David Dzewaltowski

David A. Dzewaltowski was inducted into the College of Applied Human Sciences Hall of Fame in the fall of 2025. He was previously inducted into the College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences Hall of Fame in 2009 and was recognized as the College’s Outstanding Alumnus in 2018.

Dzewaltowski earned a Master of Science degree from West Virginia University in 1985 and a doctorate in the psychology of exercise and sport from the University of Iowa in 1987.

A population health social scientist, Dzewaltowski’s research examined how community systems shape opportunities for physical activity and healthful eating. He coined the term “community wellness landscape,” describing the mosaic of places across a community that support child and family development, health behavior, and chronic disease prevention. His laboratory focused on diffusing evidence-based practices into childcare settings, schools, after-school programs, youth sport, and other organizations, with external support exceeding $10 million and more than 100 scholarly publications. He was a founding member of the RE-AIM workgroup.

At Kansas State University, Dzewaltowski served for more than two decades as head of the Department of Kinesiology and director of the Community Health Institute and was later named professor emeritus. Beginning in 2017, he served as Professor and Community Chair in Activity, Nutrition, and Obesity Prevention in the College of Public Health at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and the Buffett Early Childhood Institute. His editorial and advisory service included boards for journals such as Health Psychology, Exercise and Sport Science Reviews, and the Journal of Sport, Exercise and Performance Psychology, and panels for agencies including the National Institutes of Health, the United Kingdom Medical Research Council, and the National Academies.

Dzewaltowski is a Fellow of the National Academy of Kinesiology.