EDUCATION
| Degree | Area of Study | University |
|---|---|---|
| Ph.D. | Kinesiology | University of North Carolina at Greensboro |
| M.S. | Physical Education | Seoul National University |
| B.Ed. | Elementary Education | Seoul National University of Education |
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
Physical education for elementary and early childhood
Social and affective domains of learning in physical education
Physical education teacher education
Qualitative research methods
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Innovative pedagogies in elementary and early childhood physical education
Socio-cultural influences on teaching and learning in physical education
Collaborative partnerships with schools and communities in physical education
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
- Lee, O., Baek, S., & Ryu, I. (2026). Elementary teachers’ perceptions and practices of social emotional learning in South Korean physical education. Advance online publication. Journal of Teaching in Physical Education. https://doi.org/10.1123/jtpe.2025-0453
- Baek, S., & Dyson, B. (2025). “I’m more than a PE teacher”: Teachers’ perspectives of social and emotional learning in PE and classroom at a rural elementary school. Curriculum Studies in Health and Physical Education, 16(1), 114–137. https://doi.org/10.1080/25742981.2024.2307614
- Howley, D., Dyson, B., & Baek, S. (2025). All the better for it: Exploring one teacher-researcher’s evolving efforts to promote meaningful physical education. European Physical Education Review, 31(1), 70-86. https://doi.org/10.1177/1356336X241247757
- Shen, Y., Dyson, B., Baek, S., Howley, D., & Zhang, F. (2025). Social and emotional learning through a sports-based youth development program grounded in a hybrid model-based practice. Journal of Teaching in Physical Education, 44(1), 123-132. https://doi.org/10.1123/jtpe.2024-0011
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
- Guest Reviewer for Quest, Journal of Teaching in Physical Education, European Physical Education Review, Social and Emotional Learning: Research, Practice, and Policy, and International Journal of Inclusive Education
- Abstract Reviewer for Special Interest Group (SIG) 93: Research on Learning and Instruction in Physical Education, American Educational Research Association (AERA) Annual Meeting
- Leadership Team Member, International Association for Physical Education in Higher Education (AIESEP) Primary/Elementary Physical Education SIG
- Former Executive Board Member, SIG 93: Research on Learning and Instruction in Physical Education, American Educational Research Association (AERA)
TEACHING PHILOSOPHY
Dr. Baek approaches teaching as a reflective and collaborative process in which students and educators co-construct meaningful learning experiences. She prioritizes creating safe, inclusive, and supportive environments where every student feels valued and connected, while designing engaging learning opportunities that connect theory to practice. Her teaching emphasizes making complex ideas accessible through purposeful scaffolding, active learning, and multimodal instructional tools. Ultimately, she seeks to prepare future educators and researchers to understand teaching and learning holistically and become reflective professionals who recognize the broader socio-cultural contexts that shape teaching and learning.
BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Seunghyun Baek is an Assistant Professor in Sport Pedagogy at The University of Alabama. Drawing on her prior experience as an elementary school teacher, her scholarship examines how physical education can provide meaningful learning experiences that promote students’ physical, social, and emotional development. Before joining The University of Alabama, Dr. Baek served as an Assistant Professor in the Physical Education Department at SUNY Cortland for approximately three years.