Rate My Professor Kristi Kiefer

Kristi Kiefer is a Professor of Physical Education at Fairmont State University within the College of Education, Health and Human Performance. As Program Coordinator for the Physical Education B.A. program, she oversees preparation for PreK-Adult teaching certification, aligning curriculum with West Virginia standards and SHAPE National Standards. Dr. Kiefer brings over 30 years of higher education teaching experience, including instruction in physical education teacher education, dance, and tumbling across various ages and levels. She earned her Ed.D. and M.S. from West Virginia University, B.A. from Fairmont State College in 1985, and R.B.A. from Fairmont State College. A tenured faculty member, she contributes to university governance as a Faculty Senate representative for Health and Human Performance and serves on committees such as Faculty Welfare.

Since 2004, Dr. Kiefer has served as Associate Director of Athletics and Senior Woman Administrator, advising the Student Athlete Advisory Committee on student-athlete welfare and community outreach, including Make-A-Wish fundraising. She retired from coaching Acrobatics & Tumbling in 2020 after 19 years, having been named NCATA Coach of the Year twice (2012, 2019) and the first Mountain East Conference Coach of the Year (2019). Under her leadership, the Fairmont State team achieved an 8-2 record in 2019, won regular season and tournament championships, earned a #5 national seed, and made eight NCATA National Championship Tournament appearances, securing three individual event titles and producing four All-Americans. She played a key role in pioneering A&T by transitioning competitive cheer—where she won national championships (UCA 1995, NCA 2010)—and helping five schools launch the sport in 2010, contributing to its NCAA emerging sport status in 2020. Previously honored as WV Dance Education Teacher of the Year (2001, 2003), Dr. Kiefer serves as Physical Activity Chair on the SHAPEWV board, presented on 'Mindfulness & Movement' at their conference, and received the SHAPEWV 2025 Honor Award. She is a member of the NCAA Division II Management Council.