Faculty Profiles
Craig Nieman
Assistant professor of instruction
Email: niemanc@usf.edu
Dr. Craigory Nieman is an Assistant Professor of Instruction in Physical Education at the University of South Florida. His research focuses on preparing future physical education teachers for a variety of students and communities, and providing curricular models and physical activity programming that are engaging and meaningful. Dr. Nieman has published in leading journals such as the Journal for Teaching in Physical Education and Curriculum Studies in Health and Physical Education. He holds a B.S. in Physical Education from Ohio University, an M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Tampa, and a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Teacher Education and an emphasis in physical education from the University of South Florida.
Dr. Nieman currently teaches both undergraduate and graduate-level courses in physical education and athletic coaching, while also supervising undergraduate preservice teachers during their clinical placements. He coordinates the minors in athletic coaching and the science of physical activity, as well as the Homeschool Elementary PE program on the USF Tampa campus. Before joining USF, he taught elementary physical education to kindergarten through fifth-grade students in Mount Vernon, Ohio, and later in Hillsborough County, Florida.
Dr. Nieman has presented extensively at numerous state, national, and international conferences, including the American Educational Research Association (AERA) Annual Meeting, the International Association for Physical Education in Higher Education (AIESEP) International Conference, and the SHAPE America Convention. A few of his accolades include the 2016 SHAPE America Outstanding Major of the Year and the prestigious 2022 SHAPE America Ruth Abernathy Presidential Scholarship.
An active member of SHAPE America, SHAPE Florida, AIESEP, and AERA, Dr. Nieman’s expertise has been lent to organizations such as the Florida Department of Education, the Association for Teacher Education, and SHAPE America.