Matt Brann has been appointed director of the International Center for Performance Excellence in the College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences at West Virginia University.
Brann has served as the interim director for ICPE since July 2011. Prior to his appointment as director he served as senior editor with ICPE and its publishing division, Fitness Information Technology, since 2004.
During Brann’s time as interim director, ICPE strengthened existing relationships and created new partnerships with professional associations, co-sponsored an international sport management consortium at WVU, increased the number of translation rights agreements for its publications and created a 2020 strategic plan to align with the mission, vision and goals of WVU and CPASS.
“I am thankful to Dean Dana Brooks for the opportunity he has entrusted to me to guide ICPE and FiT during some exciting times,” Brann said. “There are numerous challenges that lie ahead in the academic publishing industry, but I am confident that FiT is well positioned to remain a premier global publisher in the sport sciences.
“I am also eager to launch new initiatives that will assist ICPE in accomplishing its mission of supporting international educational activities by CPASS and promoting awareness at the local, national and international levels of the values and benefits of engaging in sport and physical activity.”
ICPE was created in 2004 and absorbed Fitness Information Technology, which was donated to CPASS by founder Dr. Andrew Ostrow, professor emeritus of sport and exercise psychology. Since 2004, FiT has published approximately 80 books, doubled its ownership of quarterly journals, and converted many of its publications into eBooks.
“Matt brings more than 20 years of experience in sport media and publishing,” said Dana Brooks, CPASS dean. “He’s been with FiT for the past eight years and has played an important role in FiT’s success as one of the premier publishers in sport sciences.
“It’s a challenging time to be involved in academic publishing. Matt will continue to expand FiT’s position in the eBook market and work with staff to develop a strategic plan for the future,” Brooks continued.
FiT publishes textbooks, reference and trade books, eBooks, academic journals and electronic test products in coaching education, physical education, sport management, sport and exercise psychology and sport sociology. FiT has publishing alliances with international organizations, translation rights agreements in several different languages for many of its works, and contracts with international distributors that ensure the global sale of FiT’s publications.
For more information, contact Brann at matthew.brann@mail.wvu.edu or 304-293-0875.
