The Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP) has elected Applied Health Sciences Associate Dean Nota Klentrou as Chair of its Board of Directors for a two-year term.

Klentrou is the first Brock professor and one of only four women to ever chair the national organization.

“CSEP has made significant contributions to Canada and the World,” Klentrou said of the organization that has an annual budget of more than $2 million and represents 5,000 Canadian exercise scientists, academics and practitioners. “Canada’s Physical Activity Guidelines developed by CSEP has placed Canada in a leading position within the scientific community, and strengthened physical activity’s role in health and disease. These guidelines are used in many countries and Canadian exercise scientists are prominent worldwide.”

Celebrating 50 years since its inception, CSEP is the recognized resource for translating advances in exercise science research into the promotion of fitness, performance and health outcomes for Canadians.

When she accepted the leadership position during the organization’s annual conference in Winnipeg Oct. 26, Klentrou said she was looking forward to leading CSEP into its next five decades.

“With the closing of CSEP’s first 50 years, having a woman leading CSEP into the next era is important.” she said. “It is a symbolic new beginning, where women are no longer in the back seat fighting for their place in science, but are slowly moving to the front seat, leading amongst equals.”

Klentrou previously served as treasurer for the Society from 2003 to 2013.

As part of its commitment to exercise science, Brock University will host the CSEP annual conference from Oct. 31 to Nov 3, 2018 in Niagara Falls. The conference, with the theme Health in Motion, Science in Exercise, is expected to draw more than 500 participants from across Canada, including noted scholars and graduate students.

There are currently more than 15 researchers from the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences who are CSEP members. Kinesiology Professor Mike Plyley holds an academic director position on the CSEP board.