Faculty Directory
Haichun Sun, Ph.D.
Sun is a Professor in Physical Education at the University of South Florida. She received her master’s in Education from Shanghai University of Sports in 2001. Her doctoral degree in Kinesiology was earned at the University of Maryland—College Park while working as the coordinator of the Curriculum and Instruction Laboratory. She joined the faculty at USF in the fall of 2007.
Sun's research is focused on the interactive effect of situational and self-initiated motivation in physical activity settings. She studies motivational sources for children and adolescents and their impact on children and adolescents' physical activity behaviors. Her research also includes children/adolescent physical activity program design and evaluation as related to the physical, cognitive and motivational domains.
The ultimate goal of Sun's research is to enhance children and adolescents' motivation toward a healthy, physically active lifestyle. Her recent research is focused on understanding the mechanisms of children and adolescents' physical activity motivation and behavioral change as influenced by different types of physical activity programs or physical education curricula. Sun has published multiple manuscripts and book chapters relative to her research interests. In addition, she has made 50 presentations at national and international levels.
Sun’s teaching responsibilities include both the undergraduate and graduate levels at the University of South Florida. Undergraduate courses include: Class Management, Safety, Ethics, Law and Organization and Administration and Middle School Instructional Design and Content. Graduate courses include: Analysis of Research on Teaching Physical Education, Learner Assessment in Physical Education and Instructional Design and Content: Dance & Gymnastics.
