Biographical note

Edward T. Howley, PhD, FACSM, FNAK, earned his bachelor’s degree from Manhattan College and his master’s and doctorate degrees from the University of Wisconsin at Madison. He then completed a one-year postdoctoral appointment at Penn State University and was hired in 1970 as a faculty member at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. Howley taught a variety of courses, including an undergraduate course in fitness testing and prescription and undergraduate and graduate courses in exercise physiology. He retired in 2007 and holds the rank of professor emeritus. 

In addition to the previous editions of this book, Dr. Howley has authored three books, four book chapters, and more than 60 research articles dealing with exercise physiology, fitness testing, and prescription. He is a fellow in the National Academy of Kinesiology and served as chair of the Science Board of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports in 2006-2007. In 2007-08 he served on the Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee that evaluated the science related to physical activity and health and generated a report for use by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to write the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. 

Most of Dr. Howley’s volunteer efforts have been with the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). He was involved in the development of certification programs and served as president in 2002-03. He served as editor in chief of ACSM’s Health & Fitness Journal for seven years and as chair of the program planning committee for the annual ACSM Health and Fitness Summit meeting. In 2007, Howley was recognized for his professional contributions with the ACSM Citation Award. In his leisure time, he likes to golf, ride his bike, travel, and play with his grandchildren.  

Dixie L. Thompson, PhD, FACSM, FNAK, is vice provost and dean of the graduate school at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and is a professor in the department of kinesiology, recreation, and sports studies. She graduated from the 2008 class of the Higher Education Resource Services (HERS) Bryn Mawr Summer Institute, held at Bryn Mawr College. The Summer Institute is a professional development program dedicated to the advancement of female leaders in administration of higher education. She also participated in the 2009-2010 Academic Leadership Development Program sponsored by the Southeastern Conference Academic Consortium.

Dr. Thompson focuses her research on the health benefits of exercise for women and techniques used for body composition assessment. She is the author of over 70 peer-reviewed publications and numerous articles for fitness professionals and general audiences. She is a former associate editor in chief for ACSM's Health & Fitness Journal and former editor in chief for ACSM's Fit Society Page Newsletter.

Dr. Thompson is a fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and a member of the ACSM Board of Trustees. She is a fellow of the National Academy of Kinesiology. She is a past president of the Southeast Chapter of ACSM and former chair of the Physical Fitness Council for the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. 

Dr. Thompson received her BA in physical education and MA in exercise physiology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She earned her PhD from the University of Virginia.