Rob Thomas

Robert K. Thomas

Robert K. Thomas, Ed.D.
Professor of Health & Exercise Science
E-mail: rthomas@lasierra.edu 
Phone: 951-785-2082

Education

  • EdD, Human Movement, Boston University, 2007
  • MS, Physical Education and Health, Loma Linda University, 1986
  • BS, Loma Linda University, Riverside campus, 1983

Principal Research Interests

Dr. Thomas typically teaches upper-division courses in Health & Exercise Science such as Principles of Epidemiology, Applied Public Health Statistics, Research Methods, Senior Seminar: Religion, Values, and Social Responsibility in Health & Movement, and Physiological Assessment and Exercise Prescription.

He has served as president for the Western Society for Kinesiology & Wellness; as the chair of the Faculty Senate at La Sierra University; and served 21 years as the executive director for the Seventh-day Adventist Health, Physical Education, and Recreation Association (2002-2023).

He has presented at numerous conventions regionally, nationally, and internationally on the areas of his research and academic interests.

Robert Thomas on ResearchGate

Health & Exercise Research Area

  • PhysicalGenesis: Fitness and Health Behaviors in students grades 5-11 in Adventist schools across the United States
  • Fitness and Academic Performance
  • Fitness Levels of College Students
  • History of SDA Physical Education in Higher Education

Awards

  • Distinguished Faculty Service Award, La Sierra University, 2015
  • Anees Haddad “Excellence in Faculty Governance” award, La Sierra University, 2012
  • “Faculty of the Year” award for Service-Learning at La Sierra University, 2011
  • Dr. G. Arthur Broten “Young Scholars” award at the Western Society for Kinesiology & Wellness, 2005
  • Who’s Who among America’s Teachers, 2003-2006
  • Zapara "Excellence in Teaching" Award at Atlantic Union College, 1992
  • National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics District 5 Volleyball "Coach of the Year", 1991

Representative Publications

  1. Thomas, R.K. (2022).We were created to move! Health, Wellness, & Sports at La Sierra. In A.Howe's Higher Ground (pp.505-527). La Sierra University.
  2. Souza, P., Portes, L., Thomas, R.K., Bonito, J., Rua, M., Pacheco, F.J., Plaatjes, P., & Oliveira, N. (2017). Knowledge about epilepsy in university health students: A multicenter study. Epilepsy Behavior, 79, 112-116. Doi.org/10.1016/j.yebeh.2017.11.016
  3. Perkins, S., & Thomas, R.K. (Dec 2011/Jan 2012). Exercising with Exergaming: Giving Physical Education a Technology Makeover. Journal of Adventist Education, 74(2), 34-39
  4. Thomas, R.K. (Oct/Nov 2011). The Seventh-day Adventist Physical Education Pyramid. Journal of Adventist Education, 74(1), 34-37
  5. Thomas, R.K. (2005). The leadership experience of presidents of small, professional organizations. Monograph Series. Western Society for Kinesiology and Wellness
  6. Hamerslough, W.S., Thomas, R.K., & Windemuth, T. (2003). Guidelines for SDA Athletics. Riverside, CA: Seventh-day Adventist Health, Physical Education, Recreation Association
  7. Hamerslough, W.S., Thomas, R.K., & Haldeman, J. (2003). A comparison of strength development using various repetition speeds. WCPES Western Society Review

Representative Presentations

  • Mar 27, 2023 “SDA Physical Education & Athletics - Where did we come from? Why do we do this?” at SDA-HPERA national convention in Seattle, WA
  • Oct 24 2019 "The ‘Sport Struggle’ from a Seventh-day Adventist Perspective” at the 2nd Global Congress on Sports & Christianity at Calvin University in Grand Rapids, MI
  • Feb 23, 2017 national Webinar for teachers in Adventist schools across the United States. Title: "PhysicalGenesis 2017: As easy as 1-2-3"
  • Oct 13, 2016 featured as the E.C. Davis speaker at Western Society for Kinesiology & Wellness in Reno, NV. Title: “Towards Making a Difference"
  • July 8, 2014 “Examining Relationships Between Exercise and Academic Performance“ at the 2nd Global Conference on Health and Lifestyle in Geneva, Switzerland
  • Jan 24, 2013 “The History of Seventh-day Adventist Physical Education in North America” for a General Session presentation for the 2nd Brazilian Adventist Conference of Physical Education at the Adventist University of Sao Paulo, campus Hortolandia.

Online “Coaching Education” Courses Created

In 2018 Dr Thomas was asked to create an online training course for the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists. He led a team of 20+ individuals from the US and Canada to create two versions of an online course to help education coaches with the SDA philosophy and principles for "Coaching Distinctively Adventist Sports" hosted on the Adventist Learning Community site.

School employee version (2019)

Volunteer coach version (2020)