Tara Blackshear, Ed.D.

Associate Professor

Name

Contact Info

Phone:
410-704-3172
Office:
Burdick Hall, 120 G
Email:
tblackshear@towson.edu
Hours:
Wednesday 2-4pm
or by appointment

Education

Ed.D., Exercise and Sport Science, The University of North Carolina-Greensboro

M.Ed., Physical Education, Florida A&M University

B.S., Physical Education, Florida A&M University

Areas of Expertise

Health, Physical Education, and Physical Activity
Social, Cultural, and Structural Equity in Health, Physical Activity, and Education

Select Publications 

  • Blackshear, T. B. (2025). The First: Trailblazing While “Talking Back” to Ensure We Aren’t the Last – 2025 Praxis Lecture Dedicated to Anita J. Turner, Quest, https://doi.org/10.1080/00336297.2025.2502342                                 
  • Blackshear, T. B. (2025). Culturally equitable approaches to physical activity programming for Black American adolescent girls, Youth, 5(1), 26. https://doi.org/10.3390/youth5010026
  • Blackshear, T. B., & Culp, B. (2025). Cultural Equity in Physical Education: Case Studies for Transformative Practice. Human Kinetics.                         
  • Blackshear, T. B. (2024). Black Girls as Transformative Leaders in Physical Activity Programs, Journal of Healthy Eating and Active Living, 4(2), 60-68. https://doi.org/10.51250/jheal.v4i2.80                                                   
  • Blackshear, T. B., & Baucum, T. (2024). BLinG-HealthTM: A Peer-Led Physical Activity Program for Black Adolescent Girls—a pilot study, Women in Sport and Physical Activity Journal. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1123/wspaj.2023-0078
  • Blackshear, T. B., & Culp, B. (2023). Critical Race Studies in Physical Education. Human Kinetics. Critical Race Studies in Physical Education – Human Kinetics
  • Blackshear, T. B. (2022). #SayHerName: Black women physical education teachers of the year. Journal of Teaching in Physical Education. https://doi.org/10.1123/jtpe.2020-0308
  • Blackshear, T. B., & Culp, B. (2022). The ‘Hidden Figures’ of physical education: Black Women who paved the way in PE, Momentum Magazine, Winter 2022, 21-24. Momentum Magazine - Winter 2022 by SHAPEAmerica - Issuu
  • Blackshear, T. B. (2022). The use of FITNESSGRAM® in PETE: Is it appropriate? International Journal of Kinesiology in Higher Education, 6(1), 2-14. https://doi.org/10.1080/24711616.2020.1806156
  • Blackshear, T. B. (2021). Dads matter, too: Fathers’ impact on physical activity in Black women. Journal of African American Women and Girls in Education, 1(3), 10-27. https://doi.org.10.21423/jaawge-v1i3a70
  • Blackshear, T. B., & Culp, B. (2021). Transforming PETE’s initial standards: Advancing racial equity and social justice in physical education, Quest, 73 (1), 22-44. https://doi.org/10.1080/00336297.2020.1838305

Research

  • Health & Physical Activity Promotion 
  • Fitness Testing & Assessment in Physical Education 
  • Equity – Race and Gender

Professional Memberships

  • SHAPE America: The Society of Health and Physical Educators
  • American College of Sports Medicine
  • SHAPE Maryland: The Society of Health and Physical Educators

  • National Association of Kinesiology in Higher Education

Service

  • Academic Senate Subcommittee Member, Faculty Compensation   
  • Academic Senate Subcommittee Member, Teaching Evaluation Task Force

 Courses Taught

  • KNES 480 – Seminar in Physical Education 
  • KNES 492 – Elementary Physical Education University Supervision
  • KNES 493 – Secondary Physical Education University Supervision