NATIONAL STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING ASSOCIATION FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES 2024 LEGACY SCHOLARSHIP HONOREE

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO — With immense pride, the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) Foundation Board of Directors recognizes Dr. Joan Eckerson, CSCS, FACSM, FNSCA, as our prestigious 2024 Legacy Scholarship Honoree.

Dr. Eckerson is a longtime Professor and Chair in the Department of Exercise Science and Pre-Health Professions at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. She has over 140 publications and national presentations, primarily on body composition assessment and the effect of sports supplements on athletic performance.

Additionally, Dr. Eckerson has received numerous awards acknowledging her accomplishments in teaching and research, including the NSCA William J. Kraemer Outstanding Sport Scientist Award and the NSCA Nutritional Research Achievement Award. She is a Fellow of the NSCA and the American College of Sports Medicine and a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist®.

Dr. Eckerson was also instrumental to the establishment of the NSCA Foundation, serving in several capacities over her career, including Secretary and Treasurer from 2008-2012, on the Grant Panel from 2019-2021, and as the first female President of the NSCA Foundation from 2012-2013. She currently serves on the editorial board for The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research and as a Grant Reviewer for the NSCA Foundation.

“Dr. Eckerson’s exemplary career and contributions set a remarkable standard for excellence and innovation. Her dedication to research and education and involvement with the NSCA Foundation have profoundly influenced our organization and field,” states Dr. Don Melrose, NSCA Foundation President.

“I extend my deepest gratitude to the NSCA Foundation for this distinction and to the individuals whose legacy I am honored to follow,” shares Dr. Eckerson. “The NSCA Foundation is a cornerstone for professional development in strength and conditioning and played a major role in my personal and professional growth. Together, let us continue to advance the field, inspire the next generation, and contribute to the ongoing success of strength and conditioning professionals worldwide.”

Created in 2022, the Legacy Scholarship awards $2,000 annually to an applying NSCA Member pursuing a doctoral degree in a strength and conditioning-related field. The Legacy Scholarship was developed to acknowledge the lasting impact and dedication of NSCA Members and is given in honor of a different member each year.

If you were a protégé of Dr. Eckerson and would like to honor her, we invite you to make a meaningful financial contribution in her name.

Media Note: To schedule an interview, please contact Foundation@NSCA.com.

About the National Strength & Conditioning Association Foundation

The National Strength and Conditioning Association Foundation (NSCAF) was founded in 2007 with the aim of supporting the advancement of strength and conditioning practical applications. The NSCA Foundation is a non-profit organization committed to providing funding to NSCA members taking part in educational and research endeavors.

Since its establishment, the NSCA Foundation has awarded 194 grants and 694 scholarships, totaling over $3 million to outstanding individuals within the strength and conditioning community. The NSCA Foundation is one of the few foundations that fund work at the Master’s level and across all levels up to senior investigators, as well as one of the few sources that fund work in the strength and conditioning fields. A major goal of the foundation is to continue to maximize assets in order to increase grants and scholarships for NSCA members.