(April 19, 2023), Starkville, MS -- Clayton Whalen was selected as the 2023 Outstanding Hall of Fame Graduate Student for the College of Education. Whalen is completing his dissertation in Sport Studies, while teaching as a Lecturer in the Department of Kinesiology. His dissertation uses the work of philosopher Alasdair MacIntyre to examine the philosophy of physical education. Clayton teaches courses in Sport Administration and Physical Education and Coaching.
Whalen received his bachelor's degree in physical education from Ball State University in 2014 and his Master's Degree in Sport Administration from Mississippi State in 2019. He has worked as a physical education teacher in both New Mexico and Indiana and is the lead bike tech for iCanShine which hosts special needs bike camps around the country every summer including the iCanBike Camp at Mississippi State.
When asked about Clayton, Dr. Stan Brown the Dept. Head of Kinesiology commented first on his research, emphasizing that Clayton has "presented at several international conferences including the International Association for the Philosophy of Sport as well as the National Association for Kinesiology in Higher Education." Brown then noted that Clayton, had also recently published a paper titled "An Arete-Based Philosophy of Physical Education" in the Journal of Physical Education Recreation and Dance (JOPERD), the most prestigious journal in physical education in the nation." Finally, Dr. Brown lauded Clayton's work as a graduate assistant in the Department, "Clayton has been an exemplary GTA for the Department of Kinesiology. He’s taught a variety of courses for us; from activity courses to PE methods courses, to sport administration courses to advising student teachers."