3) educational nonprofit dedicated to advancing strength and conditioning science and education for all people.

We exist to empower the public and professionals across the strength and conditioning spectrum with evidence-based information to safely and effectively enhance health and performance. Our community consists of more than 60,000 Members and Certified Professionals worldwide who further best practices as researchers, educators, strength and conditioning coaches, performance and sport scientists, personal trainers, tactical professionals, and other exercise science-related roles.