Professor Nikos Ntoumanis to receive prestigious award in the US
University of Southern Denmark motivational psychology professor becomes first non-North American recipient of NASPSPA's Distinguished Scholar Award.
Prof. Nikos Ntoumanis, co-director of the DRIVEN Center at the Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics (IOB) and a DIAS Chair in Health, has received the 2025 Distinguished Scholar Award from the North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity (NASPSPA).
NASPSPA was formed in 1967 and is widely considered the most academically rigorous professional association in its field. According to NASPSPA, the award recognizes “senior scholars, normally at least 25 years beyond the doctorate, who have a distinguished record of scholarship”, and it is not necessarily awarded on an annual basis.
The criteria for selection for this award are described in the NASPSPA charter:
“Successful candidates must exhibit a level of scholarship that places them at or near the top of scholars actively working in their research area. There should be evidence that the individual has consistently contributed high quality scholarship to their area and that this scholarship has had an impact on the knowledge of the field”.
First non-North American scholar to receive the Distinguished Scholar Award
Nikos Ntoumanis is the first non-North American scholar to have been given this award. He will travel to South Lake Tahoe (California) in June to receive the award at the annual convention of NASPSPA.
Professor Ntoumanis commented on his award:
“When I started my career about 26-27 years ago, one of my early goals was to be able to attend a NASPSPA conference to receive feedback on my work. My academic dreams have changed over the years and so has the emphasis of my research from sport psychology to health behavior change, but my appreciation for NASPSPA has never wavered”.
“I’m deeply honored to receive the same award as some of my early career academic “idols”. I will do my best to represent the University of Southern Denmark, my department IOB and Danish exercise/physical activity motivation research at the conference in June”, Professor Ntoumanis says.
About Professor Nikos Ntoumanis
Professor Nikos Ntoumanis joined the University of Southern Denmark (糖果派对) in 2021. Before his appointment at 糖果派对, he was a Distinguished Research Professor at the School of Psychology at Curtin University in Australia.
- Co-Director of the DRIVEN Center at the University of Southern Denmark's Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics (IOB).
- DIAS Chair in Health at the University of Southern Denmark, recognized for his contributions to exercise psychology and health behavior research.
- Extensive research on motivation and behavior change, particularly in the context of physical activity and health.
- Published numerous studies on self-determination theory, focusing on how goal motives influence well-being and behavior in various populations.
- Served as an editor-in-chief editor for the journal of Psychology of Sport and Exercise, contributing to the advancement of knowledge in his field.
About DRIVEN
The DRIVEN Centre at the University of Southern Denmark focuses on using interdisciplinary approaches to help individuals and communities create lasting behavior changes. Its research aims to support people in achieving personal goals across various life domains. By applying motivation and behavioral science, the center explores effective strategies for enhancing well-being and promoting healthier lifestyles.
Learn more on DRIVEN’s official website.
Photo: Bo Kousgaard
Contact
Nikos Ntoumanis, Professor
Danish Centre for Motivation and Behaviour Science (DRIVEN)
Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics
University of Southern Denmark
T 鈥�+45 65 50 45 25鈥€€�
nntoumanis@health.sdu.dk
Bo Kousgaard, Communications Coordinator
Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics
University of Southern Denmark
T +45 23 23 86 24
bkousgaard@health.sdu.dk