UM Professor Wins Journal’s Paper of the Year Award

Paul Loprinzi

The American Journal of Health Promotion has named Paul Loprinzi, associate professor of health, exercise science and recreation management at the University of Mississippi, as this year’s winner of its Paper of the Year Award.

“The purpose of the award is to recognize some of health promotion’s best scientists and those who bring outstanding humanity to their field of inquiry and bigheartedness to their writing,” said Paul E. Terry, the journal’s editor-in-chief.

Criteria for this award require the journal article to address a topic of timely importance in health promotion and be frequently cited and/or downloaded. Loprinzi, along with his co-author and former UM graduate student, Elizabeth Crush, were recognized for their paper, “Source and Size of Social Support Network on Sedentary Behavior Among Older Adults.” 

“Since his arrival at UM, Dr. Loprinzi has made a tremendous impact on our research culture,” said Minsoo Kang, professor and chair of health, exercise science and recreation management. “In my opinion, there is no other researcher working in our field today who has contributed as much to the discipline through his research on exercise and memory.” 

Loprinzi, who earned his doctorate in kinesiology in 2011 from Oregon State University, studies physical activity epidemiology at Ole Miss, where he has published more than 450 journal articles. His work has been cited almost 6,000 times since he joined the university in 2014.

The School of Applied Sciences, home of the Department of Health, Exercise Science and Recreation Management, offers professional preparation programs that integrate academic study, clinical training, creative research, service-learning and community outreach, leading to the development of leaders whose professional endeavors will improve health and well-being.

By Katherine Blackmon