Kent Johnson
Kinesiology
Professor, Exercise Science Program Director
Biography
Dr. Kent Johnson has been at Lipscomb since 1984 in various capacities. He is currently a professor of Exercise Science. Prior to coming to Lipscomb, he taught at the high school level, coached high school track and directed a wellness program for a hospital in Mississippi. Johnson completed his Ph.D. in Exercise Physiology from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1988. From 1984-1993, Johnson served as the Cross Country and Track coach at Lipscomb (with a 2.5 year sabbatical while completing the Ph.D.). He served as chair of the Department of Kinesiology from 1993 to 2014. Johnson became certified as an ACSM Exercise Specialist in 1991 and was selected as a Fellow in the American College of Sports Medicine in 1995. Johnson has been an active member of ACSM (American College of Sports Medicine), SEACSM (Southeastern Chapter of ACSM), NSCA (National Strength Coaches Association) and other professional organizations. In 1998, he received the SEACSM Service Award and in 1999, Johnson was presented the TAHPERD Scholar award.
In the past several years, Johnson has been interested in helping develop curriculum program standards for undergraduate exercise science programs and promoting exercise science as a profession. He currently working towards accreditation for the undergraduate Exercise Science Program at Lipscomb through the Committee on Accreditation for the Exercise Sciences (CoAES). He has published and presented professional papers at the state, regional and national levels. Johnson has received several internal and external grants during his tenure at Lipscomb to help support his research interests. For three consecutive summers (1989-2001), he received a U.S. Navy-ASEE Summer Faculty Research Grant with the Naval Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory in Pensacola, FL. In 1995, he was chosen to administer a $100,000 departmental grant through the Ryder Cup and PGA Foundation to teach Golf for Business and Life. He has received two Lipscomb sabbatical grants and six Lipscomb summer research grants while at Lipscomb.
Recent research interests include: sleep quality and habits in student athletes; methodologies for measuring body composition; exercise and cognitive function; and various warm-up strategies affecting muscle force generating capacity. Johnson co-founded the Exercise and Nutrition Science M.S. Program at Lipscomb in 2009 and served as the co-director for three years. Johnson was recently elected to the CREP (the Coalition for the Registration of Exercise Professionals) Board as an Advisory Director for a three year term (October 1, 2016 through Sept. 30, 2019; reappointed through 2022). He is also the university Faculty Athletics Representative and has been in that role since 1997. Johnson is married to Susan and they attend the Antioch Church of Christ where he has served as an elder (since 2001). They have three adult children and four grandchildren. He enjoys teaching, research and running.
Academic Degrees
B.A. English (Harding College)
M.Ed. English (Harding University)
M.S. Exercise Physiology (University of Arizona)
Ph.D. Exercise Physiology (University of Southern Mississippi)