Megan MacDonald

Megan MacDonald is a Professor at Oregon State University's College of Health and Head of the School of Exercise, Sport, and Health Sciences. She is affiliated with the Children & Youth with Disabilities Lab, the Hallie E. Ford Center, and the Oregon School Readiness Research Consortium.

• PhD from University of Michigan (2011)
• NIH-funded research on motor skill development in children with disabilities
• Recipient of the 2016 David P. Beaver APA Professional Young Scholar Award

Her research focuses on improving physical activity and motor skills in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), examining how these skills impact social communication and overall quality of life. She leads movement-based early intervention programs and investigates links between motor skills and cognitive development.

Key collaborations include:

• Flame Retardants and School Readiness project with Molly Kile, Shannon Lipscomb, and Megan McClelland
• Adapted physical activity program for children with cerebral palsy (with Wendy Baltzer, Craig Ruaux, and Monique Udell)

Scientific contributions:

• 2016 David P. Beaver APA Professional Young Scholar Award

Her work has been featured in media outlets including U.S. News & World Report, The Hill, and Los Angeles Times. Current projects explore:

1. Family dog participation in adapted physical activity for children
2. Motor skill interventions for school readiness
3. Environmental health impacts on preschoolers' development