Mariah Burton Nelson

Current

• Executive Director, American Association for Physical Activity and Recreation (AAPAR) at American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (AAHPERD)
• Professional Speaker at National Speakers Association

Past

• Author, Journalist, Professional Speaker at Speaking of Sports (Sole Proprietorship)
• Acting Director, Editorial Management at AARP
• Associate Editor at Women's Sports and Fitness

see less...

Education

• San Jose State University
• Stanford University

Recommended

4 people have recommended Mariah

Connections

256 connections

Industry

Sports

Mariah Burton Nelson’s Summary

As executive director of the American Association for Physical Activity and Recreation (AAPAR,) I lead an association of 8600 teachers, trainers, and community leaders dedicated to lifelong and inclusive physical activity.

We're part of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (AAHPERD), which has been promoting healthy, active lifestyles and supporting professionals in this field since 1885!

At Stanford, I majored in psychology but was best known as the center on the basketball team. One rebounding record remained unbroken for 24 years.

I played pro basketball in France and for the first US women's pro league, which I now think of as the LNEH: the “League Nobody’s Ever Heard of.” (The Women’s Basketball League.)

As the founder and president of Speaking for Sports, I gave about 50 college, keynote speeches each year, promoting the empowerment of women through sports and lifelong physical activity for people of all fitness levels.

My signature message: "Think of yourself as an athlete. I guarantee you it will change the way you walk, the way you work, and the decisions you make about leadership, teamwork, and success."

Audiences included college, government, associations and corporate clients.

My articles and columns have been published in the New York Times, the Washington Post, Newsweek, Newsday, and hundreds of other publications. In my role as an expert on sports and success, I have appeared on NPR, ESPN, Today, Good Morning America, Dateline, Larry King Live, Geraldo Rivera, and numerous other shows.

At AAPAR, I brought in three large grants ($58,000; $324,000 and $12 million); created a successful Par Three Consulting service; replenished our unrestricted reserves; branded the organization; and improved staff morale. Great job. I love it!

Mariah Burton Nelson’s Specialties:

Books include:

Making Money on the Sidelines (2008; all proceeds go to AAPAR)
We Are All Athletes (2004, Dare Press)
The Unburdened Heart: Five Keys to Forgiveness and Freedom (2000, Harper San Francisco)
Embracing Victory: Life Lessons in Competition and Compassion (1998, William Morris)
The Stronger Women Get, The More Men Love Football (1994, Harcourt Brace)
Are We Winning Yet? How Women Are Changing Sports and Sports Are Changing Women (1991, Random House)

Mariah Burton Nelson’s Experience

• Executive Director, American Association for Physical Activity and Recreation (AAPAR)

  American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (AAHPERD)

  (Non-Profit; 51-200 employees; Education Management industry)

  May 2006 — Present (3 years 7 months)

• Professional Speaker

  National Speakers Association

  (Sports industry)

  1987 — Present (22 years )

• Author, Journalist, Professional Speaker

  Speaking of Sports (Sole Proprietorship)

  (Sole Proprietorship; Writing and Editing industry)

  March 1987 — March 2006 (19 years 1 month)

  Author, We Are All Athletes; The Unburdened Heart; Embracing Victory; The Stronger Women Get, The More Men Love Football; and Are We Winning Yet? Journalist: Washington Post, New York Times, Newsweek, USA Today, etc. Professional Speaker: Hundreds of corporations, government, associations, colleges.

• Acting Director, Editorial Management

  AARP

  (Non-Profit; 1001-5000 employees; Civic & Social Organization industry)

  May 2005 — August 2005 (4 months)

  I served as a temporary director of AARP's speechwriting team, writing speeches myself for senior executives and supervising a team of 7 executive writers.

• Associate Editor

  Women's Sports and Fitness

  (Privately Held; 11-50 employees; Publishing industry)

  March 1984 — March 1987 (3 years 1 month)

Mariah Burton Nelson’s Education

• San Jose State University

  Masters , Public Health, Community Health Education , 1981 — 1983

• Stanford University

  Bachelor's , Psychology , 1974 — 1978

  Activities and Societies:

  Mentored by Sandra Bem, who popularized the word "androgyny." Leading scorer and rebounder on the basketball team, averaging 19 points per game in senior season. Captain all four years. Pre-scholarship era, but advocated for the implementation of Title IX and helped build the program! :-) (See "Escape from Roble" article on my website: MariahBurtonNelson.com)

Additional Information

Mariah Burton Nelson’s Interests:

Developing synergistic partnerships, leadership, management, seeing or delivering effective, entertaining live performances, reading or writing great books (fiction and nonfiction,) masters swimming, ocean swimming, golf, yoga, Pilates, cycling, qi gong, writing essays, writing poetry, writing songs, playing with nieces and nephews, speaking French and Spanish, lifelong learning, family, friends, anything creative and new.

Mariah Burton Nelson’s Groups:

American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance
National Speakers Association
American Society of Association Executives
Mosaic Harmony
Smithsonian Associates
United States Masters Swimming
Women's Sports Foundation
AARP Women's Leadership Circle
National Museum of Women in the Arts
Writer's Center

•    Executive Suite
•    National Speakers Association (NSA)
•    LinkEds & writers
•    WISC Network (Women In Sports Careers)
•    NSA Next!
•    ASAE & The Center for Association Leadership
•    Stanford University Alumni
•    Linked 2 Leadership
•    Women in Sports and Events (WISE)
•    Association for Women in Sports Media (AWSM)
•    EWGA (Executive Women's Golf Association, Inc.)
•    Washington Speechwriters Roundtable

Mariah Burton Nelson’s Honors:

100 Most Influrential Sports Educators (2007)
Short Fiction Prize, Northern Virginia Review (2006)
Pollin Award for Outstanding Dedication to the Community (2004)
Capital Outstanding Speaker Award, National Speakers Association/Washington, D.C. Area (2003)
Highest Woman of Distinction Award, Greater Washington Women's Network, (2002)
Run, Jane, Run Nancy Rehm Memorial Award (1996)
Induction into the National Women in Sports Hall of Fame (1996)
Communications and Leadership Award, District 27 Toastmasters (2002)
National Association of Girls and Women in Sport’s Guiding Woman in Sport Award (1996)
Arlington (VA) County's Distinguished Woman Award (1994)
Amateur Athletic Foundation’s Book Award (1992)
Women’s Sports Foundation’s Magazine Journalism Award (1988)

Mariah Burton Nelson’s Contact Settings

Interested In:

• career opportunities
• getting back in touch