Kindal Shores

Dr. Kindal Shores is a Professor in the Recreation Sciences Department at East Carolina University's College of Health and Human Performance, where she researches community-based recreation impacts on public health. She concurrently serves as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Leisure Research and maintains professional affiliations with the National Recreation and Park Association, American Association for Physical Activity Research, and North Carolina Recreation and Parks Association.

Her research focuses on three interconnected domains: community health infrastructure (park renovations, greenway development), health equity (services for low-income/rural populations, adapted sports), and physical activity outcomes (obesity prevention, behavioral interventions). She employs mixed-methods approaches including longitudinal assessments, cross-cultural comparisons, and community partnerships.

Dr. Shores has led over 15 funded projects since 2007, securing grants from entities like Robert Wood Johnson Foundation ($200K+), City of Atlanta Parks, and Hyde County Health Department. Current initiatives include a NCAA-funded study on student-athlete mentorship (2025-2026) and a UNC System collaboration on inclusive sport research (2023-2024).

Her scholarly output includes 25+ peer-reviewed publications emphasizing practical applications in recreation management. Recent works investigate dementia care through leisure activities (2019) and evolving leisure time patterns (2023). Editorial contributions span five major journals in recreation sciences.

She mentors through academic service roles including Future Scholars Committee leadership at The Academy of Leisure Sciences and international knowledge exchange via presentations in China and UK/USA comparative research.