Maureen Weiss, professor of Kinesiology in the psychology of physical activity, has been appointed to the Board of Directors of Girls on the Run International, based on her significant contributions to girls and women in sport and physical activity through research, publications, and professional and community service.
Girls on the Run International (GOTRI) is a positive youth development program that uses physical activity as a vehicle for promoting psychosocial and physical health and well-being among pre-teen and adolescent girls, and is committed to a mission of “preparing girls for a lifetime of self-respect and healthy living.” GOTRI delivers the Girls on the Run program for girls in grades 3-5 and the Girls on Track program for girls in grades 6-8, totaling 186 sites in 45 states and serving one million girls in 2011. GOTRI programs accomplish their mission and goals by combining physical activity and training for a 3.1 mile (5K) running event with a life skills curriculum featuring developmentally appropriate and female-relevant health issues such as body image, self-esteem, eating behaviors, and social relationships.