Adam Pennell Receives David P. Beaver APA Professional Young Scholar Award

Adam Pennell, associate professor of sports medicine, has received the David P. Beaver APA Professional Young Scholar Award from the National Consortium for Physical Education for Individuals with Disabilities (NCPEID). This honor recognizes individuals who, within seven years of doctoral completion, have shown great dedication to the adapted physical activity profession through scholarly output and public dissemination of their work.  

“This is a tremendous blessing. Numerous titans in the field have received this honor, and that is not lost on me,” says Pennell. “In so many ways, this is not about ‘me’ but ‘us.’ It is so humbling to receive this award as my aim is for my scholarly efforts to have a tangible and authentic impact on individuals with disabilities. My colleagues and I perpetually think about how our work may be translated to practice so that it may serve who it’s meant to serve.”

The award includes a one-year membership to NCPEID, along with a plaque of recognition. Recipients are invited to submit a research paper for publication by Palaestra, a scholarly journal focused on adapted physical activity.  

Pennell’s research in the field of motor behavior involves the study of motor skills and health-related fitness. Currently, he and several co-investigators are working to develop standardized physical fitness testing practices for K–12 students with autism through a $900,000 Maternal and Child Health Bureau grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration.

“In many ways, I think that our work functions like a cascading version of scholar-activism,” explains Pennell. “If we develop better assessments, teachers can have better tools and data at their fingertips. From there, teachers can use that information to optimally address and advocate for the unique needs of each child and family.”

Another facet of Pennell’s scholarly work is his focus on children and adolescents with visual impairment and blindness. As a Pepperdine faculty member, Pennell has a tremendous record of regularly publishing motor skill, assessment, and health-related works in domestic and international settings. These efforts raise awareness and increase advocacy efforts for children with disabilities through special education law.

“Not only am I getting recognized through dissemination, but so is Pepperdine,” says Pennell. “Without question, relentless and multifaceted efforts have led to this award. To honor this award, I plan to continue developing my reputation in the field as someone who advocates with compassion and a forward-thinking perspective. Likewise, I plan to continue showcasing Pepperdine as a beacon of knowledge generation.”