Dr. Marshall Milbrath
My journey to becoming an expert in education, sport, and leadership is characterized by both planned and unexpected opportunities. My interests took shape in my youth while exploring new interests and ideas through literature. Favorite youth novels of mine included The Hatchet, which nurtured a curiosity for the outdoors in me, while youth novels on sports and athlete stories inspired a love for sport participation. Always determined in whatever I took on, I entered my teen years with my eyes set on placing in the 1-mile run at my middle school track meet. But as I prepared for the annual event, I decided I wanted running to transcend a single even - I decided I wanted to become a runner. Becoming a High School All-State Cross-Country Runner included more than rigorous daily training; I embraced becoming a student of my sport - reading magazines, books, and blogs on training. Additionally, unlike many student-athletes' experiences, training rarely took place on a track or road, but almost always was at wildlife refuges or forested parks. My weekly retreat to the woods to train fueled not only my love of sport, but the wonder that I held for nature. By the time I was part of three-time conference champion team at an NCAA Division III school, I had decided that I wanted to coach aspiring athletes as well.
My journey continued as a science teacher and high school cross-country/track coach. During my career as a high school coach, I attended clinics and coaching education schools to learn as much as I could about coaching. My desire to learn influenced my return to graduate school in order to expand my understanding of strength and conditioning, coaching, and coach development. I continued to nurture my love of the outdoors, and completed in a couple of 50-mile ultra marathons including a 20th place finish (8:29:55) at the 2012 USATF Nationals at the Tussey Mountainback Run in State College, Pennsylvania. My scholarship continued as I earned two master's degrees, one in Curriculum & Instruction in which I focused on environmental education, and one in exercise physiology. My PhD focused on the amalgamation of sport and teaching as I studied and conducted research on effective coaching. My service to the field has included five years in higher education, three of which were as a program director. I also spent a period of time teaching coaching education classes for USA Track & Field.
My scholarship has shifted to primarily focus on physical activity in natural spaces. In 2021, I thru-hiked the 2193-mile Appalachian Trail while collecting personal narratives from other hikers. I intend to use these accounts to better understand the resilience and motivation of long-distance hikers, while also partnering with other scholars to better understand the physical and psycho-social determinants of long-distance hikers. In the summer of 2022, I hiked the first half of the Colorado Trail, before returning to the Appalachian Trail to re-hike sections with new friends I had made while doing trail magic. I continue to explore and be inspired by the haunts of nature, seeking fellowship with nature, herself, as well as those around me who also do so.
My journey continued as a science teacher and high school cross-country/track coach. During my career as a high school coach, I attended clinics and coaching education schools to learn as much as I could about coaching. My desire to learn influenced my return to graduate school in order to expand my understanding of strength and conditioning, coaching, and coach development. I continued to nurture my love of the outdoors, and completed in a couple of 50-mile ultra marathons including a 20th place finish (8:29:55) at the 2012 USATF Nationals at the Tussey Mountainback Run in State College, Pennsylvania. My scholarship continued as I earned two master's degrees, one in Curriculum & Instruction in which I focused on environmental education, and one in exercise physiology. My PhD focused on the amalgamation of sport and teaching as I studied and conducted research on effective coaching. My service to the field has included five years in higher education, three of which were as a program director. I also spent a period of time teaching coaching education classes for USA Track & Field.
My scholarship has shifted to primarily focus on physical activity in natural spaces. In 2021, I thru-hiked the 2193-mile Appalachian Trail while collecting personal narratives from other hikers. I intend to use these accounts to better understand the resilience and motivation of long-distance hikers, while also partnering with other scholars to better understand the physical and psycho-social determinants of long-distance hikers. In the summer of 2022, I hiked the first half of the Colorado Trail, before returning to the Appalachian Trail to re-hike sections with new friends I had made while doing trail magic. I continue to explore and be inspired by the haunts of nature, seeking fellowship with nature, herself, as well as those around me who also do so.