Tara Blackshear, Ed.D.

Associate Professor

Contact Info

Phone:

410-704-3172

Office:

Burdick Hall, 120 G

Email:

tblackshear@towson.edu

Hours:

Wednesday 2-4pm
or by appointment

http://www.tarablackshear.com/

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-Health^TM: 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