Professor and internationally recognized scholar Karin Pfeiffer is a recipient of MSU’s William J. Beal Outstanding Faculty Award. Each year, the award recognizes up to 10 faculty for their consistent record of outstanding scholarship in research or creative activities, teaching and community engagement.
“Professor Pfeiffer is literally an institution on the MSU campus,” said Department of Kinesiology Chairperson Panteleimon Ekkekakis. “She is a towering figure in the field of kinesiology, internationally renowned for her research accomplishments, a beloved teacher, has mentored numerous graduates of our programs and has served the university at all levels over many years. All in all, she personifies the excellence that the William J. Beal Outstanding Faculty Award was created to honor.”
She will be recognized at the annual All-University Awards Ceremony on April 7, 2025.
“It has been an absolute privilege to nominate Dr. Karin Pfeiffer for the William J. Beal Outstanding Faculty Award,” said Assistant Professor Matthew Harkey, who nominated Pfeiffer. “From the moment I arrived at MSU, Karin took me under her wing, offering guidance, support and wisdom that extended far beyond what I could have expected. She has been instrumental in shaping my early career, and I am beyond grateful for the chance to play a small role in recognizing her immense contributions to our field and to MSU.”
A career defined by excellence
Pfeiffer is an exercise physiologist specializing in physical activity research for children and adolescents. Her work focuses on measuring activity levels and developing interventions to increase movement, particularly in school and community settings.
Since arriving on campus in 1994, she has made her mark as a Spartan. As director of the Institute for the Study of Youth Sports, she is a nationally recognized leader in the field and a National Academy of Kinesiology member. A two-time MSU alum, she has also served as president of the North American Society for Pediatric Exercise Medicine and as a member of the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition Science Board.
In March 2025, Pfeiffer was elected president of the American College of Sports Medicine, the world’s largest sports medicine organization.
Related news:
- Pfeiffer named director of Institute for the Study of Youth Sports
- Research from Pfeiffer, Nicholas Myers and other scholars, including MSU alumni, were featured in a special issue of Measurement in Physical Education and Exercise Science in 2021. Read more about the influential study.