KENNESAW, Ga. | Aug 5, 2020

Kennesaw State University associate professor of exercise science Gerald Mangine has earned the Terry J. Housh Outstanding Young Investigator Award from the National Strength and Conditioning Association.

The award “is given in recognition of a researcher who has been in the field for seven years or less.”

“To be recognized by the NSCA is one of those goals I set for myself,” Mangine said. “It definitely has a personal meaning, and I feel a great sense of accomplishment. I really enjoy what I do and I hope to study and teach for a long time to come.”

Mangine’s research focuses on strength training, conditioning, and sports performance. A former football player at the College of New Jersey, he parlayed his experience into a career as a personal trainer and strength coach before landing in academia, where he discovered research. Between his experience as a college athlete and his study of exercise and human performance, he hopes to identify the factors that best predict sports performance. Athletes might use this information to modify training tactics and be more successful in sport. Since arriving at KSU, and through collaborations with his departmental colleagues, one sport that has specifically caught his interest has been CrossFit.

“As a scientist, I stress that my work has to have practical meaning,” he said. “The whole purpose of my research is to find out what makes great athletes, so everything I study must be applicable to the coach and athlete. The challenge is translating what happens in the weight room or during testing with what happens on the field. When you look at CrossFit, you see things that directly apply to the sport itself—running, lifting weights, doing pullups—it’s just exercise. All these things are quantifiable and fit in with what I want to do.”

Department chair of exercise science and sport management Mark Geil also credited Mangine for the practical applications he has found in his work, both for recreational and serious athletes.

“We’re delighted to see a national spotlight shine on Dr. Mangine,” Geil said. “This award is a well-deserved recognition of his tireless efforts in understanding the science behind human fitness and performance. His work has extraordinary impact in a broad scientific and public scope, and we are proud that he’s a part of our team.”

Mangine joined the faculty at KSU in 2015 after earning his doctorate from the University of Central Florida. Mangine earned his bachelor’s and master's degrees from the College of New Jersey.

– Dave Shelles

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A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 45,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 7 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.