On September 23, The American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR) elected as president to their Board of Directors our own Dr. Ash Walker. This important distinction underscores the overall quality of faculty and leadership at St. Andrews today. Leaders such as Dr. Walker are essential to the vision statement of St. Andrews (excerpt: “St. Andrews is to be recognized as a regional leader for growing talent by providing an interactive and student-centered experience guided by faculty and staff who are exceptional in their respective fields.”).
Highly Qualified Faculty at St. Andrews
Like Dr. Walker, the majority of St. Andrews faculty hold a terminal degree (meaning the highest degree available in the given field). While all St. Andrews faculty hold advanced degrees, the percentage of terminally degreed (e.g., PhD, DBA, EdD) full-time faculty has increased from 45% to 65% since 2011. Compare this to the college accreditation standard of 25% of course hours being taught by faculty holding terminal degrees.* More than half of our faculty holds a degree from one of the top 5% colleges and universities in the U.S., and one in seven received one of their degrees from St. Andrews.
The AACVPR
Founded in 1985, the AACVPR serves as a multidisciplinary, nationwide, professional association for health professionals in the field of cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation. Members include cardiovascular physicians, pulmonary physicians, nurses, exercise physiologists, physical therapists, behavioral scientists, respiratory therapists, dietitians, and nutritionists.
The AACVPR Board of Directors develops the organization’s strategic plan. They also make fiscal policy decisions over the association’s $42-million budget. Mollie Corbett, AACVPR Executive Director, shares, “Ash’s professional service is driven by genuine care and enthusiasm for helping our industry and our members flourish. He will lead our association with boldness and creativity.”
Dr. Ash Walker
Ash Walker, DHSc., MA, ACSM-CEP, FAACVPR, serves at St. Andrews as Chair of the Sports Studies Department and as an Assistant Professor of Sports Performance, Health, and Fitness. Dr. Walker maintains certification as an exercise physiologist and has been teaching in higher education for 14 years. It makes us proud to see Dr. Walker as part of the St. Andrews faculty. St. Andrews Alumni Council congratulates Dr. Walker on this important distinction.
* Commission on Colleges Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Principles of Accreditation: Foundations for Quality Enhancement. 2001; Decatur GA. Page 25 (item 3.7.1 d) Last accessed 10/22/2022. Available at https://sacscoc.org/app/uploads/2019/08/2012PrinciplesOfAccreditation1st.pdf
Tags: Faculty, Leadership
