Diane Wiese-Bjornstal, Ph.D., professor in the School of Kinesiology, was inducted as a Fellow in the National Academy of Kinesiology (NAK) in a special ceremony culminating the recent annual meeting in Chicago. Becoming a Fellow in NAK is the highest recognition achieved by a scholar in Kinesiology. To be inducted, an individual must meet rigorous criteria for scientific research, professional scholarship, and service to the field. NAK is composed of national and international fellows who have made significant and sustained contributions to the field of kinesiology.

Here is a portion from her sponsors’ induction narrative: “Diane Wiese-Bjornstal is a distinguished scholar, mentor, and professional citizen. Her sustained line of programmatic research is in sports medicine psychology—the study of cognitive, social, and behavioral factors related to injuries. She collaborates with scholars in orthopedic surgery, family medicine, and athletic training, among others, to understand the complex issues surrounding injury processes. Her research questions are guided by theory, rigorous methods, and the interplay of social-behavioral and biophysical factors that influence injury. Her integrated model of response to sport injury was a paradigm changer, with nearly every article on injury psychology citing this model since its publication 20 years ago. Her unique niche bridges multiple disciplines, translates research to evidence-based best practices, and considers developmental differences. The quality and quantity of her articles establish her as an expert in the study of sports medicine psychology.”