Rachel Swinford, Ph.D., is a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Kinesiology where she teaches a variety of exercise science courses as well as leadership development at Camp Brosius. She is a firm believer in hands-on learning, and involves service learning in most of her courses. Swinford is a member of the Dance Council for the Indiana SHAPE and is a board member for Down Syndrome Indiana. Swinford's true passion in life is dance! In addition to loving dance, she also has a passion for group fitness, adapted physical activity, team building, and leadership development. Swinford has been the recipient of several teaching awards including the IU Trustees Teaching Award, School of Physical Education and Tourism Management Teaching Award, and the Indiana SHAPE Dance Educator of the Year Award. Swinford graduated from Indiana University with a B.S. in 2005 and received her M.S. in 2007. She earned her doctorate in Health and Rehabilitation Sciences from Indiana University in 2012, and is also an ACSM Certified Exercise Physiologist.
Swinford focuses on high impact learning experiences for her students such as service learning and experiential learning. She is involved with a service learning program called Physically Active Residential Communities and Schools (PARCS), co-directs the INShape IUPUI personal training internship, directs a student-led 5k training program called Pounce the Pavement, and oversees an Exercise is Medicine partnership with the IU School of Medicine. In the summer months, Swinford co-directs an adapted dance program for individuals with Down syndrome called Live Laugh Dance.
