Biography
Elizabeth Bowles Sharp, PhD, received her Bachelor of Science in health and physical education and Master of Education in physical education from Arkansas Tech University, then went on to earn her PhD in human performance and physical education pedagogy from Middle Tennessee State University-Murfreesboro. Sharp teaches Foundations of Kinesiology, Methods of Team Activities, Methods of Teaching Physical Education in Elementary Schools, Methods of Teaching Secondary Physical Education, and School Health Education. She also supervises the pre-internship and student teaching experiences for K-12 teaching students at CMU.
Sharp teaches her courses using a hands-on approach. She provides multiple teaching opportunities for her methods classes, including partnering with local homeschool families. Her interests include using qualitative methods to investigate new teaching methods, changes in pre-service teacher thinking and the use of learning communities. Sharp also serves as an Assistant Department Head of the Kinesiology department.
After finishing her master's degree, Sharp spent a year living and teaching in western China. She taught conversational English and American culture to sophomore English majors. Sharp has also done work with teachers in underserved areas of Narobi, Kenya. She also worked as an elementary physical education teacher from 2008-2011 at the Homer Pittard Campus School in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
In her free time, she serves as the Chair of the Professional Preparation Council for SHAPE (Society of Health and Physical Educators) America. She also serves on the Board of Directors for SHAPE Colorado and for the She Has A Name organization in Kenya. She has two young sons that she enjoys hiking, playing, and having dance parties with.
Selected Publications
Sharp, E. & Boutwell, D. (2023, March). Pre-Internship Course: Preparing Students for the Student Teaching Experience. Presented at the SHAPE America annual convention in Seattle, Washington.
Orendorff, K. & Sharp, E. (2022, April). The Bridge: A Homeschool Practicum Experience. Presented at the SHAPE America annual convention in New Orleans, LA.
Sharp, E.B. (2022, October/November). A Simple Prayer. Wildfire: Annual Metastatic Breast Cancer Issue, 7 (5), 52.53.
Sharp, E.B., Kratzer, B., West, A., & Kennedy, C. (2019). Paper Plate Games. Great Activities, 38(3).
Sharp, E.B., Barnd, S., McMullen, J., Krause, J. (2018, October). Encouraging University Collaborations through State Associations. Presented at the SHAPE America PETE/HETE conference, Salt Lake City, UT.
Sharp, E.B. (2017). The Parachute Speaks Many Languages. Society of Health and Physical Educators of Colorado Journal, 43 (1).
Sharp, E & Barney, D. (2016) Required and Non-Required College Physical Activity Classes Effect on College Students’ Stress. American Journal of Health Studies, 31 (2), 74-81.