Director
Esbelle M Jowers, Ph.D.
Dr. Jowers earned her Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree from the College of William & Mary in Virginia with a double major in Psychology and Kinesiology. Dr. Jowers is an alumna of The University of Texas at Austin, earning both her Masters (M.A.) and Doctoral degree (Ph.D.) in Exercise Science, with a Specialization in Physical Development and Aging.
Dr. Jowers serves as the Director of the Exercise & Sport Psychology Laboratory. She oversees the undergraduate and graduate research assistants, as well as the undergraduate internship program for Exercise and Sports Psychology. Dr. Jowers also teaches undergraduate courses in Sports Psychology and Psychological Aspects of Exercise, Motor Learning & Control, Motor Development, Introduction to Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences, and Human Sexuality. Dr. Jowers is fully bilingual (English/Spanish). Regarding research development, for the last 15 years Dr. Jowers has directed various projects for the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), for the Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention Section. Currently, Dr. Jowers directs the Texas Program Management and Tracking System (PMATS) for various programs as well as assessing and informing the state Get Fit Challenge. Dr. Jowers was also the Co-Creator and Project Director for the Texas Initiatives for Children’s Activity & Nutrition (Texas I-CAN!) series of research interventions funded by both the DSHS and NIH to increase healthy behaviors in elementary school children for the prevention of obesity.
Dr. Jowers additionally serves as the Director of Operations for the Texas Center for Equity Promotion (TexCEP) within the College of Education.