Panteleimon “Paddy” Ekkekakis, an internationally renowned exercise psychology scholar, became the chair of the Department of Kinesiology on Aug. 1, 2022.
Ekkekakis, a third-generation educator, was formerly a faculty member at Iowa State University, which he had joined in 2000. He has a Ph.D. in Kinesiology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, in addition to degrees from Kansas State University and the University of Athens.
His research examines affective responses to exercise, or the psychological responses and state of an individual during and after physical activity.
“We are thrilled to have Dr. Ekkekakis join the faculty in the college and lead the Department of Kinesiology,” said Professor Tracey Covassin and Associate Professor Matthew Pontifex, who led the search committee for the role. “Not only is he a prolific scholar, but he brings both a broad cross-disciplinary vision and strong moral compass that will enable him to provide strategic leadership across all facets of department missions.”
Ekkekakis—who was named a Fellow of the National Academy of Kinesiology in 2019, a distinguished honor for scholars within the field—believes in the power of research to be transformative.
To read more about Ekkekakis, visit education.msu.edu