Leadership
President
Hollie Newnam
Hollie M. Newnam holds a PhD in Physical Education from Florida State University (FSU), an M.S. in Educational Leadership from Nova University, and a B.A in Physical Education from the University of Central Florida (UCF). Hollie was an elementary school principal in Volusia County, Florida, assistant professor in the Sport Management, Recreation and Physical Education Department at FSU and an instructor in the Department of Physical Education at UCF. Additional work experience includes 20 years as a high school physical education instructor and supervisor in Volusia County Florida, an adjunct professor at UCF supervising physical education interns as well as grant writing and consulting at Curva and Associates and UCF. In addition to serving as the current executive director of SHAPE Florida, Hollie served Florida as President, Dance Association Vice-president, Chair of the Advocacy Strategy Panel, and 18 years as convention program director.
She received Florida’s Peter Everett Honor Award, Don Knitt Service Award, and Presidential Awards in 2010, 2008 and 2007. Hollie served Southern District as President, Vice-president of Physical Education, Chair of the district nominating and membership committees, and Co-Chair of the Local Arrangements committee for the AAHPERD/SHAPE America National Conventions in 2009 and 2019. She received Southern Districts prestigious Honor Award in 2017. Hollie’s scholarly presentations center around advocacy, grant writing and measurement and evaluation in the areas of teacher education and sports conditioning.
President-Elect
Carol Ciotto
Carol has been at Central CT State University for the past 23 years. She currently serves as a retired/rehired Assistant Dean of Assessment and Accreditation for the School of Education. She also served as the CCSU Physical Education and Human Performance Department Chair, Physical Education Teacher Education Program Coordinator and a Professor. Prior to teaching at CCSU she spent 23 years as an elementary physical education teacher, a K-8 assistant principal and a K-6 principal in the CT public-school setting. Carol currently serves as the Executive Director for the New Jersey Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance. (NJAHPERD). She has also served on the Connecticut Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (CTAHPERD) Executive Board in various leadership roles including the 2013 CTAHPERD President. From 2013 to June of 2021, Carol served as the Executive Director for SHAPE America Eastern District from 2013- 2021. In June of 2021 she was one of the nine founders that established the National Academy of Health and Physical Literacy (NAHPL) where she currently serves as the national President-elect and as the Executive Director for the Eastern Seaboard Region.
Carol is a recognized speaker at the state, regional, national, and international levels on a variety of
educational topics. She has published several articles in various peer-reviewed educational
journals, is the co-author of the book PASS: A Guidebook to Creating Physically Active School
Systems and co-author of a chapter on Social Emotional Learning in the book titled College
Wellness. Carol is a co-founder of PASS: Physically Active Schools Systems and co-author of the CT
legislative Public Act No. 16-132 - the CT Red Ribbon PASS Program that recognizes schools that
are incorporating physical activity throughout the school day.
Carol has received several awards for her service to the profession and excellence in teaching
including, a 2024 Inaugural Fellow of NAHPL, the 2019 SHAPE America Joy of Effort Award, the
2019 SHAPE America Eastern District Tilia Fantasia Award, the 2018 SHAPE America Eastern
District Honor Award and the 2018 CTAHPERD Honor Award. She is a 2017 Inductee into the North
American Society of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, Sport and Dance Professionals, the
2016 SHAPE America Teacher Educator of the Year Award, and the 2010, 2016 and 2017 CCSU
Excellence in Teaching Award. In addition, Carol was inducted into the Bulkeley High School
Athletic Hall of Fame and into the New Agenda: Northeast Hall of Fame both in 2018.
Carol’s love for learning has been a pivotal part of her professional growth and desire to share her
knowledge and expertise with others.