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Leah E. Robinson, Ph.D., is associate professor in the Department of 
Kinesiology at Auburn University. Her research focuses on three complemen-
tary areas: motor skills development, physical activity, and cardio metabolic 
health. Specifically, Dr. Robinson investigates the effects of various environ-
mental and behavioral influences on motor skills competence, physical activ-
ity participation, and cardiometabolic health in pediatric populations and the 
implementation of school-based interventions to promote motor skills and 
physical activity. She is the principal investigator on an RWJF Active Living 
Research grant titled “School reform: The role of school and physical educa-
tion policy on children’s physical activity in Alabama’s Black Belt Region,” 
and she has received funding from NIH and the Alabama State Department 
of Education. Dr. Robinson also completed two National Heart, Lung, and 
Blood Institute fellowship training programs in behavioral sleep medicine 
(2011-2013) and cardiovascular health disparities (2008-2010). Because it 
is essential to identify ways to promote movement while motivating children 
and youth to be physically active, the long-term goal of her work is to create 
environments within schools and communities that contribute to the overall 
health and development of young and school-age children. Dr. Robinson is a 
fellow in the AAHPERD Research Consortium and the American College of 
Sports Medicine (ACSM) Leadership and Diversity Training Program. She is 
a Holmes Scholar and has received several honors for her scholarship, includ-
ing the Ohio State University College of Education and Human Ecology New 
Leader Award (2011), the Mabel Lee Award (2011), the Lolas E. Halverson 
Motor Development and Learning Young Investigator Award (2010), and the 
Hally Beth Poindexter Young Scholar (2009). She received a B.S. in physical 
education and biology from North Carolina Central University and an M.S. 
and Ph.D. in sport and exercise science from the Ohio State University.