Dr. Eric J. Fuchs, ATC, EMT named New Chair in The Department of Exercise & Sport Science
Effective July 1st, 2016, the department of Exercise & Sports Science welcomes a new department chair as Dr. Eric J. Fuchs succeeds Dr. Jack Rutherford, who has served the department with distinction as faculty member and chair for twenty years.
Dr. Fuchs brings a plethora of experience to the position in both an educational and administrative capacity. As a faculty member, he has extensive teaching experience with courses ranging from general fitness and wellness, therapeutic interventions and modalities, as well as clinical administration in athletic training. Between 2005-2008, he acted as the clinical director of AT at EKU, and since 2008 has served with distinction as the director of the program. During that tenure, his leadership has proven invaluable in increasing both the profile and rigor of the AT program. He has played a vital role in increasing student enrollment and retention while helping craft the clinical and practicum experience of students and was integral to the development and implementation of the curriculum governing the new Master of Science in AT program recently accredited by CAATE.
Dr. Fuchs’ academic expertise has resulted in numerous state and national conference presentations in the areas of emergency intervention, wound care, athletic training education and administration. He has been a consultant and reviewer for several field-relevant textbook chapters and is a contributor to the white paper for the professional degree in AT. Currently, he serves in several leadership positions for professional organizations such as SEATA and NATA and is a recent CAATE appointee to the MOC National Task Force convened by the Board of Certification.
Dr. Fuchs’ current goal for The Department of Exercise and Sport Science is the development of a 2+2 transfer program in order to better accommodate KCTCS students who wish to enter departmental majors. The first of these programs has been designed to facilitate entry of KCTCS students into the MS in AT program at EKU. In the near future, he seeks to substantially increase internship opportunities for program students and lead development of highly rigorous online degree programs within the department, as distance education curricula are an identified area of expected growth within the field and university.
Published on July 19, 2016