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Jennifer L. Walton-Fisette, Ph.D., director of Teacher Education and professor of Physical Education Teacher Education in the School of Teaching, Learning and Curriculum Studies, presented the 2022 Esther Larson McGinnis Scholar Lecture, “Be the Change: Engaging in Pedagogies of Social Justice in Physical Education and Human Movement.”

Walton-Fisette emphasizes that social justice and equity must be central when engaging in scholarly and pedagogical work related to physical education and human movement. Walton-Fisette’s presentation touched on her scholarly work related to social justice in physical education teacher education, and concerns related to equity and social justice within policy.  

“It is well documented that for decades, social justice has been marginalized within physical education, kinesiology, and recreation scholarship and programs of study,” said Walton-Fisette. “But we are at a time in our history…where we cannot hide, gloss over, or explicitly neglect the identities and positions of the people we research and their histories and lived experiences. It is our collective responsibility to espouse a social justice and equity perspective and approach to our research and pedagogy.”  

Walton-Fisette received her doctorate from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. She has more than 40 refereed journal publications, four books, and over 80 state, national, and international conference presentations, in the areas of curriculum, teaching and learning, pedagogical practices, and social justice issues related to physical education. Her current scholarship centers on social justice, equity, and policy issues within physical education at the K-12 and higher education levels.    

The annual Esther Larson McGinnis Scholar Lecture is presented by Illinois State University’s School of Kinesiology and Recreation.