Sandra Shawver
Dr. Sandra Shawver is in her 17th year as an associate professor of Sport Coaching, Leadership and Administration & Sport Administration at Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas. Prior to this position she had an active career with the YMCA, starting off as a program director in the mid 1980’s and retiring in 2007 as the first female CEO for the Wichita Falls Metropolitan YMCA.
It was through the YMCA that Sandy began working with the Senior Games in the mid-1990’s first locally and then as a representative on the Texas Senior Games Board of Directors. Sandy has been a lifetime athlete. While in College at Ball State University she competed on the Field Hockey, Lacrosse and Softball intercollegiate teams. After college she was a competitive racquetball player competing at the national level for several years. She still enjoys and competes in archery, cycling, golf, badminton, pickleball, kayaking, and water skiing.
Sandy has coached various levels and sports, most notably taking age group gymnasts to USAG state and national level meets, college fencing, gymnastic and racquetball athletes to nationals and directing USRA racquetball tournaments that boasted 200+ annual competitors.
Sandy enjoys public speaking and volunteering locally. She has worked with the local non-profit center presenting to, and training boards, staff and volunteers within the non-profit industry. She continues to have success in grant writing and academic research. Her doctoral dissertation found her exploring why seniors choose to compete within the opportunities provided by the NSGA where she worked with state games directors collecting data. Her most recent publication with colleagues is on “Evaluating the effects of intentional constraints on collegiate soccer players’ physical capabilities and temperaments”.
Sandy presently serves on the Texas Senior Games Board of Directors as well as the NSGA Board of directors. Her involvement on our board includes being an active member of the National Games Standing Committee as well as the Health & Well Being Ad-Hoc Committee. She also accepted the responsibility of chairing the Branding and Awareness Ad-Hoc Committee when it was formed in 2022.
Her experience at both the community and collegiate level has allowed her to work with multiple philanthropic and civic minded individuals and organizations. She is passionate about helping individuals push themselves to learn new skills and expand their knowledge. Working with her peers, Sandy actively engages her students in experiential learning opportunities within leisure, recreation, sport and wellness. Annually her upper level courses design an event that they can host in their community if they desire. Sandy serves on a variety of committees within the community, enjoys public speaking, and is an advocate for youth, adult and senior physical activity as a daily way of life.
Personally, Sandy & her husband have one daughter who is working toward her master’s degree at Texas A&M. Sandy and her Aussie/Heeler mix are training to compete in dog agility meets and she and David are second year bee keepers. They have also planted a small pecan orchard on some farm acreage where they hope to retire at some point down the road.