Associate Professor Mary Kreis
Dr. Mary Kreis
Dr. Mary Kreis is an Associ
ate Professor of Sport Management in the Department of Health Science and Sport Studies at California University of PA. Dr. Kreis earned her Ph.D. from the University of Miami, home of the Miami Hurricanes, in Higher Education and Sport Management. Her Masters degree was completed at the University of Texas at San Antonio while serving on Active Duty in the U.S. Army. Dr. Kreis attended the University of Virginia for her undergraduate work in Psychology, where she was also commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Army's Medical Service Corps.
Before coming to Cal U, Professor Kreis taught Sport Management at two other colleges where she was the faculty advisor for the Sport Management student clubs and organized events that helped to generate extensive funds for students to travel and attend professional Sport Management conferences.
While working on her Masters and Ph.D., Dr. Kreis worked part-time for several professional sport and entertainment organizations in game operations and event management. You may have seen her on the San Antonio Spurs' court, the Florida Marlins' field, the Florida Panther's ice rink, the track at Daytona, or the red carpet at a grand opening of a Planet Hollywood!
Dr. Kreis served as the Captain of an adventure racing team that competed in honor of military veterans. This team, TEAM AMERICAN LEGION, consisted of military veterans who represent The American Legion, the world's largest veteran's organization, in competitions and through inspirational speaking engagements at military events, high schools, and civic groups. The team competed in many multi-day events including: the Canadian Eco-Challenge, the Armed Forces Eco-Challenge, and the U.S. Adventure Racing National Championships where the team has placed 5th the last two years.
Dr., or Major Kreis, served in the U.S. Army and the Army Reserves having over 18 years of service. Her last duty assignment was as a training officer in a Combat Support Hospital based in Coroapolis, PA. For two years, Major Kreis competed on the U.S. Armed Forces Pentathlon Team that has represented the U.S. in NATO competitions in France and The Netherlands.
Professor Kreis is active in several national organizations in the field of sport management including: the Sport Marketing Association (SMA), the North American Society for Sport Management (NASSM), the National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA), and the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE). She has made presentations and lead workshops at conferences such as NASPE – on the national, district, and state levels, NIRSA, SMA, and the Hawaii International Conference on Education. Her research interests are in the areas of adventure and extreme sports and college students' wellness programs.
Dr. Kreis lives in Belle Vernon, PA. While riding her bike across the U.S., she learned that she was expecting her first child and that she had melanoma – skin cancer! After having two surgeries while pregnant to remove the cancer, her daughter, Viva for “live long”, was born healthy in January 2005! Before Viva was even born, she had "ridden" over 4,000 miles with Mom! Because of her connection with cancer, Mary was one of 25 cyclists selected to ride in the Tour of Hope – a cross country bike ride with Lance Armstrong designed to bring attention to the need for clinical trials in cancer research!