Biography

Ali Brian, Ph.D., CAPE, is the Associate Dean for Research in the College of Education and a Professor in the Department of Educational and Developmental Science at the University of South Carolina. She serves as Research Director at the Institute of Movement Studies for Individuals with Visual Impairments and directs the Physical and Developmental Disabilities Research Lab. Brian is also the Principal Investigator for GEAR UP SC, which seeks to improve college readiness and access for SC students. She currently serves as Treasurer for the International Motor Development Research Consortium and Research Chair for the National Consortium for Physical Education for Individuals with Disabilities (NCPEID). She previously held leadership roles as Vice President of NCPEID, Chair of SHAPE America's Research Council, and co-chair for SHAPE America’s Motor Behavior SIG. In addition, she is an Associate Editor for Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport and Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy and serves on the editorial boards RQES and the Journal of Motor Learning and Development. Brian’s research has been funded by the US Department of Education, National Institutes of Health, and the Duke Endowment. 

Education

Ph.D., Kinesiology with concentrations in Motor Development and Adapted Physical Education and a minor in Research Methods, The Ohio State University 

Research and Expertise

Brian’s research focuses on motor competence, physical activity, and health-related fitness in individuals with disabilities, with a particular emphasis on those with visual impairments. She has conducted international assessments of both perceived and actual motor competence, physical activity levels, and fitness, using these findings to develop targeted intervention programs. Her work also extends to early childhood intervention, where she designs and implements multi-component strategies, integrating physical, psychological, and cognitive elements, to promote healthy developmental trajectories in preschool-aged children. Through her GEAR UP leadership, she applies her expertise to educational access, creating programs that prepare SC youth for postsecondary success.

Honors

• Hollis Fait Scholarly Contribution Award, National Consortium for Individuals with Disabilities, 2025
• Presidential Appreciation Award, National Consortium for Individuals with Disabilities, 2023
• Motor Behavior SIG Distinguished Scholar, SHAPE America, 2023
• G. Lawrence Rarick Research Award, National Consortium for Individuals with Disabilities, 2021
• Early Career Distinguished Scholar Award, North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity, 2020
• Corrine Kirshner Research Award, American Federation for the Blind, 2020
• David P. Beaver Adapted Physical Activity Young Scholar Award, National Consortium for Individuals with Disabilities, 2019
• Early Career Research Award, College of Education, USC, 2019
• Breakthrough Star Award, Vice President of Research, USC, 2019
• Honorary Research Fellow, Wales Institute of Physical Literacy, 2019
• Research Director, Institute of Movement Studies for Individuals with Visual Impairments, 2015-present
• Two Thumbs Up Award, Office of Disability Services, USC, 2017
• Research Fellow, SHAPE America, 2017
• Tsukuba University & Japanese Ministry of Education Summer Institute Fellowship Award, 2012 & 2013
• Distinguished Service Award, Ohio State University Sport, Fitness, and Health Program, 2010
• Dan Connelly Outstanding Leadership and Academic Achievement Award, Notre Dame College, 2000

Publications

For a complete list of publications please refer to:

Ali Brian on Research Gate

Ali Brian on Google Scholar