ATHENS, Ohio -- Ming Li, Ed.D., joins the College of Health and Human Services' School of Recreation and Sport Sciences as school director effective July 1. Li comes to Ohio University from Georgia Southern University, where he is the coordinator of the graduate sport management program and was previously coordinator of the undergraduate program in sport management.

Li earned an Ed.D. from the University of Kansas in 1992 with a major in sport administration and a minor in administration of education. He also holds a master's of education from Hangzhou University in China and a bachelor's from Guangzhou Institute of Physical Culture in China, both with a major in theories of sport and physical education.

"I look forward to Ming's leadership contributions to our College," Gary Neiman, dean of the College of Health and Human Services said. "Ming's well-rounded credentials include outstanding teaching and service experience, prolific publication and presentation history, ongoing research, and a proven commitment to fostering diversity and global perspectives. I believe he will be a multi-faceted asset to our programs in the School of Recreation and Sport Sciences, to our college, and to the university."

An active member of professional organizations in his field, Li currently serves on the Diversity Enhancement Task Force for the North American Society for Sport Management (NASSM) where he is responsible for development of goals, objectives and strategies to promote diversity within the organization. In 1999 he was honored with the prestigious Taylor Dodson Award, given to recognize leadership and service, by the Southern District American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (SDAAHPERD). Li also serves as a member of the editorial boards for International Journal of Sport Management, Journal of Sport Management, and International Sport Journal, and as a reviewer for the Journal of International Council for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, Sport and Dance.

Li -- who co-authored Economics of Sport, published in 2001 -- most recently has had articles published on the internationalization of sport management curricula in the United States. He was also instrumental in the establishment of Georgia Southern's first degree program in China, a master of science with a major in sport management, which is based at the Shanghai Institute of Physical Education.