Phone: 828-227-2287
Email: mcpherson@email.wcu.edu 
Office Address: Moore 311

Education:

• Ph.D., Louisiana State University, 1987
• M.Ed., Georgia Southern University, 1978
• B.S., Georgia Southern University, 1977

Publications & Presentations:

• McPherson, S. L., & Vickers, J. N. (2004). Cognitive issues in motor expertise. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 2, 274-300.
• Research Symposium-Developing a Programmatic Line of Research or How to Put the Pieces of the Puzzle Together (2003, April). Invited as Symposium Speaker by Maureen Weiss, University of Virginia, - Symposium for Research Consortium at American Alliance of Health Physical Education Recreation and Dance National Conference, Philadelphia, PA. Research Quarterly for Exercise & Sport, 74, A-93.

Research Interests:

• Examining the influence of various training interventions on learning to lift properly for prevention of back injuries from a lifespan perspective.
• Examining the nature of expertise in motor domains.
• Examining tactical and performance skills of male professional and novice tennis players. Dr. McPherson recently received an external grant from the International Tennis Federation (ITF) to support this work.

Biography:

Dr. McPherson joined the Department of Physical Therapy in fall 1999 as associate professor in motor behavior. Prior to this appointment, she was director of the graduate program in Health and Human Performance at WCU (1992-1999). She also was former director of the Motor Behavior Laboratory at the University of Oklahoma, Norman OK, from 1988 to 1992. She resides in Asheville, NC and her hobbies include traveling, reading (mystery novels), scuba diving, jogging, and tennis.

Dr. McPherson teaches, conducts research, and mentors M.P.T. students. She is director of the Motor Behavior Laboratory and lectures in areas of Motor Behavior and Research Methods. She teaches "Scientific Inquiry I" and "II" (PT 642, PT 643) to first-year students and directs second-year students' research projects in "Scientific Inquiry III" and "IV" (PT 642, PT 643). She also teaches units in areas of motor behavior to second-year students in clinical logic. She collaborates with other physical therapy faculty to examine motor learning in physical therapy environments.

Dr. McPherson was recently elected as a national officer for American Alliance of Health Physical Education and Recreation. She is currently serving as chair elect of the Motor Development Academy and will serve for three years.